Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Muffins
on Sep 26, 2021, Updated Apr 24, 2026
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These chocolate chip walnut banana muffins are soft, fluffy, and naturally sweet with little pockets of melted chocolate in every bite. Made with ripe bananas, these mini muffins are the perfect easy breakfast, lunchbox addition, or snack to keep on hand for busy days!
If you’re looking for a simple banana muffin recipe with a little extra texture and sweetness, these chocolate chip walnut banana muffins are it. The ripe bananas keep the muffins super moist, the walnuts add the perfect little crunch, and the mini chocolate chips make them feel like a treat while still being wholesome enough for everyday. They come together in one bowl and bake up quickly in mini-muffin form, making them great for meal prep, too.
Looking for more simple muffin recipes to bake? Your kids will love these double chocolate beet muffins, mini blueberry chocolate chip muffins, and cinnamon apple donut muffins, and ask for them again and again!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
Here is what you’ll need to make these chocolate chip walnut banana muffins:
- Banana: Use very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots for the best sweetness and moisture.
- Maple Syrup: Naturally sweetens the muffins and pairs perfectly with the banana flavor.
- Butter: Adds richness and helps keep the muffins soft. Melted and slightly cooled works best.
- Egg: Helps bind the batter together and gives the muffins structure.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds warm flavor and enhances the sweetness.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base and structure for the muffins.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: Help the muffins rise and stay fluffy.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds a warm hint of spice that goes so well with banana.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Adds little bursts of chocolate throughout each muffin.
- Chopped Walnuts: Adds texture and that classic banana nut muffin flavor.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Ingredient Substitutions & Additions
- Butter: Can be replaced with a neutral oil like avocado oil or melted coconut oil.
- Maple Syrup: Honey can be used in place of maple syrup (if serving these to little ones over the age of 1).
- Egg: Can be replaced with a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water).
- Walnuts: Pecans work great here, too, or any other finely chopped nuts you have on hand. You can also omit them for plain banana muffins.
Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 24-cup mini silicone (or metal) muffin pan.
STEP 2: Add the mashed banana to a large bowl and mash until smooth (Images 1 & 2). Add in the maple syrup, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract and whisk until fully combined (Images 3 & 4).
STEP 3: Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt directly to the wet ingredients (Image 5). Stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix (Image 6).
STEP 4: Fold in the mini chocolate chips and chopped walnuts (Image 7).
STEP 5: Spoon tablespoon-sized portions of the batter into the mini muffin pan (Image 8). Bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
STEP 6: Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for a few minutes before serving.
Storage Instructions
Once cooled, store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the fridge for up to 5 days. To freeze, place the muffins in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave for a few seconds or let thaw at room temperature before serving.
Tips For Success
- Use very ripe bananas. The riper they are, the sweeter and more flavorful your muffins will be.
- Make sure that your leavening agents (baking powder and baking soda) are fresh so that the muffins rise properly.
- Mini chocolate chips work best because they spread evenly throughout the batter. Chop the walnuts into small pieces so they distribute well and are easier for little ones to eat.
- I love baking these muffins in a mini silicone muffin pan so that they pop right out, but if you’re using a metal mini muffin pan, grease the pan beforehand to prevent sticking.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! This batter can be baked in a standard muffin pan. Fill each muffin cup about 3/4 full and bake for 18 to 22 minutes.
Yes! If you prefer a nut-free version, you can omit the walnuts, and if you prefer them less sweet, you can leave out the mini chocolate chips or swap them with something like blueberries.
More Banana Recipes You’ll Love
Banana Coconut Cookies
Blueberry Banana Waffles
Banana Carrot Smoothie
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins (Flourless)
If you tried these Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Muffins, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below! I love hearing from you!
Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Muffins
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup mashed banana, from about 1 ½ very ripe large bananas or 2 small bananas
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ cup melted butter, or neutral oil
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients/Mix-Ins
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
- ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 24-cup mini silicone (or metal) muffin pan.
- Add the mashed banana to a large bowl and mash until smooth. Add in the maple syrup, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract and whisk until fully combined
- Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt directly to the wet ingredients. Stir until just combined, being careful not to overmix
- Fold in the mini chocolate chips and chopped walnuts
- Spoon tablespoon-sized portions of the batter into the mini muffin pan. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas. The riper they are, the sweeter and more flavorful your muffins will be.
- Make sure that your leavening agents (baking powder and baking soda) are fresh so that the muffins rise properly.
- Mini chocolate chips work best because they spread evenly throughout the batter. Chop the walnuts into small pieces so they distribute well and are easier for little ones to eat.
- I love baking these muffins in a mini silicone muffin pan so that they pop right out, but if you’re using a metal mini muffin pan, grease the pan beforehand to prevent sticking.
I missed the part about pulsing the oats into oat flour- which was on me it was very clear looking back at the recipe. But I was still very happy with how they turned out 🙂
So glad to hear that you enjoyed them!😊
Can you make these with regular flour rather than with oats for additional allergen exposure? If so can you do the same weight?
Hi Alexandra! This recipe has now been updated to include regular flour😊
Love these! Just made them this morning and I love how they aren’t too sweet.
I have a bad sweet tooth and I’m trying to not pass that on to my kids so these are amazing!
Sticking them in the freezer for easy breakfast meals when
I’m so glad that you enjoyed these little muffins, Corralyn!😊
Hi Lily,
Tried this over the weekend and the LO seems to love it.
But I have one question. They turned out dense, is it due to the oat floor or are they supposed to be fluffy and probably I messed up somewhere?
Hi Keerthana! I’m so glad that your little one liked them!😊 They are slightly more dense than normal all purpose flour because of the oats, but they shouldn’t be too dense. Did they rise well with the baking powder?
Hey, thanks for your reply. I just saw it.
They did rise but not sure if I would call it well! Maybe the temperature was too high. I will try again a couple more times with a different temperature and see how it goes. Thanks 🙂
Can we use store bought oat flour?
Hi! Yes you definitely can use store bought oat flour😊
Thank you!! 😊 My little one loves the chocolate chip mini muffins. Will try these today!
So happy to hear that!! I hope your little ones likes these nut muffins as well!😊
Very easy to make and tasty! I added a few chocolate chips to them as well!
I love the idea of adding chocolate chips! Thanks for sharing your great feedback!😊
My one year old loves these!! So easy to make, and are a big hit!!
I’m so happy to hear that your little one likes these! 🙂