Protein-Packed Banana Walnut Muffins (Gluten-Free)

Who says breakfast has to be boring? These vegan + gluten-free banana walnut muffins are the bomb. Moist, soft, and have that gluten-y texture you crave without the gluten, of course. This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill and contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get in a breakfast rut, and I can’t get out of it.

Don’t get me wrong, I love breakfast foods. Eggs are a staple in my house, as are protein pancakes, but sometimes you want something new and different.

This leads me to the creation of today’s recipe for gluten-free banana walnut muffins infused with plant protein. Sounds pretty yummy, right?

Bob’s Red Mill sent me all sorts of lovely products to use in this recipe, including my favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, pantry-staple gluten-free rolled oats, and its vanilla protein powder nutritional booster.

I knew these ingredients would be perfect for making a new breakfast muffin recipe, and since I had a bunch of overripe bananas sitting on my counter, the Universe was telling me to turn those bananas into a yummy new breakfast recipe… and I listened.

Ingredients Matter

I carefully selected each ingredient for this recipe because, when you eat gluten-free, every ingredient matters. Here’s the scoop on each essential ingredient:

The Flour: I used Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Flour Blend, which works as a perfect cup-for-cup swap with wheat flour in my gluten-free recipes. The 1:1 blend never lets me down.

The Oats: Bob’s Red Mill also makes gluten-free oats that I know and trust. The company has a separate, 100 percent gluten-free facility used for producing its gluten-free products.

It also batch tests each product in its quality control lab using an ELISA Gluten Assay test. Learn more about gluten-free oats in this article.

Remember, only use gluten-free labeled oats when cooking or baking gluten-free foods. Here’s why.

The Protein Powder: I’m not usually one to use protein powder, but I decided to give Bob’s Red Mill’s vanilla protein powder a go in this recipe. The nutritional booster is made with chia seeds and probiotics and is sweetened with monk fruit. Please note that the vanilla protein powder contains some sugar (as well as some cornstarch), so the recipe is not refined sugar-free.

Also, if you don’t want to use the protein powder, simply omit this ingredient from the recipe.

The Bananas: Make sure the bananas you use in the breakfast muffin recipe are extra ripe. The riper they are, the sweeter they’ll be. You’ll need about three bananas for this recipe. If the bananas are small, add a fourth to the mix. You’ll want to have about one and a half cups of mashed banana in your final recipe.

The Sweetener: This recipe is primarily sweetened with bananas, monk fruit (inside the protein powder), and a little maple syrup. You could also use honey and agave instead of maple syrup if you like.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Do not skip the apple cider vinegar as it reacts with the baking soda to give you a fluffier breakfast muffin result. I used the ACV + baking soda combo as an egg replacement. The two ingredients work to leaven the muffins, all while keeping the recipe vegan. You will not taste the ACV in the end product. 

How to Make ‘Em

You’ll love how easy it is to make these protein-rich vegan + gluten-free banana walnut muffins.

The first step is to round up all your ingredients. I can’t tell you how many times I start to bake something only to realize I’m out of cinnamon, sugar, or whatever ingredient. Grr.

Next, you’ll whisk together your gluten-free flour, one-half cup of oats, vanilla protein powder, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Be sure to reserve one tablespoon of oats for sprinkling on top of the muffins.

In another bowl, you’ll mash the ripe bananas with a fork, then add in melted coconut oil, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and pure vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.

You’ll then want to combine the dry and wet ingredients as well as add the walnuts to the mix. Your batter will look like this:

Finally, you’ll want to spoon the batter into your prepared 12-cavity muffin tin pan. You’ll have enough batter to fill each cavity generously.

Before putting the muffins into the oven to bake, sprinkle the remaining one tablespoon of oats over the tops of each muffin, then put the muffins in the oven to bake for 23-25 minutes.

Oh my, look how beautiful and scrumptious these breakfast muffins look! Drooling yet?

I like to eat one right out of the oven because that is when all baked goods taste best, and this muffin is no different. Then, of course, I set one aside to eat for breakfast the next morning. As for the rest of them, in the freezer they go, so I can savor them all week long!

The Taste Test

You might be wondering how these gluten-free banana walnut muffins taste, and let me tell you, they are perfect. Truly perfect.

They’re soft and spongy, slightly sweet, and very banana-y. I love all the flavors and how they work together perfectly!

You can enjoy these muffins plain or with a pat of vegan butter for an extra buttery flavor experience.

These muffins pack a nutritional punch with plenty of plant-based protein, healthy fats, and fiber. And they provide just the touch of sweetness I need to start off my day right.

Bob’s Red Mill makes living gluten-free a whole lot easier and ensures we don’t have to miss out on yummy foods like delicious gluten-free banana walnut muffins.

Breakfast Anyone?

Looking for more breakfast ideas? Try these delicious gluten-free breakfasts made with Bob’s Red Mill products:

No-Fail Gluten-Free Pancakes: These pancakes turn out fluffy and airy every time. Get my secret recipe and techniques in this article.

Peanut Butter Oat Bars: This recipe makes the perfect protein-rich snack or breakfast on the go.