Meet your next family favorite: Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins! These irresistible little treats bring together everything you love about rich cocoa, creamy peanut butter, and naturally sweet bananas, all wrapped up in a tender, bakery-style muffin. Each bite is a perfect balance—chocolatey and nutty, with a subtle banana twist. Whether you’re grabbing breakfast on the go, packing lunchboxes, or savoring an afternoon snack, these muffins are the ultimate pick-me-up for peanut butter and chocolate lovers of all ages.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll be amazed at how a few simple pantry staples can create muffins with such crave-worthy flavor and fluffy texture. Every ingredient adds its own magic: the bananas make things moist and sweet, the peanut butter adds richness, and the chocolate makes them completely irresistible.
- Bananas: Use super ripe bananas for maximum natural sweetness and a heavenly, moist crumb.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: The peanut butter delivers bold flavor and a luxuriously tender texture—go for natural or your favorite classic brand.
- Vegetable Oil: Makes the muffins extra soft and keeps them moist longer than butter would.
- Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps achieve a light, fluffy bake that isn’t dense or heavy.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a touch of caramel-like depth you won’t want to skip.
- Eggs: Essential for binding everything together and adding structure.
- Vanilla Extract: Lends a lovely fragrant note that ties all the flavors together.
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of the batter, providing just the right amount of structure.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Deepens the chocolate flavor and gives the muffins their signature color.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder: The powerful combo that ensures your muffins rise high and stay tender.
- Salt: A tiny pinch balances the sweet and enhances every other flavor in the mix.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: Easy to distribute throughout the batter, these give you gooey chocolate in every bite.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
Step 1: Prep Your Muffin Tin and Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C), the sweet spot for perfectly baked muffins with a soft interior. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners for easy removal—or simply grease each cup with a little baking spray if that’s more your style. This little bit of prep work sets you up for muffin success and makes clean-up a breeze.
Step 2: Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine your mashed bananas, creamy peanut butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together until you have a smooth, unified mixture that’s a bit lighter in color and free from big banana lumps. This is the gooey, flavorful base that gives Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins their signature taste and pillowy softness.
Step 3: Sift and Blend the Dry Ingredients
Grab a second bowl and sift in the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Sifting really helps to distribute the cocoa evenly—no clumps here! Stir these ingredients together so all the leaveners and cocoa are well combined, ensuring every single muffin rises beautifully and tastes balanced.
Step 4: Combine the Wet and Dry Mixtures
Pour your dry mix into the wet mixture and use a gentle hand to stir—just until everything’s incorporated and you no longer see dry streaks of flour. Mixing until just combined keeps the muffins fluffy, not tough or dense. Over-mixing is the enemy of tender Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins!
Step 5: Fold in the Chocolate Chips
Now for the best part: fold in those mini chocolate chips. Use a spatula to gently distribute them throughout the batter so every bite has a little melted chocolate magic. If you want bakery-worthy tops, set aside a few chips to sprinkle over the muffins just before baking.
Step 6: Fill and Bake
Divide the batter evenly among your prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. This gives your muffins the space they need to rise high and proud. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick poked into the center of a muffin comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. The aroma at this point is heavenly—mouthwatering proof that something delicious is coming soon!
Step 7: Cool and Enjoy
Let the muffins cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely (if you can wait). This not only stops the baking process but also helps achieve that perfect, ever-so-slightly crisp muffin top. Once they’re cool, dive in for your first bite—this is the moment all Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins fans wait for!
How to Serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
Garnishes
To make these muffins look just as good as they taste, try sprinkling a few extra mini chocolate chips or chopped peanuts on top before baking. You can also add a dusting of powdered sugar after baking for a simple, elegant touch. If you’re feeling indulgent, a drizzle of melted chocolate or a swirl of peanut butter over the cooled muffins will wow any crowd.
Side Dishes
Pair your Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins with a cold glass of milk, a perfectly brewed mug of coffee, or even a banana smoothie for a breakfast or snack that feels both comforting and luxurious. For brunches or lunchboxes, a small bowl of fresh berries or sliced fruit is a fresh, juicy complement to the rich flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
For parties, lay the muffins out on a tiered cake stand with whole bananas and peanut butter cups for garnish. Want to wow at the bake sale? Try baking these muffins in decorative parchment muffin liners or wrapping them individually in cellophane with a cute ribbon. For a kid-friendly twist, insert a popsicle stick before serving to turn them into muffin “pops” that little hands will love!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any uneaten Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. They’re incredibly moist, so be sure to separate layers with a sheet of parchment paper to prevent sticking. If your home runs warm, you can pop them in the fridge to keep them fresh even longer, but allow them to return to room temperature before enjoying for the best flavor.
Freezing
These muffins freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, set them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer to a zip-top freezer bag. They’ll keep their fresh-baked flavor for up to three months. When you’re ready for a sweet treat, just thaw a muffin at room temperature or microwave it for a few seconds.
Reheating
Want that just-baked warmth? Reheat your muffins in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds, or in a preheated oven at 300°F for about five minutes. This brings back the gooey chocolate and soft texture that makes Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins so special.
FAQs
Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
Absolutely! Crunchy peanut butter adds fun little bites of nuttiness throughout the muffins, giving extra texture. Use it as a 1:1 replacement for creamy peanut butter for a delicious twist.
What if I don’t have mini chocolate chips?
No problem—regular chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or even chopped chocolate bars are all excellent choices. The key is to fold them in gently, and you might want to chop larger pieces a bit smaller for even distribution.
Can I make these muffins gluten-free?
Yes, simply swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free blend. The rest of the recipe remains the same—no need to make any other adjustments.
Why are my muffins dense?
Dense muffins are usually the result of over-mixing the batter or using less-ripe bananas. For the fluffiest Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins, mix until just combined and always pick bananas with plenty of brown spots.
Can I add in extras, like chopped nuts or dried fruit?
Definitely! Fold up to half a cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or dried banana chips into the batter along with the chocolate chips for extra crunch and flavor.
Final Thoughts
If you’re on the hunt for a recipe that truly delivers on comfort and flavor, you can’t go wrong with these Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins. Every batch comes together easily and fills the kitchen with the kind of cozy aroma that draws everyone in. Give them a try and watch how quickly they disappear—you might just find they become your go-to treat for any occasion!
Print
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 muffins 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the perfect combination of rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and sweet banana with these delectable Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Muffins. These moist and flavorful muffins are ideal for breakfast or as a satisfying snack any time of day.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease it.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, peanut butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined.
- Add chocolate chips: Fold in the mini chocolate chips.
- Fill muffin cups: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
- Bake: Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra texture, top each muffin with a few extra chocolate chips before baking.
- Use natural peanut butter for a richer peanut flavor if preferred.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 muffin
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
