The Best Banana Crumb Muffins Recipe (Beginner Friendly!)

These banana crumb muffins are a surefire way to turn those overripe bananas into a treat your family will request time and time again. With their perfect moist, fluffy texture, rich banana flavor, and delicious streusel topping, they're ideal for breakfast, a lunchbox treat, or a warm dessert paired with a scoop of ice cream.

This banana crumb muffin recipe is a must-try. Not overly sweet, it strikes the perfect balance, showcasing the delicious flavor of ripe bananas and the hint of cinnamon in every bite. And the best part? They're easy to make, even for those new to baking.

If you're a fan of muffins, you might want to try my pumpkin cheesecake muffins for a festive treat, my zucchini chocolate chip muffins for a sneaky veggie-packed snack, or my classic blueberry muffins that are always a hit.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Key Ingredients
• How to Make Banana Crumb Muffins
• Tips for Making the Best Banana Muffins
• Serving Suggestions 
• Recipe Variation Ideas 
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Store Leftovers
• Similar Recipes You'll Love
• Recipe Card
• The Best Banana Crumb Muffins Recipe (Beginner Friendly!)
• Comments

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and Easy: We all lead busy lives, and this recipe understands that. It's straightforward and simple, perfect for a quick baking session.
• Classic Flavors: The combination of ripe bananas, cinnamon, and a buttery crumb topping is a timeless classic that never fails to satisfy.
• Family Favorite: These muffins will become a family favorite in no time. They're great for breakfast, dessert, or a sweet treat in a lunchbox.
• Comfort Food: There's something incredibly comforting about the smell of these muffins wafting through your kitchen as they bake. And the comfort doesn't stop there - one bite and you'll be in food heaven.
• Budget-Friendly: With a few simple and affordable ingredients, you can make a batch of these delicious muffins that will feed the whole family.

Key Ingredients

All you need are some simple pantry staple ingredients to make this banana muffin recipe at home. Let's look at them in more detail:

• All-Purpose Flour: This is the base of our muffins, providing the structure we need. It's a versatile ingredient that's a must-have in any kitchen.
• Pure Cane Brown Sugar: This will add a lovely hint of caramel to our muffins and make them sweet without overdoing it, thanks to its less refined nature.
• Ground Cinnamon: This spice will add warm, comforting flavors to our muffins, making them perfect for a cozy treat.
• Unsalted Butter: We'll use this to add a rich, creamy texture to both our muffin batter and our crumb topping.
• Ripe Bananas: These are the star of our recipe, they'll give our muffins a wonderful, natural sweetness and a beautiful banana flavor.

• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: These leavening agents will help our muffins rise, giving them a light and fluffy texture.
• White Sugar: This will sweeten our muffins, and will also add moisture.
• Large Eggs: These will help bind our ingredients together and add structure to our muffins.
• Vanilla Extract: This will enhance the sweet, warm flavors in our muffins, and give them a lovely aroma.

For a full list of ingredients and quantities, please check the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to Make Banana Crumb Muffins

Making this incredible banana crumb muffin is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:

Prepare the Muffin Crumb

Create the crumb topping: In a bowl, combine all-purpose flour, pure cane brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter. Use a fork to mix the ingredients together until they form crumbs. Set this crumb mixture aside for later use.

Make the Muffin Batter

Preheat the oven and prepare the dry ingredients: Preheat your oven to 350. In a bowl, measure out the organic all-purpose flour and mix in the baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt using a hand whisker. Set this dry ingredient mixture aside.

Combine butter and sugar: In another bowl, beat softened butter and organic sugar together until the mixture is creamy.

Add egg and vanilla: Add a large organic egg and pure vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Beat these ingredients together until they are well combined.

Incorporate the bananas: Add the 3 medium organic ripe bananas to the mixture and beat well until the bananas are fully incorporated and there are no clumps.

Mix in the dry ingredients: Add the flour mixture prepared earlier to the banana mixture. Stir these ingredients together with a spoon until they are all well combined.

Fill the muffin liners: Distribute the batter evenly between 12 liners in a muffin pan.

Add the crumb topping: Sprinkle the cinnamon crumbs over the top of each muffin.

Bake the muffins: Place the muffin pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Cool and serve: Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Enjoy the muffins warm, or allow them to cool completely before serving or freezing.

For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.

Tips for Making the Best Banana Muffins

• Choose Ripe Bananas: For the best banana flavor, use medium to ripe bananas. The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more pronounced the banana flavor in your muffins will be. Plus, ripe bananas are easier to mash, making them easier to incorporate into the batter.
• Prepare the Crumb topping in Advance: Prepare the crumb topping in advance and store it in the fridge while you prepare the muffin batter. This will help the flavors of the cinnamon and brown sugar to meld together, enhancing the overall flavors of your banana crumb muffins.
• Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature before you start baking. Room-temperature ingredients mix more easily, which helps to guarantee a smooth banana mixture and a well-incorporated batter.
• Stir the Batter Gently: When adding the flour mixture to the banana mixture, stir gently until just combined. Over-mixing the batter can lead to tough muffins. A few lumps are okay, just make sure there are no dry streaks of flour.
• Cool the Muffins Before Freezing: If you're planning to freeze your banana crumb muffins, make sure to cool them completely at room temperature on a wire rack. This will prevent the steam from making the muffin soggy in the freezer.

Serving Suggestions 

• Start your day with a hot cup of coffee and a banana crumb muffin. The warm, robust flavors of the coffee complement the sweet, banana flavor and the cinnamon crumb topping of the muffin perfectly.
• For a quick and easy breakfast on the go, pair these banana crumb muffins with a chilled glass of milk. The creamy, cool milk is a refreshing contrast to the rich, sweet flavors of the muffins.
• Looking for a light and healthy snack? Enjoy a banana crumb muffin with a yogurt parfait. The tangy yogurt and fresh fruit bring out the natural sweetness of the bananas in the muffin.
• For a sweet and satisfying dessert, try serving these banana crumb muffins with a side of fruit salad. The crisp, fresh flavors of the fruit salad balance the rich, buttery crumb topping and enhance the banana flavor in the muffins.

Recipe Variation Ideas 

This delicious banana crumb muffin recipe is absolutely perfect as is, but if you're looking to change things up, here are a few variation ideas you can try:

• Chocolate Chips: If you're a chocolate lover, this variation is perfect for you. Simply fold in half a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips into the banana mixture before dividing the batter into the muffin pan. The chocolate chips will add a rich, sweet contrast to the banana flavor, making your muffins a delicious treat.
• Spiced: For those who enjoy warm, aromatic flavors, the spiced variation is a must-try. Add a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice or a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to the banana mixture. This will give your banana crumb muffins a cozy, comforting flavor that's perfect for a fall morning.
• Berries: If you're a fan of tangy-sweet flavors, you can add a handful of fresh or frozen berries to the batter. Gently fold in the berries to avoid discoloring the batter. The burst of berry flavor compliments the banana and adds a refreshing twist to the muffins.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store Leftovers

• Refrigerating: Once your banana crumb muffins have cooled to room temperature, you can store them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 2 days.
• Freezing: If you'd like to store your banana crumb muffins for a longer period, you can freeze them. Wrap the muffins individually in plastic wrap and then place them in a resealable freezer bag. They will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight at room temperature before serving.
• Thaw and Reheat Instructions: To reheat your banana crumb muffins, simply place them in a preheated 350°F oven for about 10 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. The warm temperature will help to revive the wonderful aromas and flavors of the banana crumb muffins.

Similar Recipes You'll Love

• Classic Blueberry Muffins (With Homemade Streusel Topping)
• Moist Apple Cinnamon Muffins (with Crumb Topping and Glaze)
• Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins Recipe
• The Best Chocolate Zucchini Muffins (Healthy + Moist!)

See all muffin recipes.

Recipe Card

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This recipe was originally posted on March 3, 2017 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.