How to make delicious Vegan Banana Muffins

Vegan banana muffins are the new kid on the block - they're easy to make, delicious and great for some on-the-go snacking. In this blog, we will also cover the best ways to replace eggs in baking and share some of our favourite recipe ideas. 

What are Vegan Banana Muffins?

With very close ties to banana bread, banana muffins basically have the same mixture foundation but require less time and lower heat in the oven to produce a small cake that’s lighter and fluffier. Banana muffins are our go-to banana recipe when we’re short on time! 

A vegan muffin is, you guessed it, a muffin without the inclusion of animal products or animal by-products. In traditional banana muffin recipes, they can include eggs, butter and dairy milk.

What do you need to make Vegan Banana Muffins?

They’re super easy to make, and with our Spotty Banana Bread mixes, you won’t need to scour the internet searching for vegan banana muffins. We’ve done the work for you. All you’ll need are mashed overripe bananas (the more spots, the better!), Spotty Banana Bread mix, muffin tin and muffin liners. 

Like all vegan recipes, making healthy banana muffins vegan calls for the replacement of animal products and by-products used in usual banana muffin recipes, particularly eggs, butter and dairy milk. 

Butter can be easily switched for other plant-based oils such as vegetable oil, olive oil or coconut oil. Coconut oil or olive oil is a particular favourite of ours as it has a very simple 1:1 ratio with butter. Cow’s milk can also be replaced with unsweetened non-dairy milk options such as almond milk, soy milk or oat milk. Whilst almond milk is commonly used as the alternative, the choice of milk is completely up to you and your preference. You should bake banana muffins that cater to your palate!

When it comes to substituting eggs, this can be slightly trickier because there are  heaps of different substitutes so we’ve detailed below some of the best ways to replace eggs in your next banana muffin creation.

What can I use instead of eggs in banana muffins?

You might be vegan, simply run out of eggs, have an egg allergy or concerned about animal welfare. There’s no need to worry about missing out the best banana muffins as eggs can be easily replaced in many ways. To simplify it for you when making vegan banana muffins, you can read all about how we use egg replacements in our vegan banana bread as well as some of the top egg replacements for any baking recipe really!

1.   Unsweetened applesauce

Made from cooked apples that have been pureed, applesauce is an easy egg replacement option. When swapping 1 egg in your vegan banana muffin recipe, use ¼ cup (65g) of applesauce. 

2.   Silken tofu

Thanks to the moist texture, high protein levels and water content, you can replace 1 egg in your vegan banana muffin recipe with ¼ cup (60g) of pureed silken tofu. 

3.   Vinegar and baking soda

To substitute 1 egg in your vegan banana muffins, mix 1 tablespoon (15g) of vinegar and 1 teaspoon (7g) of baking soda, ensuring there are no clumps. We recommend using either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. 

4.   Flax ‘Egg’

To substitute 1 egg in your vegan banana muffins, mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds (known as flaxmeal) and 3 tablespoons of water, letting rest for 15 minutes. Add to the wet ingredients of your mixture before combining with your dry ingredients.   

5.   Spotty’s Vegan Egg Replacer

Ready made egg replacers are becoming increasingly common with the rise in egg-free eating, but have you tried our Spotty Vegan Egg Replacer? To make 1 egg for your vegan banana muffins, combine 1 tablespoon (7g) of egg replacer with 2 tablespoons (30ml) of warm water. Add to your wet ingredients before combining with your dry banana muffin mix.

Are Vegan Banana Muffins and Vegan Banana Bread Muffins the same thing? 

There is a slight difference between vegan banana muffins and vegan banana bread muffins.

Vegan banana muffins are similar to vanilla muffins in that they are light and fluffy however with the addition of banana, have that amazing fruity flavour. These banana muffins look similar to a banana cake which differs to banana bread muffins that look similar to banana bread.

Vegan banana bread muffins differ to banana muffins in that they often include brown sugar instead of white sugar, as will as the addition of extra spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, which creates a warm, nutty flavour that’s slightly richer. The batter for banana bread muffins is essentially the same as banana bread but they are baked in smaller portions, and require a higher temperature but shorter baking time. This is due to cooking the banana muffins in a muffin tin where the amount of batter is significantly less than what is included in a loaf tin.

Vegan Banana Muffin Recipe Ideas

1. Vegan Gluten Free (GF) Banana Muffins

By replacing traditional flours with gluten free options like almond flour, rice flour and tapioca flour, your vegan banana muffins won’t leave you feeling bloated or tired.

If you aren't sure of the best way to substitute for gluten free flour, Spotty Gluten Free Banana Bread mix is perfect for those following a gluten free diet, and saves you the hassle of making it all from scratch. We know how busy life can get.

2. Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Any chocolate lovers here? You’ve come to the right place. To make vegan banana choc chip muffins, add ⅔ cup of your favourite choc chips to the banana muffin mix and combine well. We recommend our Premium Choc Chips to make the perfect choc chip banana muffin If you’re looking to reduce sugar content, we recommend our 98% sugar free Choc Chips.

With this vegan banana chocolate chip muffin recipe, each bite will be a burst of sweet banana with slightly melted chocolate bits. I think we might be drooling already...

3. Vegan Sugar Free Banana Muffins

If you’re conscious about sugar intake, you can still make delicious vegan muffins without losing the natural sweetness of overripe bananas. The best way to reduce your sugar intake with a vegan banana muffin is to swap out regular sugar for natural sweeteners like erythritol and xylitol. It's always good to understand the differences and compare xylitol and erythritol to know which one is right for your sugar free banana muffins. Whether you’re diabetic or looking to lose weight, you can still enjoy this treat whenever and wherever. 

If you’re looking to make vegan sugar free banana muffins but aren't sure how, you can try our Sugar Free Banana Bread Mix. 

4. Vegan Healthy Banana Muffins

Everyone has their own unique definition of healthy. You might be looking for organic options, high protein recipes, gluten free, sugar free or all of them. Regardless, vegan banana muffins are a super versatile recipe that you can make your way! All of our Spotty Banana Bread mixes are made from natural and certified organic ingredients! 

5. Vegan Banana Oat Muffins 

Oats are a fun way to add a more robust and chewy texture to your banana muffin. It will also add that much needed fibre (your gut will thank you!) to your brekkie or afternoon tea treat. Simply take your favourite vegan banana muffin recipe and add ⅔ cup of rolled oats to the dry mix and stir carefully until well combined. If you find the oats are drying out your mix, add a small amount of additional liquid such as oil. No need to add oat flour to make this extra oaty!

For even more recipe ideas, check out our ‘5 easy and delicious Banana Muffin ideas’ blog!

Where can I buy Spotty Banana Bread?

You can purchase all of our banana bread mixes and baking additions in our online shop. Whether you’re looking for a sugar free or gluten free option, Spotty has something for everybody. 

If you’ve enjoyed your Spotty mix, we’d love to see your creation! Tag us on @spottybananabread :)