Banana, walnut and choc chip muffins

GLUTEN FREE II VEGAN II DAIRY FREE II SOY FREE II SESAME FREE

Perfect for breakfast or a snack, these moist banana walnut and choc chip muffins are a must-try. Get the recipe and enjoy a homemade delight today!

During the UK lockdown, it seemed like everyone was baking banana bread. I decided to create my own healthier version of it. My gluten-free muffins are free of refined sugar, making them a delicious and healthy option.

They are soft, tasty, and perfect for breakfast when served cold with coconut yoghurt and berries. The recipe is plant-based, and you can adjust some of the ingredients to make it more versatile. Check the notes at the bottom of the recipe for more variations.

Notes on ingredients

Oats

If this recipe needs to be gluten-free, buy gluten-free oats; however, a side-note, oats, are gluten-free. It’s just that companies can’t state gluten-free because of the manufacturing processes.

Sweetener

I love to use raw local honey for this recipe. Other sweeteners you can use could be coconut blossom nectar, maple syrup, brown rice syrup, or agave if you would like to make this recipe vegan.

Chocolate

I like to use chocolate with a cocoa content of 70%, meaning that 70% of the chocolate has been made from ingredients in the cocoa bean. The remaining 30% will consist predominantly of other ingredients, such as sugar, but may also include, for example, tiny percentages of vanilla flavouring. The higher the percentage, the stronger the cocoa flavour, which means it will be more bitter and less sweet.

 Use whatever chocolate you find palatable. Sometimes I will use 70/80% in my cooking and add a little extra sweetener like honey/agave/maple syrup. Dark chocolate is almost always dairy free unless it’s a cheap brand where they will add crappy fillers. My fave brands to eat and use in cooking are ( also allergy-friendly)

• Green & blacks - Click here to go to the website.

• Ombar - Click here for more info. Buy this online at Well Easy OR at Waitrose or health food shops.

• Raw chocolate - Click here for more information.

• Plamil chocolate - Click here for more info

  If you have a soy allergy, always choose raw chocolate, as this will not have any soy ingredients added. (Always check on the label, though.)

Nuts

I would also recommend buying your nuts from a company called the Grape tree as they are so much cheaper than the supermarkets, you can find this shop in most high streets in the UK. Swap walnuts for any other nut you prefer. Almonds or hazelnuts would be great options.

Ingredients

Tips

• Once the batter is mixed, pour the mixture into the muffin tray quite quickly whilst the bicarb of soda activates the batter. This creates the fluffiness, and the baking powder creates the rise. Both of these work together with the addition of yoghurt, which creates a chemical reaction.

• The recipe calls for oat flour, which is oats blended in a high-powered blender to create fine flour. you can alternatively buy this at health shops, but at a higher cost, so it makes sense to do it at home if you're able.

• Always use ripe bananas to give you a sweeter and deeper taste.

• I made muffins with this mixture, but you could bake this in a tray or loaf tin.

• I use American cup measurements for many of my recipes because it’s such a simpler way of measuring. I have, however, put the conversion into grams. If you need to know ounces, try this nifty little measurement converter.

• I didn’t state the type of oil in the recipe, as you could use melted coconut oil, rapeseed, or olive oil. It’s totally your choice. I used mild olive oil; do not use extra virgin olive oil that is not recommended for baking or cooking.

FAQ’s

• How ripe should the bananas be for this recipe?
  It's best to use ripe bananas with brown spots on the skin as they are sweeter and mash easily, adding more flavour and moisture to the muffins.

• Can I use frozen bananas for this recipe?

  Yes, you can use frozen bananas. Thaw them before mashing and incorporating them into the recipe.

• Can I add other ingredients like raisins or shredded coconut to the muffins?
  Absolutely! Feel free to experiment and add your favourite ingredients like raisins, shredded coconut or even diced apples for added texture and taste.

• Can I use a different type of chocolate instead of choc chips?
  Certainly! You can use chopped chocolate bars or even chocolate chunks instead of choc chips for a different chocolatey experience.

• How should I store the muffins?
  Allow the muffins to cool completely, then store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate or freeze them.

• Can I make these muffins without oil?

  You can replace oil with plant-based milk for those of you who want to make this recipe healthier.

Step by step

Serves 12 - 1.5 hours cooking and prepping time

Recipe

• 2 cups (225g) oat flour ( GF if needed)

• 1 tsp bicarb of soda

• 3/4 tsp baking powder ( GF if needed)

• 3/4 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

• 1/2 cup dark choc chips or chocolate cut up into small chunks ( use raw chocolate if you have a soy allergy)

• 1.5 ripe banana mashed/pureed

• 1/2 cup ( 65g ) plant based yoghurt I used coconut collaborative

• 1/2 (65g) cup honey or other sweetener see above

• 1/3 cup (75 ml) mild olive oil

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• handful of walnuts to top the muffins

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and pop some muffin paper cases into your muffin tray.

2. Mix the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. Please note you are NOT beating this mixture. Just gently mixing

3. Spoon batter into paper cases and sprinkle over chopped walnuts.

4. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes on the middle shelf or till a skewer comes out clean ( free of raw cake mix).

Food shopping tips

Are you looking to save money on your FREE FROM ingredients without shopping in several places just to save a buck? Take a look at well easy they have made it well easy to shop for healthy free from allergy-specific ingredients. Find everything you need all in 1 place with over 50 filters. You will be sure to find food for your dietary restrictions that are healthy too!

And it’s cheaper than the health stores or supermarkets, don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself here. Check out my curated shopping list of all my recommended healthier ingredients that I love to cook with. Here’s the link. Use my code KAM10 for £10 off your first order ( £50 minimum order for the first shop).

This blog contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links. I have personally vetted and used all the products that I recommend.

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