These banana nut muffins are bursting with the fragrant sweetness of ripe banana, crunchy walnuts, and a delicious cream cheese frosting that is absolutely delicious. The combination of flavors is an experience that promises to tantalize your taste buds.
Banana nut. Let me type that again with periods after each word. Banana. Nut. Oh, there’s nothing better in a dessert or sweet breakfast. That combination of naturally sweet banana with the earthiness and crunch of walnuts – the nuts most commonly paired with them – just can’t be beaten. I love making banana nut muffins for breakfast, brunch, or afternoon snacking, and I’ve been making this particular recipe for years. It’s one I commonly make when I’m having family or friends over, and you’ll see it on my counter frequently simply because my guy and I just love the texture and flavor of these muffins so much!
Banana Nut Muffins
This easy recipe starts with a basic banana bread batter. You can turn it into muffins like I have here or make it into mini muffins or even a loaf of classic banana bread. I add chopped walnuts for more texture and that classic flavor combination and then I bake it until the muffins are golden and perfect. Oh, and I can’t forget the sour cream I include in the muffins to make them extra moist and tender! Finally, I top them with a simple cream cheese frosting to really make them pop. That’s all there is to it. The mixing and baking is easy, and so is the frosting. Every part of this recipe is simple, and it’s absolutely mouth-watering.
Why You’ll Love This Banana Nut Muffin Recipe
- They are moist and flavorful and have the best cream cheese frosting.
- The crunchy contrast from the walnuts adds a delightful texture to the soft muffins, while the nutty flavor complements the banana perfectly.
- The light and fluffy, decadent, and tangy cream cheese frosting takes these banana nut muffins to a whole new level.
Banana Nut Muffin Ingredients
All the ingredients you need for this recipe can be found in your kitchen or in one quick trip to the grocery store! Like almost all banana bread recipe variations, this one uses basic baking ingredients to create all its delicious flavor.
- All purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Butter
- Granulated sugar
- Large eggs
- Sour cream
- Vanilla extract
- Bananas
- Chopped walnuts
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
How to Make Banana Nut Muffins
Making these muffins is a breeze, and even beginners will have no problem with this recipe. It’s quick and easy and requires almost no cooking skills whatsoever to get started!
Step 1: Prep
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with paper lines. Alternately, you can spray the liners with nonstick spray. Set aside.
Step 2: Combine the Wet Batter Ingredients
Beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl until creamy. Then, beat the eggs into the mixture one at a time. Add the sour cream and vanilla and mix well. Finally, add the mashed bananas and chopped walnuts and mix again to combine.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Batter Ingredients
Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
Step 4: Make the Batter
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
Step 5: Bake
Fill the muffin cups ⅔ full and bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 6: Cool
Remove the baked muffins from the oven and let them cool completely.
Step 7: Make the Frosting
Beat the butter and cream cheese until creamy in a large mixing bowl. Then, add the vanilla and mix again. Finally, add the powdered sugar slowly, mixing as you add until creamy.
Step 8: Frost the Muffins
When the muffins have cooled completely, top them ith a generous amount of frosting. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Mix your banana nut muffin batter until just combined and no further. This helps keep the muffins tender.
- You can serve these muffins without frosting if you prefer.
- For a nice crown, let your muffins sit for about 10 minutes before baking.
- Be sure your butter and cream cheese are fully softened for the creamiest possible frosting.
- Bring your butter, eggs, and sour cream to room temperature before mixing your muffin batter.
Variations
- If you don’t like nuts or are allergic to them, simply leave them out.
- You can use chopped pecans in place of walnuts for a slightly different flavor.
- Use buttercream frosting instead of cream cheese for a super sweet kick.
- Add a bit of cinnamon to your batter for a lovely flavor.
What to Serve with Banana Nut Muffins
Serve these muffins as a sweet breakfast item with fresh berries or an afternoon snack with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. They also make a great sweet addition to a larger breakfast filled with all your savory favorites.
Recipe FAQ
Your muffins can be dry if you add too much flour or bake them for too long.
At a minimum, bananas should be yellow with brown spots all over them for any kind of baking. However, the ideal banana for baking will have dark brown or black skin.
The black lines are actually the stringy fibers of the mashed bananas. As the muffins bake, the bananas release moisture, and the fibers become more apparent. They may even change to a black color. This is perfectly normal and won’t affect your muffins in any way.
First and foremost, mix your muffin batter until it’s combined and no further to prevent the formation of excess gluten. You should also bring your eggs, butter, and sour cream to room temperature before mixing them into the batter. This creates a smooth mixture that will trap more air and expand as the muffins bake, creating lighter, fluffier muffins.
Adding sour cream or plain yogurt to your muffin batter adds moisture without making the batter watery. You should also always use white sugar in your muffins. Brown sugar has added molasses and will cause more dense muffins.
How to Store and Freeze Banana Nut Muffins
Normally, banana nut muffins don’t require refrigeration, but because these are topped with cream cheese frosting, it’s a different story. Refrigerate these muffins for up to a week in an air-tight container. For longer storage, chill the muffins, then wrap them in plastic wrap. Freeze the wrapped muffins in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to a month.
Try This Delicious Banana Nut Muffin Recipe Today
These banana nut muffins are so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Their light, fluffy texture, sweet banana flavor, and crunchy, earthy walnuts combine to create muffins that explore with flavor and texture in every bite. And when you add the cream cheese frosting to the top? Well, don’t even get me started! Give these muffins a try, and I guarantee you’ll fall in love with them.
More Delicious Banana Dessert Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Here are some delicious Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes that are thick and fluffy, and make the perfect breakfast or brunch recipe the whole family will enjoy.
Banana Nut Muffins
Ingredients
Banana Nut Muffins
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 ⅓ cups sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 medium ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 3 ounce cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° and line a muffin tin with paper liners or spray with a non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
Banana Nut Muffins
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar together until creamy.
- Beat eggs, one at a time, into mixture.
- Add sour cream and vanilla and mix well.
- Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl and stir into wet ingredients.
- Add mashed bananas and chopped walnuts, stir.
- Pour batter into the prepared paper liners ⅔ full.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven. Cool completely then frost.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and cream cheese together.
- Add vanilla and mix.
- Slowly add powdered sugar and beat until creamy.
- Frost muffins once they have cooled completely.
Notes
Nutrition
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