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May 19, 2020

Small Batch Banana Muffins

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If you’re in the mood for banana bread but only have 1 banana on the counter, make my Small Batch Banana Muffins with chocolate chips! 6 delicious muffins that taste exactly like banana bread.


Small Batch Banana Muffins in white muffin pan

Baking banana bread seems to be the #1 recipe people make when there are overripen bananas on the counter.

It’s also the #1 recipe people make when stuck at home during quarantine.

However, most banana bread recipes use 2-3 bananas. What do you do when you only have 1 banana left but really want banana bread?

Easy – bake my Small Batch Banana Muffins with chocolate chips!

These banana chocolate chip muffins are based off of my banana bread recipe, so they taste exactly like banana bread in smaller portions.

This small batch recipe makes 6 muffins, perfect if you’re baking for two people. And if you only want to eat a few at a time, banana muffins also freeze well.


Small Batch Banana Muffins with chocolate chips

How to make banana muffins with 1 banana

To make banana muffins from scratch, first cream together your butter and sugar.

Next, beat in your egg, banana, and vanilla.

Gradually add your dry ingredients then stir in your chocolate chips.

Now it’s time to fill your muffin pan. I personally measure one big scoop using my #40 cookie scoop (Amazon affiliate link) into the bottom of each liner then I go back and finish filling each one with the remaining batter.

This helps me distribute the batter more evenly so the last muffin has just as much batter at the first. I hate when you get to the end and realize you don’t have enough batter left.

How long to bake banana muffins

Baked at 350F, banana muffins take about 20-22 minutes to bake.

They’re done with a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. A few crumbs are ok as long as it’s not wet batter.


Small Batch Banana Muffins with 1 banana

How to make banana nut muffins

Don’t want to use chocolate chips? You can substitute chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, or a mixture of both to make small batch banana nut muffins.

How to ripen bananas for banana muffins

Buying bananas at the grocery store can be tricky because usually the bananas aren’t ripe enough to make banana muffins the same day.

Most of the time they have some green on them. Other times they are yellow but without brown spots.

You need overripen bananas for banana muffins. This means lots of brown spots without a hint of green.

If you have several days to spare, place your banana in a brown paper bag.

As the banana ripens, it lets off ethylene gas, which is what causes bananas to brown. Because the brown bag encloses this gas, the banana will ripen much faster than leaving it out on the counter.


Small Batch Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

How to ripen bananas right now

Let’s say you want to bake banana muffins right now but your banana isn’t ready. Is there anything you can do to speed up the process or do you have to wait a few days?

Luckily, you can ripen your banana quickly in the oven! It won’t look pretty, but it’ll do the trick.

Bake your banana in the oven at 350F for 30 minutes. The peel will turn completely black but the inside becomes soft and slightly roasted.

The banana does leak juice a little, so line a cookie sheet with foil for easy clean up.

Cool for a few minutes before peeling and mashing so you don’t burn your fingers.


6 Banana Muffins with chocolate chips

How To Store Banana Muffins

Store muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

How To Freeze Banana Muffins

To freeze banana muffins, first put them on a baking tray or plate and place them in the freezer. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.

Next, wrap each muffin individually in plastic wrap then place in a freezer-safe plastic bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To thaw frozen muffins, place them on a wire rack and let them come to room temperature, about 15-30 minutes. The wire rack helps keep the bottoms dry as they thaw.

More Small Batch Muffin Recipes

  • Small Batch Chocolate Banana Muffins
  • Small Batch Lemon Crumb Muffins
Continue to Content
Small Batch Banana Muffins with chocolate chips

Small Batch Banana Muffins

Yield: 6 muffins
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

If you're in the mood for banana bread but only have 1
banana, make Small Batch Banana Muffins with chocolate chips! 6 delicious muffins that taste exactly like banana bread.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons or 2 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 egg, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup mashed banana (roughly 1 large banana)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a muffin pan with 6 paper liners.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl mixing bowl, beat together the sugar and butter until smooth and creamy, about 1-2 minutes.
  4. Beat in the egg until incorporated then beat in the mashed banana and vanilla.
  5. Gradually add the flour mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  6. Transfer the batter to the paper liners. Bake 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Recommended Products

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Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you think! Rate the recipe above, leave a comment below, and/or share a photo on Instagram using #HITKrecipesAll recipes are tested in a U.S. kitchen with U.S. ingredients at normal elevation using a conventional gas oven. Results may vary.

© Carla Cardello
Cuisine: American / Category: Quick Breads + Muffins

Filed Under: Quick Breads + Muffins Tagged With: banana, chocolate chips, small batch

Did you make my recipe?

Please let me know by sharing a photo in my private Facebook group or uploading and tagging me on Instagram using #HITKrecipes (Note: If your Instagram account is private, I won't be able to see your photo)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Patty Wagner says

    May 19, 2020 at 7:10 AM

    These look great. I love the white muffin tin. Can you share where you bought it.

    Reply
    • Carla says

      May 19, 2020 at 10:44 AM

      I got it at a thrift store! The bottom says “Simple Dining” which I think is the brand name.

      Reply
  2. nancy says

    July 8, 2020 at 5:11 AM

    lovely & yummy banana muffins…

    Reply
    • Carla says

      July 9, 2020 at 11:41 AM

      Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Sparsha says

    August 6, 2020 at 3:31 AM

    Can I use whole wheat instead of APF?

    Reply
    • Carla says

      August 6, 2020 at 12:40 PM

      I haven’t tested it with whole wheat flour, but I’m guessing you can. Here’s a guide from King Arthur Flour about it https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/blog/2020/06/22/how-to-substitute-whole-wheat-for-white-flour-in-baking

      Reply
  4. Emily Watts says

    August 14, 2020 at 1:37 AM

    Hi Carla, It was the first time when I baked and that’s a great experience. The recipe is so easy for the beginners. And I earned lots of praise though the credit is yours.

    Reply
    • Carla says

      August 14, 2020 at 3:14 PM

      Oh wonderful! Happy to hear you enjoyed the muffins.

      Reply
  5. Adelyn says

    September 7, 2020 at 10:14 AM

    I just made these and they were delicious. I added a touch of milk and they were so fluffy and buttery. My kids loved them.

    Reply
    • Carla says

      September 7, 2020 at 11:18 AM

      Oh wonderful! Glad you enjoyed the muffins.

      Reply
  6. Andrea says

    October 17, 2020 at 4:22 PM

    These were so easy to make and turned out fantastic!! Thank you so much for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Carla says

      October 17, 2020 at 7:03 PM

      Glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  7. Neel says

    October 24, 2020 at 7:59 AM

    @Carla, You are doing such a great job by providing us this amazing banana muffins recipe. Yeah..Banana Muffins.. I love the most..! I am so glad that you shared and I am very happy that I tried to make these muffins at my home. And all credit goes to you because of your easy and delicious recipe. Thanks a lot..!

    Reply
    • Carla says

      October 24, 2020 at 11:30 AM

      Happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Banana muffins are definitely a favorite.

      Reply
  8. Sarah says

    December 8, 2020 at 6:09 AM

    I made these with my toddler and baby today. They were so delicious. We replaced with coconut sugar and made them into mini muffins. They were really moist and we loved them!

    Reply
    • Carla says

      December 8, 2020 at 11:18 AM

      Love the idea of mini muffins! Happy to hear everyone enjoyed them.

      Reply
  9. Emila says

    December 24, 2020 at 9:43 AM

    Wow, I like bananas recipes. This is really looking so amazing and delicious. Love to try it once. Thank you for sharing this recipe article.

    Reply
    • Carla says

      December 24, 2020 at 11:17 AM

      Let me know if you try it!

      Reply
  10. Asmita says

    February 24, 2021 at 8:21 PM

    Loved your recipe! It’s a keeper 😀

    Reply
    • Carla says

      February 25, 2021 at 11:51 AM

      Oh good! Glad you enjoyed the muffins.

      Reply

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I’m Carla, a 30-some childfree woman from Pittsburgh, PA learning how to adult alone. I'm sharing recipes for two and small batch recipes made from scratch because not everybody cooks for a crowd.

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All Rights Reserved. All images are registered with the United States Copyright Office.
Please do not use images without permission. To republish a recipe, please link back to the post.
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Copyright © 2007–2021 · Chocolate Moosey LLC
All Rights Reserved. All images are registered with the United States Copyright Office.
Please do not use images without permission. To republish a recipe, please link back to the post.
Privacy Policy