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    Home » Recipes » All Recipes

    Pumpkin Banana Muffins

    By Kathleen Culver: Oct 14, 2021 · Updated: Apr 1, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These pumpkin banana muffins are quick and easy to mix up in one bowl. They boast a tender, springy consistency and bake up to have a slightly sweet crust on the top. They're subtly flavored with pumpkin pie spices that still allow the main ingredients to shine. Adding ripe banana helps cut down on the total required sugar and adds an extra layer of flavor and moisture to the muffins. The optional mini chocolate chips are a delightful (and recommended) addition. When eaten warm, the chips form tiny pools of melted chocolate that make each bite an extra treat. Bonus - these muffins stay fresh for days!

    Baked pumpkin banana muffins in brown parchment liners in a muffin tin on a white stone surface. Surrounded by an opened muffin, a blue linen, a bowl of chocolate chips and a ceramic plate.

    The origin of pumpkin banana mini chocolate chip muffins

    I'm a compulsive banana buyer. I add them to almost every grocery order we make, even though I never really have an end game in mind (besides my kids eating them plain). This means that I always have at least 3 or 4 black bananas in the fridge just waiting to be used. They drive my husband crazy. But he doesn't eat banana bread (sigh), so I guess that explains his lack of appreciation for them.

    Last week I had the black bananas, and also had a partial can of pumpkin puree left over from recipe testing. I decided to put them together to make these delicious muffins. When combined with some pumpkin spice, they balance each other out nicely. If you find banana bread too strong on the banana flavor, the pumpkin helps temper it. And the same with pumpkin; the addition of banana and spices adds an extra touch of sweetness and helps the pumpkin lean more towards pie, and away from squash.

    A closeup view of eleven pumpkin banana muffins nestled next to each other in brown parchment paper liners.

    Why you'll love these muffins

    • There's no mixer required! Since the butter is melted for this recipe, the ingredients can all be stirred together by hand. No need to cream the butter with the sugar.
    • It's a one bowl recipe. So straightforward!
    • This recipe makes 12 full-sized muffins. They hold up very well to being stored in an airtight container for a few days, and can easily be frozen for later.
    • This recipe uses common pantry ingredients (as long as you have pumpkin puree) so you can make them at a moment's notice.
    • The smell of these muffins warm from the oven is delightful. I brought some recently baked muffins with me when I picked up the girls from school, and the whole car smelled like a bakery. They ate them as a snack for four days in a row with no complaint. That's high praise coming from kids who usually insist on variety.
    • You'll have enough canned pumpkin left over to give these pumpkin cream cheese thumbprint cookies a try as well!
    Ingredients in bowls arranged on a white textured stone surface. Ingredients include flour, pumpkin puree, melted butter, mashed bananas, eggs, sugar and spices.

    Recipe notes, ingredients and substitutions

    • Unsalted butter - Using unsalted butter allows you to control the total quantity of salt in the recipe. Salt content in salted butter varies from brand to brand. The butter is melted. If you want to go over the top, feel free to brown the butter first! I recommend starting with an extra tablespoon (an extra 14 grams) of butter if browning, as it will reduce during cooking. If you want to remove the dairy, you can use a vegan butter, or try substituting about 6 Tablespoons of vegetable oil for the butter. While I haven't tested butter alternatives in this recipe, you can generally substitute oil for part of the melted butter in muffins and quick breads without issue.
    • Brown sugar - Brown sugar adds a nice rich color and caramel flavor, and helps keep the baked muffins moist.
    • Granulated sugar
    • Eggs
    • Vanilla extract
    • Bananas - You want to use really ripe bananas for this recipe. Dark brown or black bananas are great. Don't feel the need to mash them to a completely even consistency. Some small lumps will be fine, as they'll continue to break down as you mix the batter further. No brown bananas on hand? For a fun read about how to ripen bananas, check out this article from Epicurious.
    • Pumpkin - Be sure to use 100% pure pumpkin puree here, and not a sweetened canned pumpkin pie filling. The only ingredient listed on the can should be pumpkin. You can also use your own pumpkin puree. Make sure it has a similar consistency to canned pumpkin.
    • All purpose flour - Feel free to substitute a cup for cup style gluten free flour if you’d like to convert this to a gluten free pumpkin banana muffin recipe.
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • Cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg - Traditional pumpkin pie spices add a warming element and an extra layer of flavor to these muffins. If you have your own preferred pumpkin pie spice blend at home, feel free to substitute it in equal measurements for the spices listed.
    • Mini chocolate chips (optional) - I tossed some mini chocolate chips into part of a test batch on a whim. After trying them, I decided they needed to become a permanent part of my recipe. Feel free to omit them if you'd like to try a straightforward pumpkin banana version without the chocolate.
    Two muffins stacked on top of each other on a white ceramic plate resting on a white stone surface. More muffins in parchment paper liners peek out from each side of the frame.

    Can I use homemade pumpkin puree in these muffins?

    Yes! You can definitely use your own pumpkin puree. Make sure it has a similar smooth texture and consistency to canned pumpkin. Pureed butternut squash would also work nicely.

    Can I substitute a pumpkin spice blend for the spices listed here?

    Absolutely. If you have a favorite pumpkin spice blend in your pantry, simply use it in lieu of the spices listed here. Pumpkin spice blends often consist of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, as I've listed here. Some blends also include cloves, allspice, and even mace. Use 1 ½ teaspoons of your preferred pumpkin spice blend.

    Can I omit the chocolate chips?

    The chocolate chips are completely optional. Leave them in for a little bit of decadence, or feel free to omit them completely. You could also substitute a similar amount of other add-ins such as raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped nuts such as pecans or walnuts. Make them however you wish! Be sure to sprinkle a bit of the add-ins, whether mini chocolate chips or something else, over the top of each muffin prior to baking to give the muffins some extra visual punch.

    Baked pumpkin banana muffins in brown parchment liners in a muffin tin. One cavity is empty and holds two cinnamon sticks. The pan is on an angle and there are bites out of two muffins, revealing the inside texture.

    How to make pumpkin banana muffins

    Process shot of muffin batter in a white glass mixing bowl on a textured white stone background with wet ingredients added.
    Step 1: Combine the melted butter, pumpkin puree, mashed banana, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
    Process shot of muffin batter in a white glass mixing bowl on a textured white stone background with wet ingredients mixed together.
    Step 2: Whisk wet ingredients together until fully combined.
    Process shot of muffin batter in a white glass mixing bowl on a textured white stone background with sugar added to the wet ingredients.
    Step 3: Add sugars.
    Process shot of muffin batter in a white glass mixing bowl on a textured white stone background with sugars mixed in.
    Step 4: Fully mix in sugar.
    Process shot of muffin batter in a white glass mixing bowl on a textured white stone background with dry ingredients added.
    Step 5: Add flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
    Process shot of muffin batter in a white glass mixing bowl on a textured white stone background.
    Step 6: Mix in dry ingredients just until blended. A few little streaks of flour are fine. Do not overmix.
    Process shot of muffin batter in a white glass mixing bowl on a textured white stone background with mini chocolate chips added.
    Step 7: Add optional mini chocolate chips. I highly recommend them...
    Process shot of finished muffin batter in a white glass mixing bowl on a textured white stone background.
    Step 8: Carefully stir in mini chocolate chips.
    Process shot of muffin batter scooped into brown parchment paper muffin liners in a pan on a white stone textured surface.
    Step 9: Scoop into muffin pan lined with paper liners. Fill each about ¾ full, dividing batter equally between 12 muffins. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 22-24 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes in pan and then transfer to a cooling rack. Enjoy warm or cold!
    Baked muffins in brown parchment liners in a muffin tin. One cavity is empty and holds two cinnamon sticks.
    Baked pumpkin banana muffins in brown parchment liners in a muffin tin on a white stone surface. Surrounded by an opened muffin, a blue linen, a d a small ceramic bowl of chocolate chips.

    Pumpkin Banana Muffins

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    This easy, one bowl pumpkin banana muffin recipe comes together quickly. These muffins boast a tender, springy consistency and bake up to have a slightly sweet crust on the top. They're subtly flavored with pumpkin pie spices, and the optional mini chocolate chips add nice melty pools of chocolate when eaten warm.
    Prep time15 minutes
    Cook time22 minutes
    Total time37 minutes
    Servings12 standard muffins
    Author: Kathleen Culver

    INGREDIENTS

    • 113 grams (½ cup, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
    • 175 grams (¾ cup) banana, mashed
    • 183 grams (¾ cup) pumpkin puree
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 100 grams (½ cup) brown sugar
    • 50 grams (¼ cup) granulated sugar
    • 210 grams (1¾ cups) all purpose flour
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • 56 grams (¼ cup) mini chocolate chips, plus extra for sprinkling on top

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 Celsius, Gas Mark 5). Line a standard 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine melted butter, mashed banana, pumpkin puree, eggs and vanilla. Whisk well to fully incorporate. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add sugars and mix again.
    • Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Mix together until just barely combined and dry ingredients are no longer visible. Do not overmix. If adding mini chocolate chips, gently stir in now. Sprinkle some additional mini chocolate chips onto the top of each muffin.
    • Using an ice cream or cookie scoop, fill each muffin liner about ¾ full, dividing the batter between the 12 muffin liners. Bake for 22-24 minutes, until tops spring back when touched, and a toothpick comes out with just a crumb or two attached (no wet batter). Cool in pan for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.

    Made this recipe?

    Please leave a comment and a star review! Share it on Instagram with
    @theflouredtable and #theflouredtable.

    A muffin is split in half, resting face up on a brown parchment liner. It sits on a white ceramic plate on a white textured surface. A light blue linen napkin is nearby.

    More fall recipes

    If you liked these banana pumpkin muffins, you might also enjoy these other fall recipes:

    • Pumpkin Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies
    • Apple Ginger Mini Cakes with Salted Caramel Sauce
    • Triple Ginger Molasses Cookies
    • Apple Olive Oil Bundt Cake with Vanilla Glaze
    • No Bake Carrot Cake Bars
    Baked muffins in brown parchment liners in a muffin tin. One cavity is empty and holds two cinnamon sticks.
    « Plum Coffee Cake
    Salted Caramel Macarons »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Stephanie

      January 12, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      Ah, my favorite flavors together in a one bowl recipe—what could be better? I laughed out loud at the note saying they would stay fresh for several days, thinking who would not eat them all immediately? But somehow one muffin out of my batch got “lost” in the cupboard and indeed, was still delicious when I found it. Magic.

      Reply
      • Kathleen Culver

        January 12, 2022 at 4:18 pm

        Oh goodness, I'm glad you found that one escapee while it was still fresh. Ha!
        That indeed is a ringing endorsement - thank you so much!
        I love how these smell out of the oven.
        Kathleen

        Reply

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    Hi! I'm Kathleen. I'm the baker, food photographer and chief mess maker behind The Floured Table. I love to share my passion for beautiful, delicious tasting desserts by creating recipes you can confidently recreate at home.

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