Banana Applesauce Muffins with chocolate chips are made without oil or butter and bake in just 20 minutes. An easy banana muffin recipe everyone loves!
These are basically banana muffins with applesauce used in place of oil or butter. They’re lighter and lower in fat than regular banana muffins, and they’re absolutely delicious!
I had a bunch of bananas to use up, so I made these muffins twice last week. And then I realized that I had never updated this post that was originally published way back in 2014.
So, I took new pictures, wrote a printable recipe card, and baked another batch of these banana chocolate chip muffins just for you all to enjoy! Seriously, these babies go fast!
How to Make Banana Muffins with Applesauce and No Oil or Butter
In this muffin recipe, the applesauce takes the place of oil and butter. I used unsweetened applesauce in the recipe because that’s what we always have on hand.
These muffins are made from scratch, Y’all. If you want an even quicker muffin recipe, try these 2 ingredient banana muffins made with cake mix!
You can make the muffin batter in one bowl. Just combine your dry ingredients, and then mix in the wet ingredients.
The chocolate chips are optional, but the kids and I highly recommend them. Everything tastes better with chocolate, you know!
Pour the muffin batter into a prepared muffin pan. You can use nonstick spray or paper or silicone muffin liners for easier clean up.
Fill the muffin cups about two-thirds full, and bake for 18 to 20 minutes. The cinnamon and brown sugar give the muffins a nice golden color.
In fact, they were turning brown after only 10 minutes, so I tested them early, but they weren’t done. It took about 18 minutes, and they were perfect!
They’re slightly sweet, but not too sweet — perfect for an easy breakfast, brunch or snack time! Mornings are always hectic here, so I love it when I can give the kids a quick breakfast.
Now, I am most definitely not a morning person, so I usually make muffins the day before and set them aside. Hopefully, these banana applesauce muffins will still be there in the morning!
Are These Banana Muffins Healthy?
These muffins are lower in fat since they are made without oil or butter. But, they do have brown sugar and chocolate chips, so they’re not the healthiest muffins on the planet. They taste good, though, and they’re made from scratch!
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Banana Applesauce Muffins Recipe
Banana Applesauce Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 1/3 cup all-natural unsweetened applesauce I used a single serving cup that I normally pack in the kids’ lunches, and it was 1/3 cup.
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mash bananas with a fork, and set aside.
- In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add brown sugar and cinnamon. Add the bananas, applesauce and egg, and mix well.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop batter into a muffin tin that has been sprayed with non stick spray or use paper or silicone muffin liners for easier clean-up. Fill cups about 2/3rds full
- Bake for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and tops spring back when touched.
Notes
Nutrition
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Recipe was originally published in 2014 and updated in January 2020.
As you can see, my little helpers decided to have some fun when I was taking the pictures.
Marion says
Lovely recipe. I live in a country where bananas come in many different sizes. For you is 3 bananas 1 cup? Or 1/2 a cup?
Thank you.
Dee says
Sorry about that. 3 bananas is about 1 cup. Hope you like the muffins. 🙂
Laurie T says
Love, Love these muffins. My husband is a peanut butter freak so I added a 1/4 C of peanut butter to them…… So yummy. My son will eat these everyday if we have them around. I have noticed that everyone ignores the bananas that I set out for snacks, but they make sure to point out when they are ready for muffins.
Dee says
Thank you so much, Laurie! SO glad you all like them –love the addition of peanut butter!
Sharon L. says
Just made these. Got 1 dz. regular muffins and 10 mini muffins. They are so delish and easy to make. Will be making again.
Dee says
That’s wonderful, Sharon. Thanks so much!
Tom Kay says
I just made this recipe, I omitted the chocolates chips but added chopped pecans and they came out delicious…thank you for the recipe, I will definitely be using it and making these again.
Dee says
That’s wonderful news, Tom. Thanks! So glad you like the cookies!
Catie says
I’m currently making 3 batches – 1 with chocolate chips, 1 with raspberries and 1 without either. I like to have healthy banana muffins on the ready, in my freezer, for my toddler. Thanks for the great recipe!
Dee says
Thanks, Catie! Awesome job with the meal planning! 🙂
Karen Bengert says
Is there anyway to use less brown sugar?
Dee says
I haven’t tried it, but you can reduce the sugar if you want. I’ll have to try it next time I make them.
Verna Darleen says
I give these healthy muffins a 5. Very moist and tasty. They stuck a little to the bottom of the paper liner out of the oven warm but enjoyed very much.
Dee says
Thank you so much, Verna! I find that parchment paper baking liners usually work best, if you can find them. 🙂
Briana Edwards says
This is a very good recipe 👍. Love it! Easy too.
Dee says
Thank you so much, Briana! Glad you liked it!
Izze says
Just made these they are delish! Are the nutritional facts for the whole batch or per muffin? Thanks !
Dee says
Wonderful! The nutritional facts should be for 1 serving, so 1 muffin.
James says
Made these last night to have for a quick breakfast. They didn’t make it that far. Everybody had them when they were just out of the oven. Making more real soon!
Dee says
These muffins do go fast. Glad you all liked them, James!
Dee M says
The applesauce makes them a little lighter and gives them a unique taste too. 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks so much, Sheila! They are very easy to make. 🙂
Carol says
Yum, these sound so good, Dee! I like the idea of using applesauce in place of oil.
Shari Eckstrom says
I love banana muffins and appreciate the applesauce. It makes them a bit healthier. Thanks for joining us at Foodie Fridays. Hope to see you again this week.
Blessings,
Shari
Susan @ This Makes That says
I'm always looking for a muffin recipe that uses applesauce. These look wonderful!!!
Sheila E says
I think I could make these muffins. Not too many items or too complicated. I shy away from recipes with dozens of ingredients! These look pretty too!
Thanks for sharing! Visiting from Savvy.
Dee M says
Thanks, Michelle. These go very fast in our house! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks so much for hosting, Miz Helen, and I hope your weekend was great! 🙂
Dee M says
Thanks, Ricki! We've made these several times already, and everyone loves them. I hope you do too! 🙂
Ricki M says
Oh these look good. I'm a little short on the ripe bananas at the moment (I only have 1 and was going to use it this morning for my smoothie), but I might have to save some from the next bunch I pick up to make these muffins. I really enjoy muffins in the morning, so I will be saving this recipe.
Michelle Nahom says
Yum! Those look delicious! I think we have some ripe bananas here! Thanks for sharing them at Foodie Fridays!
Miz Helen says
Hi Dee,
This is a perfect muffin for fall, I just love these flavors! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with Full Plate Thursday and have a great weekend!
Hope to see you again real soon,
Miz Helen
Dee M says
We had them again last Sunday. I hope you like them! 🙂
Dee M says
I hope your family loves them as much as mine do! 🙂
My Maine Blog says
This looks like a great recipe … a great Sunday morning breakfast recipe. I will trying this one soon.
Rattlebridge Farm says
I've got to make these muffins! My family will love them. Thanks for sharing your recipe at Foodie Friday!