1-Bowl Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins (Vegan + GF)

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Stack of vegan gluten-free banana chocolate chip muffins dripping with melty chocolate

Chocolate, banana, and pecans…this flavor combination is meant to be. And in a muffin? Truly magical! These FLUFFY banana nut muffins are vegan, gluten-free, and generously studded with pecans and chocolate chips. Hubba hubba!

Bonus? They’re easy to make with just 1 BOWL and a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients. It’s muffin time, friends!

Flaxseed meal, chocolate chips, avocado oil, water, almond flour, gluten-free flour blend, bananas, pecans, maple syrup, salt, vanilla, and baking soda

These vegan + gluten-free chocolate chip muffins begin with the egg-free binders: mashed banana and flax eggs. The flax not only keeps these vegan but also adds omega- & fiber-rich goodness and ensures perfectly moist, tender muffins.

Mashing banana in a mixing bowl with flax eggs

Maple syrup keeps these muffins mostly naturally sweetened (besides the chocolate chips), and a combination of almond flour and our go-to gluten-free flour blend makes them super fluffy with a tender crumb texture!

Adding chocolate chips into a bowl of batter topped with chopped pecans

Besides the muffin basics like oil (or vegan butter), baking soda, vanilla, and salt, there are just two final ingredients: chocolate chips and pecans!

Overhead photo of a muffin tin filled with batter and topped with extra chocolate chips and pecans

A generous amount, of course! We wouldn’t set you up for anything less than melty chocolate and crunchy pecans in every bite.

Vegan gluten-free banana chocolate chip muffins on a stack of tiles

We can’t wait for you to try these muffins! They’re:

Fluffy
Moist
Tender
Nutty
Chocolate-studded
Easy to make
& SO delicious!

Being decadent yet wholesome, they’re perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast or as a grab-and-go snack to enjoy throughout the week. They also reheat beautifully from frozen if you want to keep them around at all times (trust us…you will!).

More Muffin Recipes

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Partially eaten banana chocolate pecan muffin to show the fluffy texture and melty chocolate

1-Bowl Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins (Vegan + GF)

Fluffy, 1-bowl vegan + gluten-free banana muffins generously studded with pecans and chocolate chips. Perfect for a lazy weekend breakfast or take-along snack!
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Stack of two banana chocolate pecan muffins
4.64 from 11 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 10 (muffins)
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly 1 month
Does it keep? 3-4 Days

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal (to make flax egg*)
  • 1/4 cup water (to make flax egg*)
  • 2 medium ripe bananas (2 bananas yield ~3/4 cup or 210 g mashed)
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup (or agave nectar)
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil, melted coconut oil, or vegan butter
  • 1 ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 cup MB 1:1 GF Blend (or other GF blend or all-purpose flour — see notes*)
  • 1 cup almond flour (or almond meal)
  • 2/3 cup raw pecans, roughly chopped (or sub walnuts)
  • 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips (plus more for topping // ensure vegan/dairy-free as needed // we like Enjoy Life)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and lightly grease a standard-size muffin tin or add paper liners. Set aside.
  • To a large mixing bowl, add flaxseed meal and water. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken — these are your flax eggs.
  • Add the bananas and mash together with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth.
  • Add the maple syrup, oil, baking soda, vanilla, and sea salt. Whisk for about 30 seconds until well combined.
  • Add the gluten-free flour blend and almond flour (or almond meal). Stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until just combined. Fold in the pecans and chocolate chips.
  • Divide the batter evenly among muffin tins, filling almost to the tops. Optionally, top with a few sprinkles of chocolate chips.
  • Bake for 25-28 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Let cool for 5 minutes in the muffin tin, then gently remove and let cool completely on a cooling rack.
  • Once cooled, store in a covered container at room temperature for 3-4 days, in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Video

Notes

*If not vegan, you could try 2 eggs in place of the 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal + 1/4 cup water, but we haven’t tested it this way. Let us know in the comments if you do!
*Our original DIY GF Blend would also work in this recipe as would similar store-bought blends. If not gluten-free, you can substitute whole wheat pastry flour or unbleached all-purpose flour for the gluten-free blend.
*Modified from the Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins in our cookbook.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients.

Nutrition (1 of 10 servings)

Serving: 1 muffin Calories: 345 Carbohydrates: 39 g Protein: 5.1 g Fat: 21.9 g Saturated Fat: 4.3 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g Monounsaturated Fat: 10.5 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 314 mg Potassium: 358 mg Fiber: 5.1 g Sugar: 17.4 g Vitamin A: 3 IU Vitamin C: 2 mg Calcium: 64 mg Iron: 2.6 mg

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My Rating:




  1. Sue Murray says

    10/10! Always have good luck with the baked goods on this site. One bowl, easy, light and fluffy and stayed together. Will definitely make again. Followed the recipe as written and used a scale for the banana’s. Took 28 minutes in my convection oven.

  2. Dawn Thompson says

    I did not like the results on this muffin. The inside was gluey and not pleasant at all, unlike other recipes I have tried from your site. I fine this a 1 star.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Oh no! We’re so sorry your muffins didn’t turn out well, Dawn. These have been a favorite so far, so we wonder if you made any modifications? Which gluten-free flour blend did you use?

  3. Sheetu Batra says

    I absolutely loved this recipe! I followed the recipe, and the results were incredible. The amount of pecans and chocolate chips is perfect. Thank you so much—this has become our new favorite!

  4. Danielle says

    Dropping a comment here to say that I made these with two eggs in place of the 2 Tbsp flaxseed meal as the notes suggested—worked perfectly! The muffins turned out delicious and moist, it was very much a banana bread type of flavor. I’ll certainly make them again!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed the muffins and will be making them again. Thank you for sharing, Danielle! xo

  5. Stacie says

    These are so easy and delicious! I accidentally forgot the oil, but they came out fine, just a little crumblier. I also cut the maple syrup in half (1/4 cup) and they are still sweet and delicious. I might try variations of this recipe (blueberries? raspberries? a little orange zest? poppy seeds?) and see what happens. Thank you for the awesome recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! We love your creative ideas for variations on this recipe, Stacie! Thank you for sharing :)

  6. Shelly says

    I made them & turned out EXCELLENT. I used 2 eggs, coconut oil, and 3 Bananas. I used an extra banana as I had coconut flour on hand instead of almond and I know coconut flour requires extra liquids. I love the 1 bowl step. So easy. This recipe has now become my GoTo!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for sharing, Shelly! We’re so glad your muffins were a success with those modifications! xo

  7. sk says

    Would you ever consider doing your ingredients in grams? I started baking that way a few years ago, and the thought of going back to cup measurements, which are so much less precise, makes me nervous!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi! You can find the measurements in grams by clicking “metric” beneath the ingredients header. Hope that helps :)

  8. Lindsay says

    I made this as soon as it hit my inbox today! They turned out delicious and I’ll for sure make them again. For the GF flour, I used the Cup for Cup I had on hand and would recommend.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed the muffins, Lindsay. Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing the GF blend you used! xo

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Raquel, we wouldn’t recommend using coconut flour in these muffins because it will likely make the muffins dense, dry, and gritty. If you do want to try it, we would recommend only using ~1/4 the amount. For best results, it really does need the GF blend. Hope that helps!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed the muffins, Carly! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modification! xo

  9. Laura says

    Well these are just fantastic. New favorite muffin! Followed the recipe as written and added a few scoops of collagen too.
    Amazing!!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Susan, the next best option would be cashew flour. If not gluten-free, you could experiment with a lesser amount of all-purpose flour (probably half the amount), but we haven’t tested it that way and can’t guarantee the result. Hope that helps!

  10. Geneviève says

    I can’t have bananas at the moment. Could I sub applesauce instead? If so, how much would you say. These look so delicious. I can’t wait to try them!!!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Geneviève, we think applesauce might make these muffins too moist and crumbly. If you wanted to try it, we would recommend 3/4 cup. Another option that might work better would be to try this other recipe and replace the banana with applesauce. Hope that helps!