These Banana Chocolate Muffins are naturally gluten free and perfect for easy meal prep! Boosted with protein powder and chocolate chips, these are the perfect start to your morning.
It’s no secret gluten free baking can be a little tricky. We’ve been a gluten free family since 2006 and even I have trouble getting things just right. However, these Banana Chocolate Muffins are the exception! They make gluten free baking so easy because there are no strange or expensive ingredients–Just bananas and a few pantry staples.
What ingredients do you need to make Flourless Chocolate Muffins?
I use the same base recipe as my super popular Flourless Peanut Butter Muffins. The original recipe just features chocolate chips, whereas this recipe is double chocolate! For exact measurements, you’ll have to scroll down to the printable recipe card, but here are the ingredients you will need:
- Bananas
- Peanut butter
- Honey
- Protein powder (whatever brand or variety you like, this is the one I use)
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cocoa powder
- Eggs
- Chocolate chips
You can make these muffins in a regular metal baking tin, but I find that a silicone pan works really well! The muffins always come out cleanly, and the silicone helps prevent overbaking. You can also use silicone baking liners if you have those handy. I actually have this set, which has both.
How to make Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
These banana chocolate muffins are unique as they don’t include any flour! Flourless muffins are sometimes called blender muffins because you can add all the ingredients into a blender or food processor, making the recipe super easy.
First, add your bananas, peanut butter, honey, protein powder, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder and eggs. Blend until a smooth batter forms. Add the chocolate chips and pulse just a few times until the chocolate chips are incorporated well. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tin, then bake at 400 degrees for 12-14 minutes. When the muffins are set, top with sea salt for a special salty-sweet treat!
Tips for the BEST Flourless Muffins:
- Use a silicone pan or silicone cup liners. These muffins easily stick to your average metal pan, so cooking in silicone makes it much easier to pop them out cleanly!
- If you don’t have a blender or food processor, first mash up the banana extremely well. Add in 1-2 more ingredients at a time, mashed and mixing to make sure the ingredients get well incorporated. You don’t really want banana chunks, just the banana mixed throughout.
- Switch up your flavors! These muffins are equally delicious using peanut butter chips. You could try toffee pieces, butterscotch, white chocolate, or even espresso chips to fit your favorite flavors.
- Don’t overbake. You can use a toothpick to check for doneness if you aren’t sure–Stick the toothpick right through the center of a muffin, and it’s finished when the toothpick comes out cleanly (disregarding melty chocolate chips).
Can you freeze Banana Chocolate Muffins?
Absolutely! To freeze these muffins, first allow them to cool completely. Next, wrap each muffin multiple times in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. This makes it super easy to pull out just the right amount when you’re hungry!
If you are refrigerating these, they should last up to 5 days. If you freeze them, they should last 3 months. To thaw, leave out at room temperature for 1-2 hours, allow to thaw overnight in the fridge, or microwave for 30 seconds until warmed throughout.
What are some other easy meal prep recipes?
If you are looking for some easy recipes that you can prep ahead of time to make life run more smoothly I have tons of options for you. Some of my favorite easy meal prep breakfast recipes are:
- Keto Sausage Egg and Cheese Bites (under 1 net carb and reheat perfectly)
- Bacon and Spinach Egg Muffins (about 1 net carb and very basic ingredients)
- Almond Butter Espresso Balls (gluten free, easy and has a caffeine kick!)
- Lemon Chia Pudding (low-carb, gluten free, and can be made 2 ways)
For lunch, I’ve always loved a good wrap! My favorite is this Grilled Zucchini and Hummus Wrap, but this Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wrap is also a winner! This Spicy Thai Salad with Chicken packs great in a mason jar and is super flavorful. If you are looking for something a little more substantial this One Pan Bacon Cheeseburger Mac is also gluten free and reheats so well, adults and kiddos will love it!
More Gluten Free Muffin Recipes:
- Toasted Coconut Muffins
- Carrot Ginger Muffins with a Spiced Glaze
- Keto Pumpkin Muffins with Pecan Crumble
Chocolate Flourless Protein Muffins
These Chocolate Flourless Protein Muffins are naturally gluten free and perfect for easy meal prep!
Ingredients
- 2 brown bananas
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup protein powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Spray a muffin tin with baking grease or line with muffin tins, set aside.
- Place all ingredients except chocolate chips in a blender and blend for 30 seconds or until completely smooth.
- Fold in chocolate chips and pour into muffin tins.
- Bake 12-14 minutes until muffins have set
Notes
You can use any type of protein powder you would like. I have used vanilla, chocolate and unflavored and they all work great.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 289mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 2gSugar: 14gProtein: 9g
To avoid any confusion I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it is not known to affect blood glucose levels. To calculate Keto recipes listed on this site carbs - fiber = net carbs. I use Nutrifox as my nutrition calculator. This nutrition information is an estimate based on the information provided by Nutrifox and the specific ingredients I used.
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
These look amazing! I’ve got to give them a try. Well, I have to try everything that involves chocolate. It’s just the way I am. 🙂
Have a great day!
Maebells says
I am the same way Melanie! The more chocolate the better! 😉
kathysteger says
Wow, sounds like me lately too. I have been so busy lately I forget things all the time. The other day I turned my husbands perfectly white polo completely pink. 🙁
I love that these muffins are flourless, I need to make them. Sounds intriguing.
Maebells says
Oh no Kathy! Isn’t it the worst?! I just hate when you can’t quite get it together!
Oriana+@+Mommyhood's+Diary says
Life is crazy, huh? I spend most of my days running around just like you. I have two little ones so I cannot forget about prepearing meals but often I just make something for them, and nothing for me, so at night time I want to eat an elephant… not good! I am also trying to more organize but It’s so hard. What I am doing is making big batches of food during the weekend and freeze them. These muffins sound like a great on-the-go breakfast. Pinned!
Maebells says
That is a great idea! I don’t do many freezer meals, but I should it would make things so much easier! I like the idea of just having to throw something in the oven when I get home!
Mira+L says
I rarely do meal prep, but what I do it feels so good! Being organized feels good! The protein muffins look amazing and will be great for breakfast! I’m also planning to try the stuffed peppers, they look delicious!
Maebells says
Mira we are kind of obsessed with the stuffed peppers! haha! It is just really hard to beat a recipe that only has FOUR ingredients! 🙂
marcie says
I do much better when I do a meal plan — life gets too crazy and then dinner comes and it’s stress. What to make? We eat better and healthier when I plan ahead, and I try to do it every weekend. These muffins sound amazing — I love making flourless snacks and the like — these would be one great breakfast! Pinning. 🙂
Maebells says
Thank you Marcie! And I totally agree, we eat MUCH healthier when I plan ahead and I feel like I spend much less on groceries when I think the whole week out ahead of time too!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I love prepping for meals! I usually do it on Sundays and it’s such a life-saver! This chocolate protein muffins sound delicious! I’m always in awe of baked goods that don’t contain any flour, yet taste just as good as the ones that do. These sound fabulous!
Maebells says
I know!! They are a bit mysterious aren’t they?! I don’t know exactly why or how they work without flour, but I am so glad they do!
Natalie+@+Tastes+Lovely says
This is so inspiring Annie! I used to be the *worst* at meal planning. The worst! Every day around lunch time I would think about what I wanted to make for dinner, which meant I was going to the grocery store every day after work. So time consuming! Plus, I think I was wasting a lot of money since I wasn’t having ingredients overlap. But since Nov 1, I’ve started a new routine where every Sunday morning I write out all the dinners I want to make for the week, then make a grocery list of everything I need. I can do a whole weeks worth of grocery shopping in 15 minutes! And now I know what is for dinner every week. It is the best!
Huge question, I’m so curious about the vacuum sealer you use for mason jars! Tell me more about it. I got the FoodSaver vacuum sealer as a wedding present…and have never opened the box. Eeek! I just haven’t found the need for it, since I don’t buy a ton of meat in bulk and freeze it (aka, no freezer space). But! I do store a ton of things in mason jars, like nuts and coconut flakes, etc. Do you just use the wide mouth jar attachment? And do you use the regular lids? Or do I buy separate vacuum seal lids? I should really get this! I just looked and it’s only $10 on amazon! Share your wisdom with me friend!
Maebells says
Oh Natalie you won’t believe how easy this is! All I do is take regular sized mason jars and pack salads in them without the dressing. All my greens on the bottom and toppings on top. Then using a sharp knife poke a hole in the top of the lid and cover it with a sturdy tape like masking tape or painters tape and then close it tightly Then I grab the Ziplock Vacuum Pump and place the pump over the whole and pump 3-4 times until you hear the lid pop. Then it is air tight!
I do five salads and usually 7 fruit jars because sometimes I eat them with breakfast too. It is also how I store my chopped veggies for dinner during the week, except I use bigger jars. It is so easy, 15 minutes or work and lunches are done! The salads stay fresh for up to 7 days!
The vacuum pump is less than five dollars at the grocery and is usually on the top shelf with the plastic bags. Here is a link to the pumps http://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-Vacuum-Starter-3-Quart-1-Pump/dp/B003UEMFUG and here is a tutorial that will show you how to do it http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/family-recipes/how-to-vacuum-pack-salad-in-a-jar-for-less-than-6-plus-a-video
Natalie+@+Tastes+Lovely says
I am so excited! I just ordered the Vacuum Seal one since I already have a Vacuum Sealer. BUT! Thanks for the tip on the Ziploc thing. It looks like I can use that with the vacuum seal lid, so I don’t have to poke holes in my jars and I won’t have to bring out the vacuum sealer every time I need to close it up. This is so great Annie! You’re the best!
Maebells says
Yayy!! I hope you like it! I don’t throw out nearly as much food using this!
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
I need to get BETTER at meal prep! Weekends have been busy lately so it’s hard, but it really does make the week SO MUCH better. I recently turned my favorite tunic into a shirt, so I feel your pain. SO TRAGIC. UGH!
Your muffins look super duper delish. I’ve never tried cooking with protein powder!
Maebells says
Isn’t that the worst?! I had only worn it twice!! 🙁 so sad!
Stacey+@+Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
I don’t meal plan, but I totally should. It would really make my life a lot easier if I wasn’t staring in the freezer at 5pm wondering what I could scavenge for supper! One of those things I’ve been meaning to start doing but haven’t quite made it there! These muffins look amazing!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
These muffins look totally amazing — I love how easy they are! And I totally understand about the craziness… just 2.5 more weeks and I’m putting my yoga pants on and never taking them off…. and not because I’m going to be doing much yoga! Lol.
Maebells says
You’ve earned your yoga pant time!! Growing a human is hard work! 🙂
Isadora says
I’m still horrible at meal prep, which usually ends in at least one night of emergency Chipotle! Someday I will get better though! These muffins look awesome and I really wish a dozen would just magically show up in my kitchen tomorrow morning!
Maebells says
“Emergency Chiptole” hahaha I love that!
Crystal+|+Apples+&+Sparkle says
Wow! That is awesome Annie! I definitely envy you! I don’t prep ahead, but I do plan ahead. I plan and shop for a week at a time and that works like a dream for me, but don’t ask me to plan a meal on the fly, I’ll look at you in such a way that you’ll wonder if I even know how to cook! Those stuffed peppers caught my eye amongst all the other super-delish stuff you made. : )
Maebells says
Oh yes I agree! If I have to come up with a meal on the fly it will almost always be breakfast! Other than that I can’t think of anything else!
annie@ciaochowbambina says
oooh! These muffins sound awesome and I’m excited because I have protein powder in the pantry! I’m like you my friend…I need a system…when I don’t is when the pizza delivery people answer their phone and say, “Hi, Annie!”
Maebells says
Yes!! haha! We are just alike!
Cindy says
I need to more organized like this. I know it would make a huge difference. I do try to get lunches ready the night before, but that is a far as advance prep goes. Oh, I’ve shrunk a lot of tops by forgetting that they were in the laundry. That is so frustrating!
Maebells says
It is! I was 100% ready to blame it on my husband but then I remembered I am the one that moved the clothes over! ha!
Michele @ Two Raspberries says
these look so rich and chocolaty!AND healthy! absolutely perfect!
Maebells says
Thank you Michele!! 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Totally hear ya on the craziness, it’s tough when life gets busy. I definitely need to get better at meal prep, everything you made sounds amazing!
Your chocolate muffins look fantastic! Love that they are flourless and how easy they are to whip up 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
I love protein muffins! I feel so much less guilty when I eat a protein muffin than a regular muffin. These look so chocolatey! I’m horrible at planning ahead for meals. And for remembering everything at the store. Yesterday I made three trips to the grocery store. One of them I can blame on the fact that my kids have a habit of putting empty boxes and containers back on the shelf in the pantry and even back in the refrigerator!
Maebells says
Oh my gosh! I would have a fit!! hahah! My husband does that with cereal boxes so now I pour it in a clear jar because it drives me crazy! ha!
Danielle says
Sounds about like me lately. When I lived alone I was so good at meal planning and ate at home all the time. I blame my lack of motivation on getting married haha!
Love these chocolate protein muffins! These look perfect for breakfast or even dessert.
Maebells says
hahaha! If Clayton didn’t have celiac I think we would be terrible. I bet we would go out for pizza or burgers every night!
Nicole+@+Waterloo,+with+Love says
Oh, I’ve never tried a flour less muffin recipe before! They looks so delicious — and simple to make!
PS: amazing photography!
Maebells says
Oh Nicole you have to try this! They are SO easy! Just toss it in the blender then pour and bake!
Ceara+@+Ceara's+Kitchen says
I hear you! Planning healthy meals in advance def. makes a hugeeee difference in my life too!
And these protein flour free muffins look delicious!! I can’t believe they are flour free 🙂 Pinned!!
Maebells says
Thanks girl!! 🙂
Leah | So, How's It Taste? says
I have to do a little bit of prep so I’m not stuck without breakfast or nothing to take to work. Even though it’s just me, if I don’t do some kind of planning, I end up eating out way too much and eating too much junk. These muffins sound awesome! I can’t believe they’re flourless!
Maebells says
Yes, I would eat way too much junk food if I didn’t plan!
Annie McDaniel says
Hi Annie (from Annie)! Can I make these but leave out the protein powder? Don’t have any at home and am not running to the store anytime soon (thanks to COVID). I think my husband would love them!
Annie Holmes says
Hi Annie! Yes, you can still make these! When I don’t have protein powder I just leave it out and follow the recipe just the same. The only difference is that they do not rise quite as well without the protein however the taste and texture is still great! I hope that helps! 🙂
Amanda says
Hi! Can you substitute something for the banana? Or leave it out? We’re out of bananas but I have everything else!
Annie Holmes says
Hi Amanda, I’m sorry I haven’t made this without the bananas. Applesauce might be a good sub but I haven’t tested it.
Amanda says
I tried it with applesauce and tasted great! I’m going to try it again soon once I get more bananas. Thanks for the recipe!
Clarisa says
Would collagen protein powder work in this recipe?
Annie Holmes says
Hi Clarisa, I haven’t used that specifically but I imagine it would work fine.
Bonnie says
Made this this morning and they are delish!! It’s getting me to think about other ingredients too! Thanks a bunch for this recipe!
Genevieve says
Does this work with almond butter?
Annie Holmes says
Hi Genevieve, yes it does. Enjoy!