Bakery Style Banana Walnut Muffins

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Moist, sweet, and oh-so easy to make Bakery-Style Banana Walnut Muffins. These are so much better than any muffin at a coffee shop! Sweet banana muffins infused with vanilla and just a hint of lemon juice, swirled with toasted walnuts, and finished with a few extra walnuts on top to add just the right amount of crunch. These bakery style muffins are no fuss, perfectly sweet, moist, and SO DELICIOUS! Bonus? These muffins are so much easier to make than you might think (made in only two bowls!). Truly the perfect muffin to enjoy any day of the week and anytime of year!

About The Recipe

Lately, my mom and I have been on a serious muffin kick. It’s kinda all we’ve been baking the last few days! But, to be completely honest, we weren’t too sure if this was too basic of a recipe to be sharing on the blog, but they just tasted too darn good not to share!

Between you and me, we have been making them pretty much every few days (as we often have overripe bananas on the counter, oops!).

Though, muffins are something we don’t really share very often. Not because we don’t like them, but because we’re always making the same ones over and over again!

We’re either baking a batch of our lemon blueberry muffins, chocolate chip, or even coffee cake when we’re craving something a little sweeter. There’s just something delicious and comforting about a classic muffin!

But, back last Fall, my mom and I started trying to be a little bit more creative with our muffins. It’s been so much fun seeing what we could come up with! Though, with some overripe bananas sitting on on our counter, we knew we should make some muffins with them.

But, we didn’t just want to make any ordinary banana muffins. We wanted something a little different, but still equally delicious.

So, we based these muffins were based on our go-to banana bread recipe!

It became such a hit in our house that we started making them on REPEAT! Absolutely every loved them. They’re tender, moist, perfectly sweet, banana-y, with just the right amount of crunch coming from the walnuts.

Every bite is seriously addicting – thanks to the addition of extra banana, a splash of vanilla, and toasted walnuts!

It’s the perfect treat to start your mornings, while also using the overripe bananas sitting on counter!

What Are Banana Walnut Muffins?

Banana Walnut Muffins – or, banana muffins, are the same thing as the classic treat known as banana bread! A quick-bread style batter, made with the addition of sweet ripe bananas and toasted walnuts to give it the ultimate flavor.

Though, instead of baking in it in a loaf pan, the batter is divided into a muffin pan and baked as-such! It’s such a convenient grab-and-go snack/breakfast treat that’s perfect for lazy weekend brunches or when you’re running out the door for school or work.

Reasons You Will Love These Banana Walnut Muffins

• Soft, pillowy, perfectly sweet, and SO delicious.
• A great way to use overripe bananas.
• Freezes and reheats well!
• Perfect for back-to-school, weekend brunches, or just whenever you’re craving a deliciously sweet banana muffin.
• Tastes SO much better than stoere-bought!

Equipment Needed

• Quarter Sized Sheet Pan
• Cutting Board
• Sharp Knife
• Mixing Bowl
• Hand Mixer
• Muffin Pan
• Cupcake Papers
• Cake Tester

Ingredients

Full ingredient amounts and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Overripe Bananas – The secret to any good banana muffin is by using overripe bananas! Not only do they lend a natural sweetness to the muffin, but it also provides a stronger banana flavor.
• Vanilla Extract – Adds a sweet undertone to every bite.
• Lemon Juice – Just a splash of lemon juice keeps the bananas from turning brown.
• Unsalted Butter – For these muffins, we opted to use unsalted butter to help us control the amount of salt in the recipe.
• Granulated Sugar – Sugar does so much for baked goods other than sweeten! It keeps the muffin soft, moist, it helps promote browning…it is an essential ingredient for structure and flavor!
• Large Eggs –  Remember to set our your eggs ahead of time to allow them to come to room temperature before mixing.
• All-Purpose Flour – All you need is just regular unbleached all-purpose flour to create the most tender crumb.
• Baking Soda – Adds just the right amount of rise to these muffins, making them tall and fluffy!
• Salt – Just a dash to balance out the sugar and bring out the flavor.
• Walnuts – Not only do these walnuts add crunch to the muffins, but also an intense nutty flavor!

How To Make Banana Walnut Muffins

Step 1: Toast the walnuts

Place walnuts on quarter sized sheet pan. Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until lightly toasted and fragrant. Set aside to cool.

Chop and divide.

Step 2: Prepare batter

In a medium bowl, smash bananas with vanilla and lemon juice.

With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Stir in banana mixture and 1 cup walnuts.

Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix only until blended.

Step 3: Portion and bake

Use a 3 Tablespoon cookie scoop to portion batter, or fill each muffin cup ¾ full. Top with remaining walnuts. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until done.

FAQ’s and Troubleshooting

What can I use if I don’t have ripe bananas?

If you don’t have ripe bananas, no worries! There’s actually one quick trick you can do to have perfectly ripened bananas. Preheat your oven to 300°F and place your bananas, still in their peels, on a lined, rimmed sheet pan. Bake the bananas until their peels turn black. Be sure to let them cool before handling!

How much batter should I put for each muffin?

Fill each liner about ⅔ – ¾ full. I like to use a large cookie scoop (about 3 Tablespoons) to help me get each cupcake the same size!

Whats the best way to get tall and domed muffins?

If you want the tallest muffins possible, there’s actually trick to this! Instead of filling all of the cavities in your muffin pan, only fill every other one. This allows for heat to evenly distribute and move around the muffins, allowing for better rise.

Why are my muffins dry?

If your muffins are dry, there are two possibilities. Either the flour was over-measured or the muffins were over baked.

Why did my muffins stick to the paper?

This usually happens depending on the brand of cupcake paper you buy. Some are more susceptible to this than others! You can buy the same ones we use by clicking the link in the recipe card below.

Our Favorite Mix-Ins

Looking for a way to jazz up these muffins? Here are a few of our favorite things to mix into them!

• Chocolate Chips (mini chips are a personal fav!)
• Shredded Unsweetened Coconut
• A dash of cinnamon
• Dried Fruit (such-as cranberries or raisins)

How To Store

Once these muffins have cooled, you can store them in a zip top bag and keep them in the fridge for 3-5 days. You can also freeze them in a freezer safe zip top bag for up to 2 months!

Substitutions

• Want to make this recipe vegan? Use your favorite vegan egg and dairy-free butter.
• This recipe can be made gluten-free with your favorite measure for measure gluten-free flour.
• A different nut may be used in this recipe! You can use almonds, pecans, or even cashews.

Looking for more recipes like this? Here are a few you may like:

Our Best Ever Banana Bread

Chocolate Walnut Banana Bread

Healthier Baked Banana Donuts

Coconut Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Cranberry Walnut Banana Bread

Expert Tips

• Check the expiration date on your baking soda.
• Keep an eye on the walnuts while toasting them! You don’t want them to burn.
• Make sure the eggs are room temperature.
• The more ripe the bananas are, the more flavor these muffins will have.
• When mashing the bananas, be sure to not leave any large chunks of banana!
• To ensure even-sized muffins, use a large cookie scoop to portion out the batter.
• Be careful to not over-bake the muffins! Use a cake tester or a toothpick to check if the muffins are done. If it comes out clean, the muffin is baked!

When you make this Bakery Style Banana Walnut Muffins, leave a comment down below! We love hearing from you and answering any questions you might have! Also, be sure to tag us on social media and hashtag it #BakersTable.

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