Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce

These Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce are an adaptation to my regular Banana Bread, with less sugar, applesauce instead of oil and blueberries replacing chocolate chips, as well as added some bran for extra fibre.

I created these Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce as a healthy delicious snack alternative for our family. My Healthy Banana Bread has been a go to recipe of mine for years and I used it as the base for these muffins. What makes that recipe so versatile is that it’s decadent enough to serve as a tasty dessert addition to lunch or brunch, but also healthy enough that you don’t feel too guilty about having a slice for breakfast on occasion.

Even though my regular banana bread is healthy, it’s still nowhere near as packed with goodness as these muffins. I’ve reduced the sugar, swapped out the oil for applesauce and chocolate chips for blueberries as well as added some bran for extra fibre. The result is incredibly flavourful and healthy muffins perfect for breakfast or just a snack.

The secret to these delicious muffins is overripe bananas. I wait for bananas that have started developing brown spots, then I let them sit out until they are almost completely brown and quite soft. Because they are so overripe, these bananas are sweeter, resulting in a more flavourful banana bread.

These muffins are healthy, hearty, and delicious. The outside is slightly crisp, while the insides are soft and moist. They are sweet, with a nutty flavour from the bran, and perfectly complimented by the wild blueberries. These banana muffins are incredibly simple recipe to prepare, and I think it will become a favourite in your home too.

TOTAL TIME

• Preparation Time – 20 minutes
• Cooking Time – 30 minutes
• Total Time – 50 minutes

INGREDIENTS

The ingredients for these Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce are easy to find in any grocery store, just keep a few of the pointers below in mind to ensure you get the best result.

Quick Applesauce

• 4 medium Granny Smith Apples
• 1 cup Water

Banana Muffins

• 1.5 cups Wheat Bran
• 1.5 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Ground Nutmeg
• 2/3 cup Dark Brown Sugar
• 1 cup Wild Blueberries
• 1 cup Applesauce, preferably homemade
• 3 Large Eggs
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 5 Overripe Bananas, mashed

WHAT MAKES THESE BANANA MUFFINS HEALTHY?

I make these muffins with applesauce instead of oil, as well as reduced sugar and blueberries.

WHY DO YOU USE DARK BROWN SUGAR FOR BANANA MUFFINS?

Brown sugar (which is readily available from multiple brands) is simply white sugar with the molasses added back in. It’s the flavour from the molasses that adds extra depth to this tasty dessert, so make sure to include it for best results.

WHAT MAKES WILD BLUEBERRIES DIFFERENT?

Wild blueberries are smaller, sweeter, and more flavourful than the farm grown variety. They are seasonal, so I often purchase them frozen to use in baking.

WHAT IS WHEAT BRAN?

Bran is the hard outer layer of the wheat kernel, which is full of nutrients and fiber. When the wheat is milled, the bran is stripped away from the kernel and becomes a byproduct. Wheat bran has a sweet, nutty flavor.

WHY DO THESE MUFFINS TAKE SO LONG TO BAKE?

The combination of the bran and the applesauce makes these muffins moister than my usual banana muffins, as a result they take longer to bake.

HOW RIPE SHOULD MY BANANAS BE?

Overripe bananas are the not so secret ingredient in my Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce. Ideally you want bananas that have have entirely brown peels. I find that the best way to ensure that you always have these overripe extra sweet bananas, is to peel them and pop them in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. This way they won’t go bad before you get a chance to use them, and you will have enough on hand when you feel like you just have to have banana muffins! You can definitely freeze them unpeeled as well, but then you’ll have to wait for them to thaw slightly before you can peel them and use them.

CAN I STORE THEM AT ROOM TEMPERATURE?

Unlike my Healthy Banana Bread I would not recommend storing these muffins at room temperature for more than a day or two. They are incredibly moist, and as a result they will go bad much quicker if they are not in the fridge or freezer.

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

CAN I USE ALL BRAN WHEAT?

I would not recommend using only bran in this recipe. In the course of developing this recipe I tried a number of flour to bran ratios, starting with entirely bran. A muffin made with only bran will be incredibly dense and overly moist with a less appealing flavour. A one to one ratio will have the added fibre and flavour of bran with the texture of a regular banana muffin.

HOW CAN I MAKE THIS RECIPE VEGAN?

Although I am not vegan, a number of my friends are. From them, I’ve learned that both chia eggs and Aquafaba (the liquid from canned chickpeas) are excellent substitutes for eggs in baking.

CAN I USE STORE BOUGHT APPLESAUCE?

You can definitely substitute store bought applesauce in this recipe if you wish, just make sure that you purchase unsweetened applesauce. Sweetened applesauce will add unnecessary sugar to your recipe, and will make your muffins overly sweet.

CAN I USE IMITATION VANILLA?

My firm recommendation is to buy a good vanilla extract and never, ever, buy imitation vanilla! I suggest Neilsen Massey or another high quality extract which will add beautiful flavour to your baking. Many brands sell authentic vanilla at varying price points so it’s easy to find one that suits your needs.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF APPLE IN MY APPLESAUCE?

I like to use Granny Smith apples in my applesauce because their slight tartness adds a lovely flavour. You could substitute a different apple if you wish.

EQUIPMENT FOR HEALTHY BANANA MUFFINS WITH APPLESAUCE

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Below is a list of the main equipment/kitchen tools needed to make Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce.

• Kitchen Aid Professional Mixer – If you are an avid baker, I highly recommend purchasing a Kitchen Aid Professional mixer. For many years I owned a Kitchen Aid Artisan mixer. It was a fantastic tool, but I found that when I was making heavier batter, or a dense dough, it struggled. The Professional Kitchen Aid Mixer can handle even the heaviest of batters with ease. In addition, it has a large 6.6 L bowl which can accommodate multiple batches of dough. If you don’t own a mixer don’t worry, you can also make this by hand with a whisk, a spatula, and a large mixing bowl.

• Parchment Muffin Cups – I highly recommend lining your muffin trays with parchment paper to ensure they don’t stick. Paper Chef is my favourite brand, and their muffins liners are easily available.

• Whisk – If you don’t own a mixer don’t worry, you can also make this by hand with a whisk, a spatula, and a large mixing bowl. A simple whisk is a tool that all home cooks need. I like using one that’s dishwasher safe.

• Kitchen Aid Muffin Pan – If you are making Healthy Banana muffins instead, you will need a muffin pan. I own a Kitchen Aid muffin pan. I find it evenly cooks my muffins and never warps which is key.

• Spatula

• Large Mixing Bowl

COOKING DIRECTIONS FOR HEALTHY BANANA MUFFINS

These Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce are very simple to make if you follow a few simple tips:

1. Use extremely overripe bananas.
2. Use a one to one flour to bran ratio.
3. Make sure to bake your muffins until it is completely done. Always test it with a tooth pick and make sure it comes out clean. When in doubt, bake it a bit longer.

MAKE AHEAD STORAGE

I wouldn’t recommend making the batter for these muffins in advance.

Your Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce will keep beautifully at in an airtight container on your counter for a day or two, or in your fridge for two to three days. They also freeze well in an airtight container, and can either be left out to thaw, or gently warmed in the microwave before serving.

FINISHED DISH

Enjoy these Healthy Banana Muffins with Applesauce!

OTHER BREAKFAST DISHES

Healthy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

The Best Fluffy Scone Recipe

Mango Pancakes with Strawberry Sauce

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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