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    Bites with Bri » Breakfast » Banana Carrot Muffins

    Banana Carrot Muffins

    Published: Sep 27, 2021 · Modified: May 18, 2022 by Brianna May · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    These Banana Carrot Muffins are the perfect accompaniment to a morning cup of coffee and a tasty way to incorporate fruits and vegetables at breakfast. The batter is flavored with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. They also include a delicious cream cheese filling. Perfect for fall!

    overhead of muffins on a cooling rack

    If you love spiced fall sweets, try my Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust.

    Need to use up more carrots? Try my Easy Carrot Snack Cake with cream cheese frosting.

    Another one of my favorite banana breakfast recipes is these easy Peanut Butter Banana Bars with oatmeal.

    Jump to:
    • Highlights
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Helpful Tools
    • Instructions
    • Make Ahead & Storage
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe Notes
    • Variations
    • FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • Banana Carrot Muffins

    Highlights

    • Loaded with fruits & vegetables
    • Moist & fluffy
    • Full of fall spices
    • Filled with cream cheese 
    • Toddler/kid friendly
    • Breakfast meal prep idea

    Ingredient Notes

    overhead of ingredients
    • Carrot: Be sure to peel the carrots. You can use a grater or a food processor to grate them finely. 
    • Banana: If you do not have a scale to weigh the mashed banana, spoon the mashed banana into the measuring cup and level the top with the flat side of a butter knife. 
    • Vegetable Oil: Substitute coconut oil, canola oil, or any other neutral oil. Swap oil for full fat room temperature greek yogurt as well. 

    Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

    Helpful Tools

    • Wilton Non-Stick Muffin Pan & Liners: Great quality & comes with liners. 
    • KitchenAid 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer: A must have for any baker. 
    • Kitchen Scale: The best way to easily & accurately measure ingredients.

    Instructions

    Overview

    • Prepare the muffin pan.
    • Beat together the wet ingredients. 
    • Mix in the carrot & banana. 
    • Fold in the dry ingredients.
    • Make the filling. 
    • Layer the batter, filling, and more batter in the muffin cups. 
    • Bake & enjoy!

    Step by Step

    Step 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle/whisk attachment (or large bowl with a hand mixer), add the brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix on medium low until combined.

    Step 2: On low mix in the carrot and mashed banana until just combined.

    steps 1 & 2
egg mixture in bowl
banana and carrot added to egg mixture

    NOTE - Liners ensure the muffins do not stick.

    Step 3: In this order add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Fold the dry ingredients in with a spatula until just combined.

    Step 4: In a separate bowl, using the stand mixer fitted with the paddle/whisk attachment or a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla on medium high until completely combined and smooth.

    steps 3 & 4
dry ingredients folded into the wet ingredients
cream cheese mixture whipped together in a separate bowl

    TIP -  Do not overmix the batter. 

    Step 5: Spoon a heaping spoonful (about 1.5 Tablespoons) of batter into the muffin cups. Layer 1 Tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on top of the batter. Fill the cups to the top with the remaining batter.

    Step 6: Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

    steps 5 & 6
muffin liners filled with batter
baked muffins

    TIP -  The banana carrot muffins are best served at room temperature or slightly chilled. 

    Make Ahead & Storage

    • Refrigerator: Store banana carrot muffins in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    • Freezer: Muffins can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or heat from frozen in the microwave. Do not refreeze thawed muffins.

    Expert Tips

    • Use room temperature ingredients. Let the cream cheese sit outside of the refrigerator for 1 hour. Place the eggs in a small bowl of warm (not too hot) water for about 10 minutes. 
    • Use muffin liners. These make for easy clean up and ensure the muffins do not stick. 
    • Use a scale to measure ingredients. To ensure the batter is not too wet or too dry, it is best to use a kitchen scale to measure the ingredients in grams. If you do not have a scale, spoon & level the flour, banana, and carrot carefully. 
    • Do not overmix the dry ingredients into the wet. This is why a spatula is used to fold the dry ingredients. Overmixing develops the gluten resulting in a dense & chewy muffin. 
    • Keep an eye on them as they bake. Every oven is different so bake times will vary. Use an oven safe thermometer to figure out the exact temperature of your oven.

    Recipe Notes

    • The filling is optional. You can follow the recipe as written and skip it.
    close up of muffins halved

    Variations

    • Make a loaf instead of banana carrot muffins: Grease a 9 x 5 pan. Spoon about half of the batter into the pan. Layer all the cream cheese on top of the batter. Spoon the remaining batter on top of the cream cheese. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the batter and cream cheese mixture together. This prevents them from separating. Bake at 350 for about 55-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. 
    • Double the recipe to make 24-26 muffins. 
    • Swap the shredded carrot for an equal amount of shredded zucchini.
    • Add about ¾ cup of chopped nuts or chocolate chips to the batter.

    FAQs

    Can I substitute Greek yogurt for oil in muffins?

    Yes, it is a 1:1 substitute.

    Are these muffins good for toddler or young children?

    Yes, they are a great way to add some fruits and vegetables to your kid’s breakfast. Skip the filling and swap the oil for yogurt to make these a little lighter & healthier. 

    What ingredient makes muffins fluffy?

    The leavening agents (baking soda & baking powder) make the muffins rise. Room temperature ingredients and not overmixing the batter also contribute to a light and fluffy muffin. 

    Why are my banana muffins rubbery?

    The batter was likely overmixed. Overmixing the flour develops the gluten too much giving the muffins more density and chew. 

    Why is my batter so wet?

    It is likely that too much banana or carrot was used. Be sure to spoon & level or weigh these ingredients carefully. 

    Why is my batter so dry?

    The flour was probably not measured properly. Weigh or spoon & level the flour carefully. Do not dig your measuring cup in the flour to scoop it out. This packs too much flour into the cup. 

    Related Recipes

    • Brioche French Toast Casserole
    • Easy Homemade Biscuits
    • Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
    • Egg & Sausage Casserole
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    5 from 1 vote

    Banana Carrot Muffins

    These Banana Carrot Muffins are the perfect accompaniment to a morning cup of coffee and a tasty way to incorporate fruits and vegetables at breakfast. The batter is flavored with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. They also include a delicious cream cheese filling. Perfect for fall!
    Servings12 muffins
    Prep10 minutes
    Cook20 minutes
    Total30 minutes
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Brianna May

    Equipment:

    • Muffin Pan & Liners
    • Stand Mixer
    • Kitchen Scale
    • Mixing Bowls
    • Hand Mixer

    Ingredients:

    Batter

    • ¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar
    • ⅓ cup vegetable oil
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature*
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 1 cup (130 g) finely grated peeled carrot*
    • 1 cup (225 g) mashed overripe banana*
    • 1 ¾ cups (228 g) flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

    Optional Filling

    • 5 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature*
    • 5 Tablespoons granulated sugar or confectioner's sugar
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla

    Instructions:

    • Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a nonstick 12 cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. (If not using liners, grease well instead.) In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle/whisk attachment (or large bowl with a hand mixer), add the brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix on medium low until combined.
    • On low mix in the carrot and mashed banana until just combined.
    • In this order add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Fold the dry ingredients in with a spatula until just combined.
    • In a separate bowl, using the stand mixer fitted with the paddle/whisk attachment or a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla on medium high until completely combined and smooth.
    • Spoon a heaping spoonful (about 1.5 Tablespoons) of batter into the muffin cups. Layer 1 Tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on top of the batter. Fill the cups to the top with the remaining batter.
    • Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

    Notes:

    Carrot: Be sure to peel the carrots. You can use a grater or a food processor to grate them finely. 
    Banana: If you do not have a scale to weigh the mashed banana, spoon the mashed banana into the measuring cup and level the top with the flat side of a butter knife. 
    Vegetable Oil: Substitute coconut oil, canola oil, or any other neutral oil. Swap oil for full fat room temperature greek yogurt as well.
    Use room temperature ingredients. Let the cream cheese sit outside of the refrigerator for 1 hour. Place the eggs in a small bowl of warm (not too hot) water for about 10 minutes.
    Use a scale to measure ingredients. To ensure the batter is not too wet or too dry, it is best to use a kitchen scale to measure the ingredients in grams. If you do not have a scale, spoon & level the flour, banana, and carrot carefully. 
    Refrigerator: Store muffins in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    Freezer: Muffins can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or heat from frozen in the microwave. Do not refreeze thawed muffins.
    Make a loaf instead of muffins: Grease a 9 x 5 pan. Spoon about half of the batter into the pan. Layer all the cream cheese on top of the batter. Spoon the remaining batter on top of the cream cheese. Use a butter knife to gently swirl the batter and cream cheese mixture together. This prevents them from separating. Bake at 350 for about 55-60 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

    NUTRITION:

    Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 261mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 21g
    Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention or tag @bites.with.bri_ or use the hashtag #biteswithbri
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    Hi, I'm Bri!

    I am a recipe developer, food photographer, blogger. My goal is to teach you how to cook, not just follow my recipes. I love to cook with bold flavors that are still family friendly. My hubs is a picky eater and all of these recipes are approved by him, so I am sure you and your family will love them too. Learn more about Bri >>

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