Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins Recipe
Oh, I can’t wait to share this Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins Recipe with you! This is one of those cozy, flavorful treats that instantly makes your kitchen feel warm and inviting. The combination of ripe bananas and pumpkin with those subtle spices gives these muffins a moist, tender crumb and a deliciously rich aroma that you’ll want to fill your mornings with.
Whether you’re looking for a snack to pack in the kids’ lunchboxes or a perfect companion to your afternoon coffee, these pumpkin banana muffins fit the bill perfectly. I love how fuss-free this recipe is—it’s straightforward but yields bakery-quality results that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Why This Recipe Works
- Perfect Balance of Flavors: The natural sweetness of bananas and pumpkin blends beautifully with warm spices for a comforting taste.
- Moist & Tender Texture: Using melted butter and ripe fruit keeps these muffins irresistibly soft without being greasy.
- Simple Ingredients & Technique: You probably already have everything in your pantry, and the method is quick with no complicated steps.
- Versatile for Any Occasion: From breakfast to snack time, these muffins fit all day long and even freeze well for later.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins Recipe uses a thoughtfully combined blend of common kitchen staples and seasonal flavors. Each ingredient plays a special role—from the warm spices that elevate the pumpkin to the bananas that add natural sweetness and moisture.
- All purpose flour: The base for structure, ensuring your muffins hold their shape without being too dense.
- Cinnamon: Adds warm, sweet spice that’s classic in pumpkin treats.
- Baking soda: Helps the muffins rise nicely and develop a tender crumb.
- Baking powder: Aids in lightness alongside baking soda for a perfect lift.
- Nutmeg & ground ginger: These spices add depth and that quintessential fall flavor vibe.
- Salt: Enhances all the sweet and spicy flavors, balancing the batter perfectly.
- Ground cloves: Just a little goes a long way for a cozy, aromatic note.
- Ripe bananas: They bring natural sweetness and moisture, making the muffins incredibly soft.
- Canned pumpkin: Adds that signature pumpkin flavor and keeps the texture tender.
- Sugar: Sweetens, but also contributes to browning and the muffin’s lovely crust.
- Egg: Binds everything together and provides structure.
- Vanilla: Rounds out the flavors with a sweet, fragrant touch.
- Melted butter: Adds richness and tenderness for that buttery crumb we all love.
- Raw sugar: Sprinkled on top for a crunchy, sparkling finish that feels so special.
Make It Your Way
I love playing around with this Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins Recipe depending on the season or what I have on hand. You can easily personalize it to suit your tastes or dietary needs, and that’s part of the fun—making it truly yours!
- Variation: One of my favorite tweaks is adding chopped walnuts or pecans for a bit of crunch; it gives the muffins extra texture and a lovely nutty flavor.
- Dairy-Free Option: Swap out butter for coconut oil or a plant-based butter to make these muffins dairy-free with equally delicious results.
- Spice Adjustments: If you’re not a huge fan of cloves or ginger, cut back a bit or replace them with pumpkin pie spice for a simpler approach.
- Extra Moisture: For an ultra-moist muffin, I sometimes add a dollop of Greek yogurt or applesauce in place of the extra butter.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients and Pan
First, preheat your oven to 425°F and line a muffin pan with paper liners. I also give the pan a quick spray of cooking oil to make sure the muffins pop out easily. Then get ready by measuring all your ingredients and mashing those ripe bananas until mostly smooth — I like just a few small chunks left for texture.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients Separately
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, ground ginger, salt, and cloves. This step is really important so all those spices are evenly spread and there aren’t any clumps in the batter.
Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients
Now, in another bowl, mix the mashed bananas, canned pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and homogenous. This wet mixture is where all the flavor magic starts coming together.
Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients in Two Stages
Add half the dry ingredients into your wet bowl and whisk until almost all the flour disappears. Then pour in the melted butter and gently fold it in with a spatula—this keeps the batter tender and moist without overmixing. Finally, add the rest of the dry ingredients and fold just until everything is combined. Remember, a few lumps are totally okay!
Step 5: Scoop, Top & Bake
Using an ice cream scoop gives you nice, even muffins every time. Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Sprinkle a pinch of raw sugar on top to add a subtle crunch and sparkle. Pop the pan in the oven for 5 minutes at 425°F, then reduce the heat to 350°F and bake for another 15-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Tips from My Kitchen
- Measure Flour Correctly: Spoon your flour into the cup and level it off instead of scooping to avoid dry, dense muffins.
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: Mixing until just combined keeps the muffins tender and fluffy, so stop as soon as the flour disappears.
- Start Hot, Then Lower the Heat: The initial high temperature helps the muffins rise quickly for a nice dome before finishing baking evenly at a lower temp.
- Use Ripe Bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and moister your muffins will be—don’t skip this!
How to Serve Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping these muffins with just a sprinkle of raw sugar before baking for that perfect crunch, but you can also slide on a bit of cream cheese or a smear of butter right when they’re warm. Sometimes I add a light drizzle of honey for extra sweetness that pairs beautifully with the spices.
Side Dishes
Serve these muffins alongside a simple yogurt parfait or a warm cup of chai tea for a cozy breakfast. They also pair wonderfully with savory eggs or a fresh fruit salad for a balanced snack or brunch.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday gatherings, I love arranging the muffins in a rustic basket lined with a colorful napkin and adding little autumn-themed picks or cinnamon sticks for decoration. They also make adorable gifts when wrapped individually in parchment paper tied with twine.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, though if you want to keep them fresher longer, the fridge works too—just remember they might dry out slightly.
Freezing
Freezing these muffins is a game-changer! After they cool completely, I wrap each muffin in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag. They freeze beautifully for up to 2 months. When I’m ready, I thaw them overnight in the fridge or pop them frozen into the microwave for a quick warm treat.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked taste, I reheat muffins in a toaster oven or conventional oven at a low temperature for 5–7 minutes. This helps refresh the crust while keeping the inside moist. You can also microwave for about 20 seconds if you’re in a rush but watch out for chewiness.
FAQs
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Can I substitute fresh pumpkin for canned in this recipe?
Absolutely! You can use fresh pumpkin puree, but be sure it’s cooked and drained well since canned pumpkin is thicker and more concentrated. Adjust the moisture in the batter if it seems too wet by adding a tiny bit more flour.
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What if I don’t have all the spices listed?
No worries! You can use a pre-made pumpkin pie spice blend if you have one, or simply use cinnamon with a pinch of nutmeg. The muffins will still be delicious, just a bit simpler.
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How ripe should my bananas be for this recipe?
The riper, the better! Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots or even mostly brown skins. Those are the sweetest and make your muffins extra moist and flavorful.
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Can I make these muffins gluten-free?
Yes, you can swap in a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that includes xanthan gum to maintain texture. Just be sure to follow the package’s advice for one-to-one substitutions.
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Why do I bake the muffins at two different temperatures?
The initial high heat jumpstarts the rise and creates a beautiful dome on top, while lowering the heat finishes baking the muffins through gently so they don’t dry out or brown too fast.
Final Thoughts
I hope you give this Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins Recipe a try soon because it truly feels like a warm hug in muffin form to me. It’s easy enough to whip up on a weekday morning but tasty enough to impress guests on a weekend brunch. Making these muffins has definitely become part of my routine during fall, and I think you’ll find it quickly becomes one of your favorites, too.
PrintPumpkin Banana Bread Muffins Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious and moist Pumpkin Banana Bread Muffins combining the warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves with ripe bananas and pumpkin puree for a perfect fall treat.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
Topping
- Raw sugar, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425° F and prepare a muffin pan by spraying it lightly with cooking spray and lining with muffin liners.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, ground ginger, salt, and ground cloves. Set this mixture aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the mashed ripe bananas, canned pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract. Whisk them together until the batter is smooth and well blended.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Butter: Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and whisk gently until almost all the flour is incorporated. Then pour the melted butter over the batter and fold it in gently with a spatula. Add the remaining flour mixture and fold carefully to combine everything well.
- Scoop Batter into Muffin Pan: Using an ice cream scoop or spoon, evenly distribute the muffin batter into the prepared muffin pan cups. Sprinkle a small amount of raw sugar on top of each muffin for a crunchy topping.
- Bake Muffins: Place the muffin pan in the oven and bake for 5 minutes at 425° F. Then reduce the oven temperature to 350° F and continue baking for 18 minutes until the muffins are fully cooked and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the muffins from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Enjoy your delicious pumpkin banana bread muffins warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness and moisture.
- If you prefer a less sweet muffin, reduce the sugar to 3/4 cup.
- Raw sugar topping adds a nice crunchy texture, but you can omit it if desired.
- Ensure not to overmix the batter to keep the muffins tender.
- These muffins store well in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg