Muffins are the ultimate portable breakfast or snack; just peel them out of their wrappers, pop a few in a bag or container, and go! We didn’t think it was possible to improve on the muffin concept . . . until we tried these Vegan Banana Berry Muffins—a fluffy, cakey delight bursting with sweetness and the bright flavor of berries. You can use a single type of berry—strawberries or blueberries, for example—for this recipe, but we love a mix.
Because overripe banana is richly sweet and works well as a binder in baked goods, this Vegan Banana Berry Muffins recipe calls for very little oil, and only a small amount of sugar. We’ve blended two different flours here—whole wheat for fiber and almond for protein and an extra zing of flavor, but you can substitute either with all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour (you may need to add more or less almond milk if you do this). Likewise, the nuts are optional, but we love their crunch and the added protein. The almond flour and nuts make these muffins a little more filling than those made with only white flour, so you won’t be tempted to overindulge in one sitting.
Serve these Vegan Banana Berry Muffins with vegan butter or cashew cream cheese, or a spoonful of lemon curd. They’ll keep in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week, or in the freezer for up to two months.
Vegan Banana Berry Muffins
Ingredients
1 flax “egg” (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water)
3 medium ripe bananas (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup granulated sugar or coconut sugar
3 tablespoons agave
3 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoons salt (pink Himalayan sea salt is our favorite)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
3/4 cup unsweeted plain almond milk or coconut milk
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup almond meal
1/2 chopped walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts (optional)
1 cup strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries, or a combination
Brown sugar (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a standard muffin tin with paper or silicone baking cups.
2. In a large bowl, make the flax egg. Wait 10 minutes, then add the banana, baking powder, and baking soda and beat until fairly smooth, with only small chunks remaining.
3. Add the sugar, agave, oil, salt, and cinnamon and beat on medium to combine. Add the almond or coconut milk and beat until combined.
4. In a medium bowl, mix the almond meal and flour. Add to the banana mixture and mix until just combined; don’t overmix! Gently fold in the nuts and berries.
5. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling completely. If desired, sprinkle a little brown sugar over the top of each muffin. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until the edges of the muffins have turned golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes. Remove from the tin and allow to cool completely on a rack.