THE BEST Sugar Free Banana Muffins - Scientifically Sweet (2024)

Published: Jul 2, 2023 · Modified: May 7, 2024 by christina.marsigliese · 38 Comments

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This post will show you how to make Sugar Free Banana Muffins that are tasty and healthy! I make these muffins for my son every other week and he eats one every single day for breakfast. This sugar free banana muffin recipe is nutritious and delicious with no added sugar at all - not maple syrup, nor honey. It suffers no loss of texture or taste as a result of the low sugar content.

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WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE:

Moist and tender muffins - this recipe makes muffins that are moist and soft even though they contain ZERO sugar.
NO sugar added - these muffins are made with absolutely no sugar. The sweetness is coming solely from bananas, so make sure they are very spotty and ripe.
Blueberry muffins - I often mix in blueberries, but you can also use cranberries, raspberries or even diced strawberries.
Easy to make - all you need is a whisk, a bowl and a spatula to make this recipe. It is so super simple.
Healthy muffins - this recipe is ACTUALLY healthy. They're made with oat flour, almond flour, flax, whole eggs, olive oil and no sugar at all. They're full of protein, fiber and healthy fats. I think this is a great healthy snack for kids and adults too.

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INGREDIENTS

This muffin recipe uses wholesome nutritious ingredients that are readily available. See the FAQ section below for possible substitutions.

Olive Oil - I love using olive oil for its fruity flavour and healthy fat fractions. It adds extra flavour since these bananas have no sugar. You can certainly use any other cooking oil, such as sunflower or canola oil.
Eggs -Two large eggs will add nice structure and help with the moist spongy texture.
Pure vanilla extract - vanilla is definitely necessary to make these muffins tasty. I like this Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla extract.
Milk -I use whole milk to make this recipe, but 2% or 1% milk will also work. You can also use any non-dairy milk.

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Vinegar - yes, vinegar! I like to use apple cider vinegar, but white vinegar will do. It is important to elevate the natural sweetness since there is no sugar in this recipe. It will also react with the baking soda so they rise nicely.
Berries -You can use fresh or frozen in this recipe, but beware that frozen berries tend to bleed too much into the batter so be sure not to thaw them. Also, you will need to add a few minutes to the baking time since the frozen berries will cool down the batter. I like to use blueberries and I often make these with frozen cranberries. I just slice them in half before folding them into the batter.
Ripe banana - bananas that you should use for making muffins should be really spotty and very ripe. That means they are at their sweetest and will make moist muffins. I know that many people like to make muffins with frozen bananas, but I do not recommend it. Frozen bananas lose a lot of moisture and their cell structure breaks down during the freezing process so that they can't lend as much structure to the batter. This can lead to a gummy layer forming in the muffins or loaf. I also find that the flavour changes during freezing.

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Spice - cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg add some comforting aroma and extra flavour in combination with the banana! The aroma will make your house smell incredible as the muffins are baking.
All purpose flour - regular unbleached all-purpose flour works great for open-textured muffins.
Almond flour - use blanched ground almonds or fine almond flour.
Oat flour - I often do not have oat flour handy, so I just grind oats in my food processor until they are very fine. This works perfectly for me!
Flax seed - I like to add a bit of ground flax seed or flaxmeal for added nutrition, but it is optional. I have tested this recipe without it and it still turns out great.

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STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1). Combine wet ingredients. In a large bowl, mash the banana with a fork until very smooth. Whisk in olive oil and eggs. Add milk, vinegar and vanilla and whisk until blended.
STEP 2). Add oats. Add oat flour or ground oats, almond flour and ground flax seed and whisk it in until evenly combined. Don't worry about over-mixing at this point. Let batter stand for 5-10 minutes to allow the oats to hydrate.
STEP 3). Combine dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and oats until evenly blended.
STEP 4). Add dry ingredients and berries. Add flour mixture and fold it in evenly. Fold in berries.
STEP 5). Rest the batter. Cover the bowl and let the batter rest for 20-30 minutes. This allows the oats to hydrate for softer, fluffier muffins.
STEP 6). Bake. Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups, filling them quite full. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown around the edges and firm to the touch. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let muffins cool for 5 minutes before transferring individually to the rack to finish cooling.

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EXPERT BAKING TIPS FOR SUGAR FREE BANANA MUFFINS

Do not over-mix the batter. Once the flour is mostly combined with a few streaks remaining, then fold in the blueberries. That last step will mix the batter enough to incorporate the rest of the flour.
Use VERY ripe bananas. They should be full of black spots, but not bruised. These bananas will have the most sweetness as the carbohydrates have converted into simple sugars. This is the only source of sweetness in the recipe so it is important that they are soft and ripe.
Mash the banana well. This will ensure that the natural sugars from the banana get evenly incorporated into the batter.
Sift the flour. Sifting the flour will eliminate any lumps and separate all of the flour particles which means it will incorporated into the wet ingredients more easily and more quickly. This will minimize the amount of mixing required so that you ensure the muffins are soft.
Let the batter rest. Some resting time allows the oats and the flour to hydrate which makes softer, fluffier and more moist muffins. Too much time will affect how they bake as the leavening gases release through the batter, but 30 minutes is just enough.
Do not over-bake. Over-baking will definitely lead to dry muffins. Make sure you check with a skewer for doneness or press the tops - they should spring back.

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RECIPE FAQ

What type of oil is best for banana muffins?

Firstly - use a fresh oil! Do not use anything that's been opened for a long time and when you store oil, it should be in a cool dark place. Light and heat accelerate oxidation reactions that can make the flavor turn rancid. My oil of choice for baking is sunflower oil for its clean and neutral taste, but any other oil such as canola or safflower will do. You can even use olive oil, but keep in mind that it will add the taste of olive oil to the cake.

Can I make these muffins with butter instead of oil?

You could use melted butter, but then the muffins will have a more dense and firmer texture. I really prefer oil for this recipe.

What is the secret to super moist muffins and how do I make my muffins more moist?

It's not more fat! Moisture comes from liquid, not fat. So you can add more oil, but it will really just make the muffins more oily and more tender by shortening the texture. To ensure these stay moist, measure the flour correctly and do not over-mix the batter. Also, be sure not to over-bake them.

Why are my muffins flat?

If your muffins baked up flat, it may be that your raising agents are no longer active, so be sure to use fresh baking soda and fresh baking powder. If your oven is running cool, then the muffins will not get that initial jump to puff up as soon as they get in the oven before the batter starts to expand outwards. Ensure you have your oven at the correct temperature because muffins bake hotter than cakes.

What if I can't have dairy? Is there a substitute for milk?

You can replace the cow's milk with any type of non-dairy milk for this muffin recipe, such as almond milk or oat milk.

Can I use frozen blueberries for this recipe?

You can use either fresh or frozen berries! Fresh blueberries are ideal because their cell walls are still intact and the juices are kept inside until they are penetrated by heat. They also won't bleed into your batter like frozen blueberries would.
Frozen blueberries still work. Just make sure that you do not defrost them because all of the juice will leach out. You may need to add a couple more minutes to the baking time since your batter will obviously be very cold. In these photos, I used frozen blueberries.

Can I use other types of fruit in this recipe?

You certainly can. I often make these with frozen cranberries. I just slice them in half before folding them into the batter. Fresh or frozen raspberries would be great too!

Why did my blueberry muffin batter turn grey?

When using frozen blueberries it is important not mix too much after adding adding them because the reaction of baking soda (which is alkaline) with the antioxidants (the color compounds responsible for that vibrant violet color of blueberries) will actually cause the color compounds to turn more blue and make the batter look grey since baking soda will increase the pH of the batter. To prevent this, just scatter the blueberries evenly over the surface of the batter and fold them in with just a few strokes.

Can I freeze banana muffins?

Yes! Just place them in a resealable freezer bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months.

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Can I freeze these muffins?

Absolutely! I do this every week. Just place the muffins individually on a baking sheet and place the whole sheet in the freezer for 1-2 hours. Then, transfer them all to a resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Can I make this recipe without flaxseed?

Flax seed is optional in this recipe and it still works without it.

Can I make muffins with vegetable oil?

I like the taste of olive oil in this recipe, but you can also use sunflower oil, canola oil or blended vegetable oil.

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Sugar Free Banana Muffins

Christina Marsigliese

Moist and tender Banana Blueberry Muffins that are sugar-free and still delicious! I make these for my son who has been eating one for breakfast since he was 6 months old and absolutely loves them!

5 from 16 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Ingredients

2 large ripe bananas about 1 cup/237ml mashed
¼ cup 60ml olive oil
2 large eggs at room temperature
½ cup 120ml milk
1 teaspoon 5ml distilled white or apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon 5ml pure vanilla extract
1 cup 120g oat flour or ground oats
¾ cup 75g almond flour
2 teaspoon ground flaxseed optional
¾ cup 105g all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch of ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt (optional for babies 12+ months)
1 cup 100g blueberries or raspberries or chopped fresh cranberries* (see note)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line astandard 12-cup muffin panwithpaper liners or grease well with softened butter or oil.
In a large bowl, mash the banana with a fork until very smooth. Whisk in olive oil and eggs. Add milk, vinegar and vanilla and whisk until blended. Add oat flour or ground oats, almond flour and ground flax seed and whisk it in until evenly combined. Don't worry about over-mixing at this point. Let batter stand for 5-10 minutes to allow the oats to hydrate.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and salt until evenly blended.
Add the flour mixture and fold it in gently until mostly combined but a few streaks remain. Fold in blueberries. Do not over-mix.
Cover the bowl and let the batter rest for 30 minutes.
Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups, filling almost full. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown around the edges and firm to the touch. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let muffins cool for 5 minutes before transferring individually to the rack to finish cooling.
*I often use chopped frozen or fresh cranberries in place of blueberries too. They are tart, but I like it. You can also sub fresh raspberries or blackberries.

THE BEST Sugar Free Banana Muffins - Scientifically Sweet (2024)

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

EXPERT BAKING TIPS FOR SUGAR FREE BANANA MUFFINS

RECIPE FAQ

Sugar Free Banana Muffins

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Instructions

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