It’s a good morning when you wake up to these deliciously amazing Healthy Vegan Banana Muffins… not only are they delicious and perfect with every bite, they are also super healthy with the boost of Omega 3 goodness, potassium and protein! These are also gluten free and vegan muffins! And naturally sweetened with ripe bananas and the addition of a low-glycemic sweetener that doesn’t spike your blood sugar!
All in all, a true win and actually can pass as a healthy breakfast! (unlike other muffins that have more calories than cupcakes essentially) Yup, these are SO much better BUT you won’t know it – they taste so decadent and delicious! Yum! I can’t wait to bake these again!
This healthy banana muffin recipe is also brain-boosting! Most of the ingredients are great for brain health – just what you need to start the day!
These muffins are completely inspired by my Walnut Banana Bread Recipe – that is all-natural and has great ingredients, but I wanted to make them even more healthier + I wanted to make something school friendly for my daughter. Muffins are super fun to eat and just have on the go for busy days or for a kid to take to school. I purposely omitted the walnuts to actually make them school-safe BUT I would completely prefer them with some chopped walnuts! (so go ahead and add those in if you’re not concerned about nuts.)
Healthy Vegan Banana Muffins Recipe :
- 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
- 6 tablespoons warm water
- 1 cup light spelt flour or all-purpose gluten-free flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, aluminum free
- 1/4 teaspoon of fine sea salt
- 1/2 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted but not hot (or grape seed oil)
- 2 very ripe bananas (total of 1 cup smashed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup hemp hearts (optional)
- optional : 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- Preheat oven to 325F. Prepare a muffin pan with liners or parchment paper sheets.
- In a medium bowl, mix ground flax seeds with warm water and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- Back in the bowl with the flax seeds; smash the bananas into the flax seeds, add sugar, oil, vanilla extract and mix well.
- Add the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well.
- Add in the hemp seeds and stir to combine.
- Scoop into the muffin pan evenly.
- Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out dry and clean.
- Allow to cool for about 15 minutes before serving.
- Optionally, for a bigger brain health boost – you could also add 1bout 1/4 cup chopped walnuts to this recipe! I just chose to make these nut-free so that my daughter could take these to school.
Cut the Sugar tip :
- I’ve added a source of protein to make these more filling so you’re satisfied with less.
- I’ve added healthy fats (especially Omega 3s) to reverse the damage sugar has.
- I’ve used a low-glycemic sweetener so your blood sugar doesn’t spike.
- I’ve used fruit as a sweetener! Ripe bananas add a great natural sugar that’s very healthy for you. Plus all that potassium in bananas is excellent for a healthy blood, muscles and nervous system and more.
Blogger, Recipe Developer, Photographer and Author. Loves healthy food, photography, sunshine and dancing in the kitchen with her two daughters. 
Ella, these look amazing! I haven’t made banana muffins in ages so I think a weekend baking session is in order :) I love that you used hemp seeds!
Thank you my dear!
These are just the best! So decadent but also super healthy!! I love a combination like that ;)
xoxo ella
Mmmm. Banana muffins.. I want some!
Just looking at these could make for a good morning! (But preferably eating them too…)
These are so good! I made this twice already. The first time without the coconut palm sugar because I didn’t see it in the instructions and forgot to add – oops! Still tasted great to me. :) This past weekend, I had to make it with the sugar and they are really delicious. So great to send to school for my son. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much Michele :) This made me so happy that your son can have a delicious healthy snack at school :) xoxo ella
These muffins are great! We are not vegan, bUt going through a period of elimination diet (no eggs, wheat, dairy and refined sugar).
My whole family loved them and my daughter was so happy to have home-baked, great-tasting muffins!
Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you so much for this lovely comment – it made me so happy to hear your daughter loved them :)
Actually, that’s precisely why I share my recipes egg and wheat and dairy free – it all started with an elimination diet for me when I was healing from a rare illness.
I ended up sticking to it for over 6 years now and I actually really enjoy it :) (still not 100% gluten free or vegan (I’m good with spelt, rye and we eat butter, honey and fish) but just a few months ago, I tested myself again (I did this every 4-6 months and ate a wheat and egg cake AND I am happy to report that I didn’t have my usual symptoms – I felt normal, no issues :) Mind you, I didn’t have too much but a small slice that was homemade from organic ingredients so I felt comfortable that there’s no artificial ingredients and preservatives.
So worth to stick to it and allow yourself to heal then slowly you can reintroduce foods again. The hard work will pay off! :)
Lastly, I just wanted to say is that an elimination diet doesn’t have to be miserable at all ~ there’s so many options that are actually healthier and better for you when you just make simple swaps, keep learning and just have fun in the kitchen experimenting and enjoying beautiful natural food :) Don’t think of what you’re giving up, instead, think of all the better foods you feed your body that will be healthier, give you more energy and happiness :)
I hope this extra bit of personal experience helps in your journey. All the best. *hugs* ella
Can you omit the coconut sugar all together? Or sub apple sauce or something?
Hi Jessica, Great question…
Although there’s plenty of sweetness from the bananas, they would be too low on the sweetness level (I think).
Also, see Michele’s comment on top, she liked them without the sugar but preferred them with the sugar on the next try. You could use less and try 1/4 cup coconut palm sugar and I think that would work great! :)
So, it’s really up to you. Is the reason to have less sugar grams? If so, if you eat Stevia, I would recommend a little bit of that. (also just 1/4 cup or 2-3 tablespoons powdered stevia OR about 6 drops of liquid stevia put into the wet mixture.
Hope these suggestions help.
Please do let us know what you end up doing and how they work out for you :)
*hugs*
ella
ps. I would not recommend the apple sauce as that would make the batter too heavy to rise. xx
I was all set to make these and realized I don’t have flax. Is there something else I could use to replace?? I have chia seeds. Would that work? Thank you.
YES! :)
Chia seeds will definitely work. Use the same amount and with same directions as you would the flax. Soak and mix in :)
They will be delicious!! Enjoy! xox
These are way too good! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. I’m new to vegan baking and can’t believe how moist and decadent these muffins are.