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Home » Recipes » Single Serving Breakfast

By Joanie Zisk Published: Jan 8, 2019 · Updated: Jul 15, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links · Please read my disclosure

Easy Small Batch Banana Muffins Recipe

Jump to Recipe
4 banana muffins in a muffin tin.

This quick and easy Banana Muffins recipe uses only 2 bananas to make a small batch of muffins. This is a perfect muffin recipe if you're cooking for one or two people. Step by step recipe video included with the printable recipe. These tender, sweet muffins are perfect for breakfast, snacking, or dessert.

Four banana muffins in a muffin tin and a muffin split in half on a cooling rack

Banana muffins have been a favorite breakfast treat at my house for years. This small batch banana muffin recipe is a scaled-down version of the muffins I've been making for the last 20+ years. It's the perfect recipe to use when you have 2 bananas.

RELATED: 20 Single Serving Breakfast Recipes Worth Waking Up To

If you're cooking for one or two, this small batch muffin recipe should definitely be in your recipe files. It's the perfect overripe banana recipe and will yield 5 to 6 muffins when baked in a standard-sized muffin pan.

a close up of four banana muffins in a muffin tin

Why This Recipe Works

  • Everyone loves a good banana muffin recipe, right? Well, this easy ripe banana recipe definitely delivers. It's time tested - I've been using this recipe for years.
  • The banana recipe calls for ingredients most commonly found in our pantries.
  • With just 10 minutes of prep time and about 20 minutes of baking time, you can enjoy the best tasting muffins that are perfect for breakfast or for an afternoon snack.

RELATED: 15 Easy Dessert Recipes For One

Ingredients

See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

the ingredients used in banana muffins on a brown wooden cutting board.
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Ingredient Notes

  • Sugar: I use granulated sugar.
  • 2 overripe bananas, vanilla, and salt: These add flavor. Remember, the riper the bananas the sweeter the bananas. The ones shown in this picture could be even riper and more speckled.
  • Butter: Use melted butter.
  • Egg: One large egg gives the banana muffins structure.
  • Flour: I use all-purpose flour or plain flour.
  • Baking soda: Helps the muffins rise.

How To Make Banana Muffins

  1. Mash one of the bananas with a fork on a small plate so it still has a bit of texture. Set the plate aside, you will use this banana later. With a hand mixer, whip the remaining banana and sugar together for 35-40 seconds; you want a light and smooth banana cream.
  2. Add the melted butter, egg, and vanilla; beat well. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated and fold in the mashed banana.
  3. Pour the batter into lightly greased or lined muffin holes in a standard-sized muffin tin.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the tip of a sharp knife or a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
four pictures showing how to make banana muffins, from mixing the batter to pouring the batter into muffin tins.

Expert Tips

  • Extra ripe bananas are perfect to use in this banana muffins recipe - the riper the banana, the sweeter the muffins.
  • If you like banana nut muffins, feel free to add in about a quarter cup of chopped nuts.
  • Do not overmix the batter or your banana muffins will turn out dense and gummy.
Butter melting on a muffin half and dripping onto the plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Should I Store Banana Muffins?

Cover the muffins well with plastic wrap or foil to prevent them from drying out. When properly stored, banana muffins should last 1 to 2 days at room temperature.

Can I Freeze Muffins?

If you would like to freeze banana muffins, wrap them individually in plastic wrap and place them in a ziptop bag and place in the freezer. They will last for up to 2 months.

What Size Muffin Tin Do You Use?

For this small batch banana muffin recipe, I use a regular-sized muffin tin with holes or pockets for the muffin batter that have a 2-inch diameter base and are 1 ¼-inches tall.
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.

Variations

  • Banana Nut Muffins: Add ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter.
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins: Add ¼ cup chocolate chips to the batter.

Other Muffin Recipes

  • Blueberry Muffin For One
  • Apple Muffin For One
  • Lemon Blueberry Muffin For One
  • Maple Walnut Muffin For One

Ripe Banana Recipes

If you like this banana recipe, you might also like these single serving and small batch ripe banana recipes.

  • Bananas Foster For One
  • Banana Bread For One
  • Mini Caramelized Banana Upside Down Cake
  • Grilled Pound Cake With Limoncello Bananas
  • Banana Cream Pie For One
  • Tropical Smoothie

If you’ve tried these banana muffins or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!

banana muffin in muffin pan

Easy Small Batch Banana Muffins Recipe

Banana Muffins recipe uses only 2 ripe bananas. Makes a small batch of muffins that are moist and full of bananas. Ready in 30 minutes.
4.86 from 248 votes
Print Pin Rate
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Cool: 5 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Bread, Breakfast, Muffins
Servings: 6 muffins
Calories: 253kcal
Author: Joanie Zisk

Video

Equipment

  • Muffin tin

Ingredients

  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 overripe banana , divided
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter , melted
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Heat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).
  • Spray or lightly butter muffin tin.
  • In a large bowl, whip the sugar and one of the bananas together until well blended.
  • Add the cooled melted butter, the egg, and the vanilla and beat well.
  • Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt just until incorporated.
  • Peel and mash the remaining banana with a fork on a small plate. Fold into the batter.
  • Scoop the batter into the muffin tins and fill them ¾ of the way. 
  • Bake until a toothpick stuck in the muffins comes out clean, 20-25 minutes.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • Extra ripe bananas are perfect to use in this banana muffins recipe - the riper the banana, the sweeter the muffins.
  • If you like banana nut muffins, feel free to add in about a quarter cup of chopped nuts.
  • Do not overmix the batter or your muffins will turn out dense and gummy.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Small Batch Banana Muffins Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 253 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 61mg20%
Sodium 391mg17%
Potassium 33mg1%
Carbohydrates 32g11%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 395IU8%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 1.1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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About Joanie Zisk

Joanie Zisk is the creator of OneDishKitchen.com, the number one go-to site for single serving recipes. The aim of One Dish Kitchen is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul. Her website is filled with hundreds of easy, flavorful recipes that are tailored for those cooking for one. Joanie is the author of "The Ultimate Cooking For One Cookbook" and her recipes and food photography have been featured in various publications including, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Self.com,Women’s Day, Buzzfeed, and others. Come say hello and follow Joanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Reader Interactions

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jen D says

    January 08, 2023 at 1:57 pm

    I just made these. Made 5 larger muffins and added a 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 1/4 cup chocolate chips. Otherwise followed recipe exactly. Delicious. Easy. Will make again.

    Reply
  2. diMa says

    January 08, 2023 at 9:36 am

    Made 12 full size muffins!

    Reply
  3. Terrie Hall says

    December 27, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    This recipe gets 👍. Easy to make and delicious.

    Reply
  4. Isabella C says

    December 27, 2022 at 12:02 pm

    For me it made 4 muffins which is perfect for my family of 4 I put some brown sugar on the top before baking and they turned out absolutely delish

    Reply
  5. Heather says

    December 16, 2022 at 1:59 pm

    Didn't have vanilla so I added cocoa powder +instant coffee and they were really great ! Thanks

    Reply
  6. Cynthia StAmand says

    December 12, 2022 at 10:51 am

    Making Small Batch Banana Muffins..... AGAIN! DELICIOUS!

    Reply
  7. Cynthia StAmand says

    December 02, 2022 at 10:07 am

    soooo good! and easy,too!

    Reply
  8. Amber says

    November 20, 2022 at 10:09 pm

    Perfection. Used bobs all purpose gluten free and substituted the sugar with pure maple. Phenomenal. Thanks!

    Reply
  9. Megan says

    November 15, 2022 at 12:16 pm

    Delicious! I made three slight changes:

    - halved the sugar, just for personal preference
    - added 1 tsp baking powder because I misread the ingredient list, I also then added 1 tsp baking soda as called for. This mistake didn't seem to have any negative consequences, luckily.
    - used measure-for-measure (King Arthur) gluten free flour (because of allergies), this worked great, but gluten free flour should work for a recipe like this so I wasn't too worried

    Overall the flavor was good, and the texture was nice and fluffy. I think this would also be an excellent recipe base for experimenting with adding spices or add-ins (nuts, berries, etc), though they are definitely worth making as-is.

    I used silicon muffin cups and the mix made 9. I think these cups are very slightly smaller than standard. As the recipe indicates, the batter will rise will baking. I followed the 3/4 full note and they are picturesque.

    Reply
  10. Amber says

    November 12, 2022 at 9:28 pm

    Excellent! I used pure maple syrup instead of sugar at the same ratio. Also used bobs all purpose gluten free flour. Came out moist and delicious

    Reply
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