These mini banana muffins are great healthy snacks for kids or babies who are fed using baby led weaning techniques.
If you’ve been following me on instagram for a while, you probably know that I like to share a lot of the baby led weaning recipes that I have made for my son.
When we first started solids, one thing that I was always feeding my little guy is one of my personal favourites – PEANUT BUTTER. Not only is peanut butter great for allergen introduction, but the stuff is just hella good, hella nutritious, and easy to throw into basically anything. Including these mini banana muffins for baby led weaning.
I promise you, these mini banana muffins will satisfy not only your little one – but the whole family! If you are not sure how to offer allergens (like peanut butter) when starting solids, we have a whole blog post on allergen introduction which you can read about right here.
Table of contents
Key Ingredients
Peanut Butter – I use a combination of peanut butter for body, and powdered peanut butter for extra peanut flavour and protein as it basically stands in for some of the flour.
Bananas – The key to making mini muffins delicious without any added sugar for your baby is to use really ripe bananas.
Flax Seed & Hemp Hearts – I like to sneak flax into any of my healthy snacks for kids to add omega 3s, plus I top mine off with hemp hearts for an even bigger and better dose.
Cherries – I used minced frozen cherries for these mini muffins because they add extra sweetness, but you can totally use whatever fruit you have on hand or leave them out. The last time I made these I used blueberries and he loved them just as much.
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: To a bowl, mix together the banana, peanut butter, eggs, vanilla, butter and cherries.
Step 2: To another large bowl, mix the flour, powdered peanut butter, baking powder, cinnamon and flax.
Step 3: Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until combined.
Step 4: Add the batter to the muffin tins (pretty much up to the top)
Step 5: Sprinkle with hemp hearts. Bake for 10-12 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean and the muffins feel springy.
Expert Tips
These mini banana muffins are honestly so delicious, you will be so surprised that they have no added sugar or salt and are loaded with fibre and good fats. They’re also a fantastic way to keep your baby’s allergen tolerance up.
Make a big batch and keep some in the freezer to bust out for emergency snacks but don’t be surprised if you go through them quickly. My son ate three for one snack alone, which is a pretty impressive portion for the little guy!
Recipe FAQs
Yes definitely. They can be stored for up to 3 months in the freezer.
The powdered peanut butter functions as flavour and a binder so you would probably need to substitute with more flour. If you want more of a peanut butter flavour, I would also suggest adding a bit more natural peanut butter to the recipe.
For sure! You can use a flax egg and vegan butter instead.
You can make these mini banana muffins gluten free by using a gluten free flour like oat flour or almond flour.
More BLW Recipes You Might Like
Banana Baked Oatmeal Fingers with Cherries
Chickpea Peanut Butter Biscuits
I would love to hear what you and your babies, toddlers and partners think of these mini banana muffins?
What are some of your favourite healthy snacks for kids?
Mini Banana Muffins for Baby Led Weaning
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cup mashed very ripe banana about 2 large
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
- 3 eggs beaten
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 cup frozen cherries minced
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup powdered peanut butter
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp ground flax
- 2 tbsp hemp hearts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F and grease 36 mini muffin tins.
- To a bowl, mix together the banana, peanut butter, eggs, vanilla, butter and cherries. To another large bowl, mix the flour, powdered peanut butter, baking powder, cinnamon and flax. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until combined.
- Add the batter to the muffin tins (pretty much up to the top) and sprinkle with hemp hearts. Bake for 10-12 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean and the muffins feel springy.
- Allow to cool and enjoy.
Video
Nutrition
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Abbey Sharp is a Registered Dietitian (RD), regulated by the Ontario College of Dietitians. She is a mom, YouTuber, Blogger, award winning cookbook author, media coach specializing in food and nutrition influencers, and a frequent contributor to national publications like Healthline and on national broadcast TV shows.
Justine says
LOVE this recipe!!!! Subbed the powdered peanut butter with almond flour and used Frozen wild blueberries instead of cherries. A huge hit this morning for breakfast!
Abbey Sharp says
Yay! Thanks Justine 🙂
Kyla says
Can I use fresh cherries instead of frozen? Is it also possible to omit the hemp hearts (I don’t have them with me at the cabin)? Thanks!
Abbey Sharp says
yep you can omit and yes you can use fresh!
Lyssa Walborn says
I’m going to try and make these vegan with some aquafaba in place of those eggs. Let you know how it goes. 🙂
Abbey Sharp says
Awesome! Let me know
Kate says
Made this recipe this morning with the adjustment of 1 cup fine ground blanched almond flour and 1/4 cup gluten free all-purpose blend. They came out fluffy and delicious, and our 6-month-old thought hers was great (once she figured out it was food ?).
Abbey Sharp says
Amazing! So happy to hear
Emily says
Can I make these with regular peanut butter instead of powdered ? They look great!
Abbey Sharp says
Hey Emily
You can try! I like the powdered PB Hhere because it functions as flavour, binder and subs some of the flour because it’s essentially like peanut flour. But give it a try, you may just need a bit more flour.
Sofia says
So yummy
Abbey Sharp says
🙂
Bex says
Very adaptable and delicious. Toddler and husband approved.
Abbey Sharp says
Amazing! Thanks Bex
Deborah Brooks says
No babies here but I would love one of those muffins myself!
Abbey Sharp says
Right! Also adult friendly 🙂