These gluten-free banana muffins are soft, tender, just the right amount of sweet, and possibly even more delicious than regular banana muffins.

"I finally found the perfect gluten-free muffins. These were a breeze to make and my family didn't even realize they were GF!" - Claud
One of my favorite things as a kid was my Mom's banana bread. She would make it whenever she had a few over-ripe bananas and we would eat it warm from the oven, slathered in butter. Soooo... good.
That's what I was going for when I created this recipe. Muffins that are soft and tender, full of banana flavor, easy to make, and also gluten-free.
Use this recipe to bake:
- Regular-size or jumbo-size gluten-free banana muffins
- Gluten-free chocolate chip banana muffins
- Gluten-free banana nut muffins
- Gluten-free peanut butter banana muffins
- Gluten-free banana bread
Ingredients Needed to Prepare this Recipe
- Gluten-free flour with xanthan gum. Choose a gluten-free flour mix that has xanthan gum listed somewhere in the ingredient list. I used King Arthur Measure-for-Measure Gluten-Free Flour.
- Ground flaxseed meal. It's important to use ground flaxseed meal NOT unground flax seeds in these muffins.
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Ground cinnamon and nutmeg
- Brown sugar. To measure brown sugar pack it tightly into the measuring cup.
- Granulated white sugar
- Very ripe bananas. This recipe is a great way to use overripe bananas!
- Large eggs
- Vegetable or canola oil. Oil gives these muffins a light, soft texture and ensures that they will be moist and fresh tasting for several days.
- Pure vanilla extract. Always use pure vanilla, not imitation vanilla which can give baked goods a bitter aftertaste.
- Optional Mix-ins: Mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or peanut butter
"The texture of these banana muffins is so good! They were moist but still had structure. I added chocolate chips to mine. Will definitely be making this recipe again." - Elizabeth
Step-by-Step Photos and Instructions
Making the batter for these banana muffins is a quick and easy 4-step process that takes less than 15 minutes!
Start by adding all the dry ingredients (gluten-free flour, ground flaxseed meal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg) to a bowl. Stir with a wire whisk to combine.
Then use an electric mixer to mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, mashed banana, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Beat these ingredients for about a minute to ensure they are well combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and beat on medium-low speed just until everything is blended and the batter is cohesive.
Distribute the batter amongst paper-lined baking cups and bake! (If you don't want to use paper liners, grease and flour the inside of each muffin cup.
These muffins are very soft and tender, so allow them to cool in the muffin pan for at least 10 minutes until they are firm enough to be removed from the pan. Set them on a wire rack and allow them to cool completely.
Eat them as is, or slathered with a schmear of salted butter.
How to Add Mix-ins and Bake Gluten-Free Banana Bread Instead of Muffins
To make gluten-free chocolate chip banana muffins: Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips over the top of each muffin before baking. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the chocolate chips into the batter then bake as directed.
To make gluten-free banana nut muffins: Stir 1 cup of chopped nuts into the batter right before baking.
Use any kind of nuts you like, raw or roasted.
To make gluten-free peanut butter banana muffins: Melt ½ cup of creamy peanut butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. After filling the muffin cups with batter, drizzle the peanut butter over each muffin.
Use a butter knife to gently swirl the peanut butter into the batter then bake as directed.
To make gluten-free banana bread: Coat the inside of a loaf pan with a thin layer of butter or vegetable shortening and gluten-free flour. (Here's how to grease and flour a pan so the bread will not stick.)
Fill the pan ⅔ full with batter. (You'll have some batter left over that you can use to make a few muffins.) Bake the loaf at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 60-65 minutes.
How to Store and Freeze These Muffins
These gluten-free muffins will keep well at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store them individually wrapped or in an air-tight container.
The muffins also freeze well. Wrap each muffin individually, then pile them into an airtight container or zip-top bag and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Wrapping them individually will keep them from sticking together and makes it easy to remove however many muffins you want whenever you want them.
Allow frozen muffins, still wrapped, to thaw in the refrigerator or on the countertop. The muffins will thaw in 6-8 hours in the refrigerator or 2-3 hours at room temperature.
If you like warm muffins, pop them back into a muffin tin and cover them loosely with aluminum foil. Place the muffins in a preheated 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 8 minutes, until warmed through. Alternatively, wrap individual muffins in a damp paper towel and heat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.
Recipe FAQs
Look for a gluten-free flour blend that includes “xanthan gum” in the list of ingredients. Xanthan gum is a thickener and stabilizer that can provide the necessary structure for baked goods to rise while baking.
In these muffins, xanthan gum helps create a lovely domed top and keeps the muffins from being dense. I used King Arthur Measure-for-Measure Gluten-Free Flour.
Can I make these muffins without eggs?
Yes! Swap the eggs with “flax eggs”. To make one flax egg, combine 1 tablespoon of ground flax meal with 2 ½ tablespoons of water. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes to allow it to gel then add it to the batter. Because this recipe calls for two eggs, use 2 tablespoons of ground flax meal and 5 tablespoons of water.
More Delicious Gluten-Free Recipes
I have served this gluten-free vanilla cake to several large groups over the years and have yet to have one single person guess that it's gluten-free. It's everything you want from a classic white cake - light and tender with a gorgeous vanilla flavor that's perfect for any occasion.
For those days when nothing but chocolate will do, gluten-free rocky road bars are a ridiculously delicious indulgence. If chocolate cake is what you're craving (and who isn't?),try this almond flour chocolate cake or this chocolate ricotta cake. Both cakes are delicious topped with cherry sauce or this super easy fresh berry sauce.
While we're talking cake, the same can be said about this gluten-free caramel cake. Three layers of buttery gluten-free caramel cake are slathered with salted caramel Italian meringue buttercream, and topped with salted caramel sauce and almond pralines. This is the cake you want to make for any occasion that calls for pure, unapologetic decadence.
On the lighter, everyday side, try this classic gluten-free strawberry shortcake made with fresh strawberries and whipped cream sandwiched between gluten-free biscuits. Or, during peach season, try this healthy peach cobbler made with almond flour, pecans, and plenty of fresh fruit.
And these chocolate peanut butter bars are whole grain, gluten-free, and very low in sugar. Both the bars and these gluten-free chocolate almond cherry oatmeal cookies are perfect for after-school snacks, bake sales, and summer picnics and BBQs.
And, if you need a few more gluten-free muffin recipes, try these gluten-free blueberry muffins and gluten-free double chocolate muffins.
"These muffins were everything I look for in a banana muffin but without the gluten! The hardest part was waiting for them to cool and firm up after baking." - Jessica
📖 Recipe
The Best Gluten Free Banana Muffins
These gluten-free banana muffins are soft, tender, just the right amount of sweet, and possibly even more delicious than regular banana muffins.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (180 grams) gluten-free flour with xanthan gum (*See note)
- ¼ cup (25 grams) ground flaxseed meal
- 2 teaspoons (8 grams) baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5 grams) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon table salt (¾ teaspoon kosher salt)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup (54 grams) packed brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 grams) white granulated sugar
- 1 ½ cups (340 grams) mashed banana
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (99 grams) vegetable or canola oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Optional add-ins: mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, peanut butter (See notes)
Instructions
- Preheat over to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C), with a rack positioned in the center of the oven. Grease your muffin pan with butter, vegetable shortening, or non-stick cooking spray - OR line it with paper muffin liners. (See note below about the size of your muffin pan.)
- Add gluten-free flour, ground flaxseed meal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a bowl and stir with a wire whisk to combine.
- Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, mashed banana, eggs, oil, and vanilla to a separate bowl and beat with an electric mixer for about 1 minute to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients and beat on medium-low speed until combined. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir the batter a few times to make sure everything is mixed together.
- Distribute the batter between 18 regular-size muffin cups, or 8 jumbo-size muffin cups. Bake regular-size muffins for 15-18 minutes. Bake jumbo-size muffins for 30-35 minutes. To test that the muffins are done, insert a toothpick in the center of one of the muffins, remove it, and inspect it for any signs of raw batter.
- Allow the muffins to cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Choose a gluten-free flour mix that has xanthan gum listed somewhere in the ingredient list. I used King Arthur Measure-for-Measure Gluten-Free Flour.
- Be sure to use ground flaxseed meal NOT unground flax seeds in these muffins.
- This recipe makes about 3 ½ cups of batter. This is enough for 18 regular-size muffins OR 8 jumbo-size muffins.
- To make gluten-free chocolate chip banana muffins: Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips over the top of each muffin before baking. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the chocolate chips into the batter then bake as directed.
- To make gluten-free banana nut muffins: Stir 1 cup of chopped nuts into the batter right before baking.
- To make gluten-free peanut butter banana muffins: Melt ½ cup of creamy peanut butter in the microwave or on the stovetop. After filling the muffin cups with batter, drizzle the peanut butter over each muffin. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the peanut butter into the batter then bake as directed.
- To make gluten-free banana bread: Coat the inside of a loaf pan with a thin layer of butter or vegetable shortening and gluten-free flour. (Here's how to prepare a pan so the bread will not stick.). Fill the pan ⅔ full with batter. (You'll have some batter left over that you can use to make a few muffins.) Bake the loaf at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 60-65 minutes.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 18 Serving Size: 1 muffinAmount Per Serving: Calories: 113Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 142mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g
Jade says
The muffins turned out fluffy and moist. I loved the mashed bananas with warm cinnamon and nutmeg spices. I will throw in chocolate chips next time.
Rebecca Blackwell says
So glad you liked this recipe Jade! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment for me! I truly appreciate it!
Jane says
These muffins are so delicious, I could eat them every day. They're fluffy and moist, and the cinnamon and nutmeg are a perfect complement to the banana flavor.
claud says
I finally found the perfect gluten free muffins, these were a breeze to make and my family didn't even realize they were GF! They tasted amazing I actually added peanut butter the next day after I warmed them up...heaven.
Rebecca Blackwell says
I'm so glad to hear that you like this recipe so much Claud! The peanut butter and banana combination is one of my favorites as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment for me!
Jessica says
These muffins were everything I look for in a banana muffin but without the gluten! The hardest part was waiting for them to cool and firm up after baking. They make such an easy, healthy breakfast.
Rebecca Blackwell says
I'm so glad to hear that you are enjoying this recipe, Jessica! They are one of my favorite things to have for breakfast as well. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment for me!
Elizabeth S says
The texture of these banana muffins is so good! They were moist but still had structure. I added chocolate chips to mine. Will definitely be making this recipe again.
Rebecca Blackwell says
I'm so happy to hear that you liked this recipe Elizabeth! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment for me!