Banana Carrot Muffins

Banana Carrot Muffins made with whole wheat flour, shredded carrots and ripe bananas are light, fluffy, and moist. A healthy muffin recipe the entire family will love!

Just like these healthy morning glory muffins and carrot zucchini muffins, they’re the perfect start to a busy day.

If healthy banana muffins and healthy carrot muffins had a baby, the result would be these naturally sweetened banana carrot muffins, delicious!

The flavors and warm spices mingle perfectly. Think healthy carrot cake meets healthy banana bread in an easy to make, one bowl healthy muffin.

With no added refined sugar and loaded with fruit, veggies, and nuts, these carrot banana muffins make for a healthy breakfast, grab-and-go snack, and are freezer friendly. 

Ingredients for Banana Carrot Muffins

This banana carrot muffins recipe uses everyday wholesome ingredients.

• Bananas: Very ripe bananas are the best, they should have many brown spots or patches. You can use previously frozen bananas or here is a quick tutorial how to ripen bananas faster.
• Egg: Adds texture and help muffins rise. Chia egg or flax egg will work but muffins will rise less.
• Applesauce: Keeps the muffins sweet and moist. You can use sweetened or unsweetened applesauce. I like unsweetened applesauce to keep healthy banana carrot muffins low in sugar.
• Maple syrup or honey: Any liquid sweetener would work, like agave. I personally like the taste of maple syrup best.
• Light oil: Use whatever light olive oil you have on hand to add moisture. I used avocado oil.
• Baking staples and spices: Vanilla extract, cinnamon, baking powder, baking salt, and salt.
• Whole wheat flour: I love using regular whole wheat flour, white whole wheat flour, or spelt flour for their extra nutrients and fiber.
• Carrots: You will need around 3 medium carrots. I find it’s best to use the small side of a box grater to create thin, grated carrots. They make carrot banana muffins more moist and “hide the veggies”.
• Add-ins: To get that carrot cake taste I used raisins and chopped walnuts, but you can use any dried fruit or nuts.

How to Make Banana Carrot Muffins

Follow these simple steps with photos to make banana carrot muffins. There is full recipe card below.

Start by preheating your oven to 375 F, add muffin liners to your muffin tin and spray them with cooking spray.

• Mash the bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher.
• Make muffin batter and add mix-ins: Add an egg, applesauce, maple syrup, oil, vanilla extract, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gently stir in flour without overmixing. Fold in the shredded carrots, raisins, and walnuts.
• Bake the muffins: Evenly distribute the batter into your prepared 12 muffin tin and bake for 20-22 minutes. The muffins are done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Cool and enjoy: Let the muffins cool for a few minutes in the pan so they don’t lose their shape. Then transfer to a cooling rack.

Tips for Best Results

Here are my top baking tips for this easy banana carrot muffins recipe.

• Use overripe bananas: For best sweet results and luscious banana flavor.
• Grate carrots finely and don’t squeeze: The excess moisture from carrots adds to the texture and helps the muffins stay moist.
• To ripen bananas faster: Place them on a baking sheet and bake at 300 F for 40 minutes.
• Don’t over bake the muffins: To prevent dry muffins, remove them from the oven as soon as the toothpick comes out clean.
• Spray muffin liners or use parchment paper ones: These banana carrots muffins will stick, so you’ll want to spray your muffin pan with cooking spray generously.
• Add or omit whatever mix-ins you like: The combination of banana and carrot will make your taste buds dance, but there are lots of fun ways to mix it up. Use pecans or almonds in place of walnuts. Add a teaspoon of ground nutmeg, dried cranberries, or even chocolate chips.

How to Store Carrot Banana Muffins

Store: These carrot banana muffins are quite moist. Store on a counter for 2 days covered with an opening. If you store them airtight, mold will quickly build up. After that you can refrigerate a few more days or freeze.

Freeze: In an airtight container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter for a few hours or overnight.

FAQs

More Carrot Recipes to Try

• Carrot baked oatmeal bars
• Healthy carrot cake bars
• Almond flour carrot cake
• Carrot cake baked oatmeal

More Banana Muffin Recipes to Try

• Almond flour banana muffins
• Oat flour banana muffins
• Healthy banana oatmeal muffins
• Healthy zucchini banana muffins
• Protein banana muffins
• Pumpkin banana muffins
• Healthy banana chocolate chip muffins
• Healthy blueberry banana muffins
• Vegan banana muffins