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Home » Sweet Breads

Published: Oct 17, 2023 · Modified: Apr 3, 2024 by Pam

Healthy Banana Carrot Muffins Recipe

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pin image of carrot banana muffins.

Perfect for breakfast, brunch or snacking these Banana Carrot Muffins are lightly sweet and full of nutritious ingredients.

banana carrot muffin with grated carrots.

Think of banana bread with carrot cake and optional nuts in muffin form and you'll know what you're getting here. They're quick and easy to make and have been favorites with everyone who tries them.

Because they're just a little bit sweet, these easy muffins make a great breakfast treat.

Jump to:
  • Why you'll love them
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to make Banana Carrot Muffins
  • Expert Tips
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Storage Tips
  • What to serve with carrot banana muffins
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Need more muffin recipes?
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Sweet Breads

Why you'll love them

  • This delicious banana carrot muffin recipe makes enough to have some now and some to freeze for later.
  • They're made with simple ingredients that you'll most likely already have in your pantry or refrigerator.
  • It's an easy way to get some fruits and veggies in the kids' diets.
  • They're equally delicious at room temperature or warmed in the microwave for a few seconds.
  • They're customizable! Add nuts if you like and leave them out if you don't. Cinnamon is a fun spice to add, but if you're not a fan - leave it out.

Ingredients Needed

  • Butter - salted or unsalted is fine.
  • Bananas - very ripe or overripe bananas work best.
  • Granulated sugar and brown sugar - for the brown sugar, you can use light brown sugar or dark.
  • Self-rising flour - if you don't have any, use the formula for subbing all purpose flour outlined in this post: Easy Buttermilk Biscuits.
  • Shredded carrots - to get moist delicious muffins your carrots must be freshly shredded so be sure to grate your own carrots instead of buying pre-shredded carrots.
  • Vanilla extract - always use pure vanilla extract, paste or scrape a vanilla bean yourself.
  • Eggs - large is the standard for baking.
  • Cinnamon - an optional but recommended ingredient

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Ingredients for banana carrot nuffins.

How to make Banana Carrot Muffins

  1. Begin by mashing the banana. We like to put pieces in a plastic bag and mash with our hands and use this method on the recipes for Banana Bread Bundt Cake and Banana Buttermilk Pancakes.
  2. Now grate the carrots. That moisture you see is what helps to make your muffins extra moist.
  3. Cream the butter for 1 minute in a large mixing bowl.
  4. Add the sugars and cream 1 minute.
  5. Add the mashed banana, eggs, vanilla and mix for 1 minute.
  6. Stir in the flour, carrots, cinnamon and nuts if you're adding them, and stir until well blended.
  7. Fill muffin cups about ¾ full with the muffin batter and then bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Let cool in muffin tin 2-3 minutes and then move to cooling rack to complete cooling.

Expert Tips

  • Use the medium size holes on your box grater. Too fine and the carrots will disappear. Too big and they won't get cooked and will be crunchy in your muffins.
  • For baking it's always best to start with room temperature eggs. If you don't remember to set them out in time you can just let them sit in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes.
  • At the minimum baking time lightly tap the top of a muffin with your fingertip. If it springs back and doesn't leave an indentation, your muffin is done.
close up of carrot banana muffins.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Customize your muffins by incorporating various add-ins such as chocolate chips, raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans. These additions will bring extra texture and flavor to your muffins.
  • Experiment with different warm spices to enhance the flavors. Cinnamon is already included, but you can also try ground nutmeg, cloves, or a pinch of ginger for a spiced twist.
  • If you want to indulge a bit, drizzle your muffins with a cream cheese frosting or a simple glaze made with powdered sugar and a touch of milk or citrus juice.

Storage Tips

Storing

Store your healthy banana carrot muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days.

For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Freezing

If you need to keep them fresh even longer, you can freeze the muffins. Store muffins individually in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag. They'll stay good in the freezer for up to three months.

When you're ready to enjoy them, simply thaw at room temperature or warm in the microwave for a quick and tasty treat.

What to serve with carrot banana muffins

Some more great brunch ideas would be:

  • Peppered Bacon
  • Old Fashioned Ambrosia
  • Steak Omelettes
  • Air Fryer Home Fries
  • Grits with Cheese, Corn & Jalapenos
  • Crustless Breakfast Quiche

Recipe FAQs

What is a good substitute for pecans?

If you want to include nuts but don't care for pecans or don't have access to them you can use walnuts. The texture is the closest to pecans. Hazelnuts would also be great!

How to ripen bananas fast?

The quickest way is to put them in a 300 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. The skin will turn black, but inside they'll be perfect for baking.

Do you spray cupcake liners?

It really does help the muffin release from the paper neatly if you spray paper liners. If you have a spray that combines flour and grease, like Bakers Joy, use that. If not, any non-stick cooking spray will work.

Need more muffin recipes?

Check out Hummingbird Muffins, Sweet Potato Muffins with Crumb Topping, and Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on an affiliate link and buy something, we may receive a very small commission.  It does NOT result in additional charges to you or cost you anything extra. Click here for our full privacy and disclosure policy. As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

If you love those colored muffin liners you can order your own here. We always keep a supply of them on hand, just for fun!

one banana carrot muffin in orange liner.

📖 Recipe

banana carrot muffin with carrot and banana behind.

Healthy Banana Carrot Muffins Recipe

Pam
Perfect for breakfast, brunch or snacking these Banana Carrot Muffins are lightly sweet and full of nutritious ingredients.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 18 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Servings 18 muffins
Calories 148 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ⅓ cup butter room temperature
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 2 bananas very ripe and mashed
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar light or dark
  • 1⅔ cups self rising flour
  • 1 cup shredded carrots about 3 medium carrots
  • ½ cup chopped pecans optional
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon optional

Instructions
 

  • Cream butter at low speed of mixer for 1 minute.
  • Add sugars and cream 1 minute.
  • Add bananas, eggs and vanilla and mix for 1 minute.
  • Fold in flour, cinnamon, carrots and pecans until well blended.
  • Fill muffin cups about ¾ full and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.
  • Let cool in pan 2-3 minutes and then move to cooling rack to complete cooling.

Notes

  • If self rising flour is not available find the formula to make your own at the recipe for 3 Ingredient Biscuits. 
  • Carrots should be freshly grated for best results. About 3 medium size carrots will yield 1 cup of shredded carrots.
  • Bring eggs to room temperature quickly by placing in a bowl of warm water for 8-10 minutes.
  • Butter can be salted or unsalted.
  • Brown sugar can be light or brown.
  • Bananas may be ripened quickly by baking at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
  • Bananas can be mashed with a fork, processed in a blender or placed in a plastic bag and mashed with hands.

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 40mgPotassium: 106mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1330IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 0.4mg
Keyword bananas, carrots, muffins
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dina and Bruce says

    October 29, 2023 at 10:37 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! So bright, tasty and fast to make!

    Reply
  2. Ieva says

    October 30, 2023 at 4:24 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe! Just made a batch to take to work as a snack for the next couple of days and they are delicious!

    Reply
    • Pam says

      October 31, 2023 at 8:33 am

      So happy to hear!

      Reply
  3. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

    October 30, 2023 at 4:40 am

    5 stars
    I can't believe I've not had this combination of carrots and bananas before. Really moist and delicious and so easy to make too.

    Reply
    • Pam says

      October 31, 2023 at 8:33 am

      Yay! Thanks, Amanda.

      Reply
  4. Charla says

    October 30, 2023 at 6:05 am

    5 stars
    Such beautiful muffins, wish I would taste them through my laptop.

    Reply
5 from 6 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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