• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Shop

The Worktop logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Christmas Breakfast Ideas
  • All Breakfast Recipes
  • Easy Ideas
  • Brunch Ideas
  • Meet Tina
  • By Category
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home / Breakfast and Brunch Recipes / Low Fat Banana Muffins

    Jan 5, 2020 · Last Updated: Sep 13, 2021

    Low Fat Banana Muffins

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

    Sharing is caring!

    These Low Fat Banana Muffins are sweet, nutty and filled with juicy blueberries. If you love a healthy, grab-and-go breakfast, you need to give these skinny banana muffins a try soon!

    Low Fat Banana Blueberry Muffins on cooling rack | The Worktop

    No need to feel guilty when you eat these Low Fat Banana Muffins

    Many times, muffins are basically dessert for breakfast. But not these!

    These muffins are packed with fiber and low in fat. They're also filled with fruit for an extra dose of nutrition.

    The fiber comes from the wheat bran, which gives these skinny banana muffins a satisfyingly nutty flavor without being overpowering. They are sweet, but not overly sweet like those coffee shop muffins (AKA dessert for breakfast).

    These are great with Greek yogurt or eggs for a protein-packed breakfast, but I think they're yummy and filling on their own too.

    This low fat muffin recipe makes a delicious breakfast that you can feel good about eating!

    Skinny Banana Muffins with Blueberries - in muffin tin | The Worktop

    Skinny banana muffin ingredients

    These muffins may be low in fat, but they are loaded with healthy ingredients. Here are the key components in these low fat muffins, and why they work in this recipe.

    Wheat bran - for fiber and nutrients

    Wheat bran is a bit unusual for a muffin recipe. You might be wondering what exactly it is.

    Bran is the outer part of the wheat kernel that normally gets stripped and discarded during processing. However, this layer of wheat is highly nutritious. It provides:

    • fiber
    • B vitamins
    • magnesium
    • phosphorus

    This wheat bran adds a sweet, nutty flavor to these muffins, as well as a bit of texture.

    Banana and applesauce - for moisture and sweetness

    Ripe banana and applesauce make great replacements for oil in baking recipes. They add moisture, flavor and make great natural sweeteners.

    TIP: Choose applesauce with no added sugar - it's sweet enough on it's own!

    Blueberries - for a burst of flavor

    Everyone knows blueberries are delicious in muffins. Not only are they sweet and juicy, but they're also packed with:

    • Antioxidants
    • Fiber
    • Vitamins/minerals

    No oil or butter in these low fat muffins

    You won't find oil or butter in the ingredient list for this recipe. Therefore, these muffins are very low in fat!

    Applesauce and banana replace the fat need in low fat muffin recipes. Together, they prevent these muffins from becoming dry.

    However, keep in mind that the lack of oil or butter makes these muffins a bit tricky to make. Don't be intimidated - just follow the tricks below so your low fat muffins don't stick to the paper when they bake.

    Low Fat Muffin Recipe with Banana and Blueberries - plated for breakfast | The Worktop

    Why are my muffins sticking to the liner?

    These muffins tend to stick a little because they are low in fat. Fat usually helps coat the paper so the muffins can pull away from the liners easily (that's why cupcakes often don't have the same problems).

    Don't worry! You can prevent this from happening, even with low fat muffins.

    Most importantly, be patient and give these muffins time to cool before you peel the paper away from them. Muffins tend to stick to the paper while they are still warm.

    The good news is, unlike many other muffins, these skinny banana muffins actually taste the best the following morning. Therefore, I like to bake them in the evenings and have muffins ready for the next day.

    The other reason why your muffins might be sticking to the paper is because you are using muffin liners that aren't suitable for low fat muffins.

    How can you prevent muffins from sticking to the liner?

    First, let these muffins cool completely to prevent sticking. They will simply come away from the paper more easily. The muffins will settle, and slightly shrink together as it cools.

    If you let these Low Fat Banana Muffins cool overnight and peel them slowly, you shouldn't have any problems with sticking.

    Here are some other easy ways to avoid muffins sticking to liners:

    Skip the liner

    Yep, you can just skip the liners completely when you make these skinny banana muffins if you like. Just use a well-greased non-stick pan instead of a paper liner.

    Use foil liners

    If you're like me and you prefer to use a liner just out of habit or convenience, that's okay too!

    Foil baking cups might be a better option than paper liners for low fat muffins. Why you might ask?

    Paper liners can't be easily coated in a layer of grease. But, you can easily oil the foil liners before putting in the batter to prevent sticking.

    An easy way to grease foil liners is to use an oil mister. This is the oil mister we use at home. I've had it for a couple years now, and no clogging!

    Choose quality paper

    If you are set on using paper liners like me, quality is important. Cheap, thin paper liners break down more easily with the moisture from the muffins.

    These liners are my go-to, especially for low fat muffins. They don't require any grease and they are environmentally friendly.

    I ran out of these liners while I was making these muffins, but you can see what they look like in my Skinny Blueberry Muffins post.

    If you are interested to read more, this article has some great tips on how to choose the best muffin pans and liners.

    Low Fat Muffin with Banana and Blueberries - photo to show muffin texture | The Worktop

    This low fat muffin recipe is great for kids

    I love making easy, healthy recipes that my toddler also loves. This low fat muffin recipe is one of them!

    These skinny banana muffins always come in handy on busy mornings because my son can easily grab and eat it on his own. I also love to pack them in his lunch for school, or have them ready for him as an after school snack.

    We all look forward to the mornings when these muffins are ready for us at breakfast. If you have kids around, we also love these toddler muffins that are healthy too. You can use one batter to make 4 different varieties.

    Storing Low Fat Banana Muffins

    These Low Fat Banana Muffins will keep for a few days in an airtight container on the counter. They will keep a little longer if you refrigerate them.

    If you do want to heat them up before eating them, peel the paper away first. Then pop the muffin in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds to gently warm it up.

    Low Fat Banana Muffins with Blueberries - plated for a grab and go breakfast | The Worktop

    Love these Low Fat Banana Muffins? Try these other healthy banana breakfast recipes

    Love this recipe? Here are some other healthy banana recipes I think you will enjoy for breakfast:

    • Egg Free Banana Muffins - this is a very popular recipe on the blog - they are delicious!
    • Eggless Banana Bread - you really can't tell that this recipe doesn't contain any egg
    • Banana Oatmeal Pancakes - light and fluffy although they are flourless!
    • Vegan Banana Pancakes - use up your ripe bananas in this sugar-free recipe.
    Low Fat Banana Muffins - Skinny Recipe - with text | The Worktop

    Skip the guilt but not the flavor with these skinny banana muffins

    When you try these low fat muffins, I think you'll be surprised that they can be so healthy while tasting delicious. And I hope that you enjoy them as much as my family does.

    Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below or email tina@theworktop.com. And I’d love to hear how you like these Low Fat Banana Muffins in the comments below.

    Low Fat Banana Muffins Recipe - close up to show blueberries | The Worktop

    Low Fat Banana Muffin

    4.63 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Serves: 12 muffins
    Prep: 10 mins
    Cook: 35 mins
    Total: 5 mins
    These Low Fat Banana Muffins are sweet, nutty and filled with juicy blueberries. If you love a healthy, grab-and-go breakfast, you need to give these skinny banana muffins a try soon!

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups wheat bran
    • 1 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ⅓ cup dark brown sugar (light brown sugar is fine too)
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs - room temperature
    • 1 ⅓ cups 2% milk (semi-skimmed)
    • 1 teaspoon quality vanilla extract
    • 3 small bananas - mashed (equaling a heaping ½ cup / 145 grams)
    • ¼ cup unsweetened apple sauce
    • 1 cup fresh blueberries
    • 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour - for tossing the blueberries in
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F / 205°C. Grease a non-stick muffin tin, or line a muffin tin with quality paper. See the tips in the post about preventing this low fat muffin from sticking to the paper.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the wheat bran, flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger.
    • In a medium bowl, beat together the sugars and eggs using a hand mixer on low speed for about 30 seconds, until everything is mixed. Add in the milk and vanilla extract and beat for 10 seconds on low speed. Add in the mashed bananas and apple sauce, and beat for another 10 seconds until everything is all mixed.
    • Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the banana mixture. Using a spatula, fold the ingredients together until the batter is just mixed, being careful not to over mix the batter. Set aside and let stand for 5 minutes.
    • In the meantime, wash and dry the blueberries. Toss the blueberries in the flour so they are lightly coated.
    • Gently fold the blueberries into the batter, reserving a 12-24 blueberries to place on top of the muffins if you desire.
    • Evenly divide the batter into the muffin cups. Place the reserved blueberries on top of the muffins, pushing them in so only the tops of the blueberries are not tucked in the batter.
    • Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350°F / 176°C. Bake another 25 minutes or so, until a toothpick inserted into the muffins come out clean.
    Course: Breads and Muffins, Breakfast, Brunch
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Low Fat Banana Muffins
    Author: The Worktop
    Cal : 178kcal
    Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
    Love this?I would appreciate a star review! Snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram using #theworktop and tagging me @theworktop.
    « Sweet Potato Hash
    Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed Butter (Nut Free Lunch Spread) »

    By Tina Jui
    Filed Under: Breads and Muffins, Breakfast and Brunch Recipes, Breakfast for a Crowd, Fall Breakfast Recipes, Kid Friendly, Make Ahead, On The Go, Oven, Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas, Quick and Easy Brunches, Spring Breakfast Recipes, VegetarianTags: bananas, blueberries, muffins

    About Tina Jui

    A breakfast lover and food blogger. Tina develops everyday breakfast recipes on The Worktop, and writes about all things related to breakfast and brunch. Read more about Tina Jui or drop an email to say hi.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nolan says

      October 08, 2021 at 7:52 am

      delicious

      Reply
    2. Rachel Willis says

      January 21, 2020 at 1:55 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for sharing this recipe. I've made them twice now and the entire family has gobbled them up quickly. The first time I followed the recipe exactly and the second time I didn't have applesauce so I swapped in some Greek yoghurt and did a blend of different flours. The recipe turned out fine.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Hi, I'm Tina and a lover of breakfast! The Worktop is where I share my everyday breakfast recipes. You can find lots of breakfasts and brunch ideas on my site. Many of the recipes are easy to make and healthy, but of course, you'll also find big brunch indulgences.

    More about The Worktop →

    Popular Breakfast Recipes

    • Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole
    • Overnight Chia Seed Pudding with Almond Milk (Vegan, GF)
    • Instant Pot Congee - Chicken and Rice
    • Original Glazed Donuts (Krispy Kreme Recipe Copycat)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Statement

    As Featured On

    The Worktop Featured On Banner - Taste of Home, Buzzfeed, Decor, The Bump, FeedFeed

    Stay Connected

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Email

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2013-2021 Rainbow Rice Ltd trading as The Worktop. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.