Warm from the oven, these banana chocolate chip muffins are delicately sweet, moist, and impossible to resist.
They’re a mashup between two classics – banana bread and chocolate chip muffins. You get the sweet banana flavor combined with rich chocolate chips.
Easy to make in just one bowl, these banana muffins are perfect with a cup of coffee or as an afternoon snack. Plus, they freeze well for later!
Banana chocolate chip muffins are the perfect breakfast treat. They’re delicately sweet, moist, and easy to whip up.
Overripe bananas create a muffin consistency that melts in your mouth like any good banana bread.
And the chocolate chips add the perfect bite of texture and sweetness.
Satisfy your breakfast cravings and chocolate fix in one tasty bite!
Ingredients
You have almost everything you need for these muffins if you have bananas and chocolate chips.
- Chocolate chips. The bananas deliver a punch of sweetness, so use semi-sweet chocolate chips. They prevent your muffins from becoming overly sweet.
- Ripe bananas. As bananas ripen, they develop more sugars. Always use brown, overripe bananas to ensure your muffins are perfectly sweet.
- Flour. All-purpose flour works best for these muffins to get the perfect rise.
- Baking powder. A dash of baking powder helps the muffins rise in the oven. It prevents them from becoming overly dense.
- Baking soda. Just like baking powder, adding leavening agents like baking soda helps these dense muffins rise in the oven.
- Salt. There’s a lot of sweetness happening in these muffins. A sprinkle of salt helps to balance the sugar and draws out the flavor of bananas and chocolate.
- Granulated sugar. Overripe bananas can only do so much in the sugar department. A helping hand from granulated sugar gives it a little boost.
- Egg. Eggs are the glue binding all these ingredients together.
- Butter. Always use unsalted, melted butter in this recipe. Melted butter will create a moister, tender muffin.
- Vanilla extract. Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the chocolate. Reach for pure vanilla extract (rather than imitation) for the best flavor!
How to Ripen Bananas Quickly
Don’t want to wait for those bananas to turn brown? No worries!
There are quick and easy ways to speed up the ripening process. Here’s an easy tip for perfectly ripe bananas for this recipe.
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Wrap bananas (with the skin still on) in aluminum foil.
3. Place them in a pre-heated oven and bake them for 10 minutes.
When they come out of the oven, they’re ready for muffin making! Just be careful when handling them, as they will be hot.
How to Make Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
These banana chocolate chip muffins come together in a snap.
1. Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a muffin tin with butter or cooking spray.
2. Mix the dry ingredients. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Combine the wet ingredients. Mix the mashed bananas, sugar, eggs, butter, and vanilla in a separate bowl. Then, slowly incorporate the dry mixture using a spatula. Do not over-mix!
4. Add the chocolate. Once the muffin batter comes together, carefully fold in the chocolate chips until combined.
5. Bake. Place the muffin tin in the oven and bake them for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool. Place the muffins on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Muffins
Banana chocolate chip muffins are so easy, even for newbie bakers! Follow some of these quick tips to ensure they taste as delicious as they look.
- Sift your dry ingredients. No one wants clumpy muffins! Sifting your flour and sugar ensures the batter will be nice and smooth. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.
- Mitigate the mess. Worried your muffins will stick? Add cupcake liners to your muffin tins. It prevents sticking and requires less cleanup. Win-win!
- Go for that Instagram-worthy presentation. Sometimes, you have a muffin or two that looks a little plain. That’s ok! Jazz up your final presentation by pressing a few chocolate chips on top.
Variations
The great thing about this recipe is you can get creative with flavor and textures. Don’t worry, adding in spices and extra ingredients won’t affect the rise in the oven.
Check out some scrumptious variations to take these muffins over the top.
- Try a streusel topping. Transform these muffins into mini cobblers with a simple streusel topping. Combine 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 cup melted butter. Sprinkle on top and bake.
- Go crazy with chocolate. Can’t get enough chocolate? You can add more chocolate chips to this recipe to make it ultra-chocolatey. Add more semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark, white, or milk chocolate. Or, add all three. There’s no such thing as too much chocolate.
- Get nutty. What’s better than banana bread and nuts? Adding your favorite nuts like pecans or walnuts adds an excellent crunch and savory flavor to these tender muffins.
How to Store & Freeze
Since these muffins incorporate fresh fruit, their shelf life is limited. You must eat them all after they’re baked (challenge accepted!) or follow these easy storage tips.
- To Store at Room Temperature: When placed in an air-tight container, banana chocolate chip muffins will stay fresh for 2 days.
- To Store in the Refrigerator: You can extend the life of your muffins by placing them in the fridge. They will stay fresh for up to 7 days.
- To Store in the Freezer: Yes, you can freeze these muffins! Give them a quick flash-freeze by placing them in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag. When you’re ready to eat them, let them thaw in the fridge overnight.
- To Reheat: Pop a cooled or thawed muffin in the microwave in 10-second intervals to recreate that fresh-out-of-the-oven gooeyness.
Thank you for sharing this recipe for banana chocolate chip muffins. I have some over ripe bananas and they will work well in this recipe. Good new year to you!
Hi Sue, this recipe is the perfect way to use up ripe bananas! I hope you enjoy it, and Happy New Year to you as well!