These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins are the perfect quick and easy high-protein muffin recipe. They're made with simple whole foods plant-based ingredients, and they're naturally sweetened. They're perfect for breakfast meal prep, or a high-protein dessert recipe!
Muffins are the perfect healthy breakfast for anyone with a sweet tooth (Me!). I love making healthy muffins because they're the perfect snack or breakfast for vegans and non-vegans alike. Nobody will be able to tell if they're vegan (or healthy), because they are so good!
After seeing how much of a hit my Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins were, I knew I had to make a high-protein version of this healthy snack . These muffins have all the deliciousness of the regular muffin with extra protein.
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Jump to:
- What Makes These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins Healthy?
- Ingredient List For Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins:
- How To Make These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins:
- Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffin Substitutions:
- Healthy Protein Muffins Variations:
- What You Will Need To Make These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins:
- How To Store These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins:
- Top Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Related Healthy Vegan Muffin Recipes:
- Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins
- Food Safety
- More High Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes:
What Makes These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins Healthy?
These banana muffins are one of my go-to high-protein breakfast recipes. Not only are they sweet and moist with the perfect fluffy texture, but they're also made with healthy ingredients! These healthy banana protein muffins are:
- Oil-Free - This means that the muffins contain less fat and more fiber. There are so many great oil-free substitutions, that I rarely find a need for it. I prefer to use ingredients that don't have their fiber, protein, and other essential nutrients removed.
- Refined Sugar-Free - These banana protein muffins do not contain any refined sugars. Just like oil, refined sugars are stripped of essential nutrients. Therefore I like to use natural sweeteners that still contain these nutrients.
- Vegan - Of course, this recipe is vegan if it's on my website. That means these vegan banana chocolate chip muffins are made dairy-free and egg-free! This means less saturated fat and more fiber!
- Gluten-Free - Eating gluten-free is not necessarily healthier, whole wheat flour is often a great choice. However, if you use the right flour gluten-free can be a great healthy option!
Ingredient List For Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins:
These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins are the perfect high-protein treat. They use simple and clean ingredients, are super filling, and of course, they are absolutely delicious!
Dry Ingredients:
- PlantFusion Complete Lean Vanilla Bean - If you're looking for a plant-based protein that does it all, the Complete Lean, or the Complete Meal line from PlantFusion is the line for you. I went with the Complete Lean for this recipe, because it bakes evenly into these fluffy banana protein muffins. This vegan protein powder contains 21 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber, probiotics, digestive enzymes, veggies, berries, and superfoods. Not only is it packed full of nutrients, but it tastes absolutely incredible too! This is what makes it the perfect plant-based protein. If you're interested in trying out PlantFusion protein powder, you can use my code: "NATURALVEGAN" for 25% off!
- Gluten-Free Flour - There are so many gluten-free flours out there, and they are definitely not all created equally. I always look for a flour blend that is higher in fiber and protein, and that is not primarily starches. I have linked my go-to flour. I recommend using this exact brand for the best results. I also use it in recipes like my Healthy Pumpkin Muffins and my Healthy Pistachio Rose Cookies.
- Oat Flour - Oat flour is a great addition to any gluten-free muffin recipe. It's perfectly fluffy, and it's high in both fiber and protein. Don't bother buying pre-made oat flour. All you have to do to make homemade oat flour is add the oats to a blender and blend on high until the flour has formed.
- Baking Powder - This helps to give the banana muffins the perfect fluffy texture.
- Baking Soda - Since vegan baked goods like these banana chocolate chip protein muffins do not contain any eggs, they require extra leavening agents to achieve the right fluffy texture. A mixture of both baking powder and baking soda usually does the trick for me.
- Ground Flaxseed - This will be turned into flax eggs simply by mixing it with water and setting it aside for about 10 minutes.
- Date Sugar - Date sugar is one of my favorite natural sweeteners because it's made from ground dates! Therefore it has a low glycemic index because it is higher in fiber and lower in sugar than other sweeteners.
- Plant-Based Chocolate Chips - Any plant-based dark chocolate chips will work perfectly for this recipe. I always look for refined sugar-free and oil-free chocolate chips. There are plenty of great options out there!
Wet Ingredients:
- Ripe Bananas - Make sure that your bananas are brown and spotty. If the bananas aren't ripe enough, this recipe will not turn out correctly. My rule of thumb is it's very hard to have overripe bananas (you'll know if it's too ripe, the inside will be all brown and icky), so let them ripen as long as possible before making these banana chocolate chip protein muffins. If you have any leftover, make sure to freeze them and use them in my Healthy Chocolate Banana Smoothie!
- Vanilla Extract - Although these muffins contain vanilla protein powder, I love adding vanilla extract to the batter. The vanilla enhances the banana flavor and brings it all together. I always recommend using Mexican vanilla. It has a much deeper flavor and is 100% worth investing in.
- Water - This will be used to make the flax egg. Flax eggs work just like regular eggs in baking, and are full of fiber and omegas!
- Plant-Based Milk Of Choice - any plant-based milk will work perfectly. I tend to use soy milk or oat milk. They contain a slightly higher fat content than other plant-based milks. This will result in moist baked goods.
- Apple Cider Vinegar - This works with the baking soda to help the muffins fluff up.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How To Make These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins:
These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins are one of my favorite banana muffin recipes to bake, because I usually have all the ingredients on hand, and it doesn't take long to bake.
Begin by mashing the banana in a large bowl. You want it to be smooth but still with a few chunks. I recommend using a potato masher or fork to mash the bananas. Try not to over-mash it (do not blend it), as this can affect how the muffins rise. If you have not already done so, make the flax egg, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Add the remaining wet ingredients to the mashed bananas bowl and mix until smooth. Preheat oven to 350.
Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl and mix until smooth.
Once smooth add in the chocolate chips. Add muffin liners to a muffin pan. Scoop the muffin batter into the lined muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes. Once slightly golden on top, remove from the heat and allow to cool 12-15 minutes before enjoying!
Hint: You can bake these muffins in either a 6-muffin tin or a 12-muffin tin. I went with the 12 and baking for 20 minutes was perfect. If you plan to bake in a 6 I would recommend baking the muffins for about 30 minutes.
Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffin Substitutions:
If you don't have a specific ingredient on hand, or you are looking to cater these high-protein banana muffins to a specific diet, you totally can. Try some simple substitutions to make these Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins better suited to you.
- Chocolate-Free - I know a couple of people who have chocolate allergies. If you don't want to use chocolate due to an allergy, or for whatever reason, you can use carob chips instead and they will work perfectly.
- Grain-Free - Making grain-free muffins can be tricky, however, it can be done. To make these banana muffins grain-free sub the oat flour with almond flour and the gluten-free flour with a grain-free flour blend.
- Stevia-Free - Most protein powders contain stevia. However, PlantFusion offers a stevia-free protein powder that will work perfectly in this recipe. Use my code "NATURALVEGAN" at checkout for 25% off!
- Flour - This recipe can be made with all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour. To make it, just use the total amount of gluten-free flour and oat flour from the original recipe and replace it with flour. You may need to add a splash of extra plant-based milk, but it will work. You can also do a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour. This will result in a fluffier muffin
Healthy Protein Muffins Variations:
As delicious as these Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins are as-is, there are plenty of fun variations you can try to mix it up.
- Double Chocolate - Add 2 tablespoons of cacao powder and 1 additional tablespoon of plant-based milk to the batter to create double chocolate banana protein muffins. You can also use a chocolate protein powder like PlantFusion Chocolate Brownie Complete Lean Protein Powder instead of vanilla and achieve the same flavor.
- Chunky Monkey - Add chopped walnuts to the batter to give these healthy protein muffins a fun twist.
What You Will Need To Make These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins:
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Luckily this banana protein muffin recipe does not require any crazy equipment. You will only need a few simple things that you probably already own.
- Large Mixing Bowl - You will need one large mixing bowl and a fork to mash the bananas and make the batter with.
- Muffin Tin - You can either use a 6-muffin tin or a 12-muffin tin. Either will work perfectly. I used a 12 and baked for 20 minutes, so if using a 6 I recommend baking for about 30 minutes.
As always you can find all my go-to equipment on my Amazon storefront or my affiliate page.
How To Store These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins:
These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins are some of my favorite healthy vegan muffins to bake because they keep so well just like my traditional Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins. I will meal prep these muffins for the whole week, and they'll taste just as good on the last day as they did on the first day.
If you are planning to store these muffins in the fridge I recommend storing them in an airtight container. You can also store them in a Ziplock bag. However Tupperware locks in the moisture better in my opinion. I wouldn't recommend storing them in a plastic bag longer than 2-3 days. If stored in an airtight container, they will be kept fresh for a full week.
These protein-packed muffins can also be frozen and reheated/defrosted. It's super important to store them in an airtight container if you plan to freeze them to avoid freezer burn. If stored properly, these banana muffins will keep for about a month in the freezer.
Top Tip
If you always run into the issue of your muffin liner sticking to your baked goods, I am here to help. I spritz the smallest amount of oil into the liners before adding the batter. Once baked the muffins will separate perfectly from the liners. If you want this recipe to be 100% oil-free, simply omit the liners and bake directly in the pan.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You may be wanting to make these muffins extra high in protein. You can add more protein powder to the mix, however, I wouldn't recommend adding more than two scoops. This will cause the muffins to be too dense.
These Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins are the perfect high-protein breakfast or dessert. Each muffin contains roughly 5 grams of protein if you make 12 mini muffins or 9 grams of added protein if you make 6 regular muffins.
Related Healthy Vegan Muffin Recipes:
Looking for other healthy vegan muffin recipes like this? Try these:
Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffins
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup gluten-free flour
- 2 cups oat flour
- 2 scoops PlantFusion Vanilla Complete Lean Protein Powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ⅓ cup date sugar
- ⅔ cup plant based chocolate chips or to taste
- 2 tablespoon ground flaxseed
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup plant based milk
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 6 tablespoon water for the flax egg
Instructions
- Begin by mashing the banana in a large bowl. You want it to be smooth but still with a few chunks. Try not to over mash it (do not blend it), as this can affect how the muffins rise. Make the flax egg if you have not already done so, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Add all the wet ingredients to the bowl and mix until smooth. Preheat oven to 350.
- Sift the dry ingredients into the bowl and mix until smooth.
- Once smooth add in the chocolate chips. Scoop the muffin batter into lined muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes. Once slightly golden on top, remove from the heat and allow to cool 10 minutes before enjoying!
Notes
Food Safety
- Wash hands before handling food.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
More High Protein Vegan Breakfast Recipes:
If you're looking for more vegan breakfast recipes with protein powder, or another sweet treat, I have plenty of high-protein recipes on my website. Here are some of my favorites!
Holly
The flavor and texture of these muffins are so good! This was my first time using date sugar so thank you for introducing me to a new ingredient.
Mikaela Sorensen
Can I use regular flour not gluten free flour?
Katie
I haven't tried it, but I would assume yes! In all honesty the gluten-free blend in the recipe works very well. I am not gluten-free and honestly prefer it to gluten-based recipes. Hope this helps!
Tina
These muffins look amazing! I really love that they have extra protein in them too. Great as a post-workout snack too!
Jenn
Yum! Hust made some for my post workouts this week !
nancy
it was great waking up in the morning to a fluffy Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Muffin ! super filling and tasty
Erin
This banana chocolate chip protein muffin recipe is so good! These were fun to make and smelled amazing!
tianna
love a muffin with a boost of protein for breakfast or a snack
Andrea
These muffins are amazing! Loved having them for breakfast!
Cindy
So simple and easy to make. I love that they have extra protein, too!
Juliette
These banana chocolate chip protein muffins look so yummy and I love that they are oil free too. I’ll be adding chopped walnuts like you suggested. 😊Thank you!
Mikaela
My mix came out extremely dry, I had to add almost half of a cup extra of plant-based milk in my batter to get a really thick batter. The only thing I did that differed from the recipe was blend some oats to make oat flour because I did not have oat flour on hand. I then measured 2 cups of that homemade oat flour. It tastes really good, but I had to add more milk than the recipe. What did I do wrong?
Katie
Hi Mikaela, thanks for your honesty! It is possible that the bananas were smaller than the ones used in the recipe (I will add a measurement for the bananas soon to prevent this problem in the future). Did you pack the flour? When measuring flour it's best not to pack it because that can cause you to add too much flour. It can also depend on brands used for the gluten-free flour and protein powder. I always recommend using what I used to create the best results, but I understand that that's not always possible. Would you mind sharing with me what brands you used for those?