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    Home » Recipes

    Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Mar 9, 2021 · Modified: Jan 8, 2022 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · 24 Comments

    banana muffin with a dollop of cream cheese frosting and freshly grated cinnamon on top
    Jump to Recipe
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!

    If I am being honest, there are a lot of breakfast recipes that are basically just "dessert for breakfast", am I right? Think cinnamon rolls, pancakes with whipped cream on top, muffins that are basically cupcakes, etc. So today I am sharing my Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting that are just that: muffins that are basically cupcakes or Dessert for Breakfast!

    Since these muffins have bananas in them they are a little healthy, right?? LOL 😂 If you love banana recipes or have an abundance of ripe bananas, check out my Banana Layer Cake recipe as well.

    Ingredients Needed to Make Banana Muffins

    • all-purpose flour
    • baking soda
    • baking powder
    • ground cinnamon
    • ground nutmeg or freshly grated nutmeg
    • salt
    • 2 large ripe bananas
    • brown sugar
    • egg
    • vanilla extract
    • milk
    • unsalted butter, melted
    • chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
    banana muffin and a latte

    How to Make Banana Muffins

    1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and prepare a muffin pan. Mix the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and set aside.
    2. Blend the bananas in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer (or stand mixer). Beat in the brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, milk, and melted butter on medium speed until everything has combined. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then beat or stir until just combined. Stir in nuts if adding.
    3. Place the batter in the muffin pan and bake for 5 minutes at 425°F. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and continue baking for 15-18 more minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before placing them on a cooling rack to cool completely.
    banana muffins cooling on a round rack

    How to Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

    Beat the cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat until everything is combined. Note: The frosting will be thick and creamy so it doesn't pipe into shapes well.

    If you want, you can pipe some of the frosting into the middle of the muffin before adding frosting to the top. I used my long piping tip to get some frosting in the middle and the same tip to make a pile of frosting on top. Dust the top with freshly grated cinnamon if desired and enjoy!

    banana muffin with cream cheese frosting in the middle cut in half
    cream cheese frosting in the middle of a banana muffin

    Make sure your bananas are ripe!

    Always save ripe bananas!! You can just throw them in the freezer until you are ready to use them. When you need a ripe banana, remove it from the freezer and allow it to thaw on the countertop or zap it in the microwave on defrost for a minute and you are in business. Ripe bananas can also be used as an egg or oil substitute when baking.

    banana muffin with cream cheese frosting and ground cinnamon
    banana muffin with optional ground cinnamon on top

    The Best Tool to Grate Fresh Nutmeg and Cinnamon

    This is my favorite tool and I tell everyone about it all the time. Not only is it kind of cute, but it's also completely practical and perfect to have if you like to bake. It's a mini-nutmeg grinder that has a compartment on top to hold the nutmeg seed. You can also grate a cinnamon stick using this tool for the perfect aromatic and sweet garnish to these muffins.

    nutmeg grater
    Nutmeg Grater

    Tips and Other Ingredient Options For Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

    • The high temperature of the oven for the first 5 minutes of baking is what helps the muffins rise and bake evenly. This was a great tip I learned from Sally's Baking Blog!
    • Freshly ground nutmeg is really good in all baked goods. But, if you don't have a nutmeg seed, the muffins will still be delicious with ground nutmeg in a jar.
    • Add chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, fresh blueberries, or raisins.
    • Skip the frosting for a lighter treat.
    • Add banana pudding to the middle for an even creamier treat!
    • As I mentioned above, this frosting will not pipe into fancy shapes very well so a swirl will work just fine, or just use a butter knife to spread it on top.
    • Store frosted muffins in the fridge for 3-4 days in a covered container or unfrosted muffins at room temperature in a covered container for 3-4 days.
    banana muffins on a round coolings rack

    Other "Dessert for Breakfast" Recipes To Check Out

    • Air Fryer Pop Tarts
    • Lavender Sourdough Discard Scones with Lemon Glaze
    • Air Fryer Toasted Coconut Lime Donuts
    • Lavender Madeleines
    • Blueberry Buckle Cupcakes
    banana muffin with cream cheese frosting and ground cinnamon

    Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

    These Banana Muffins are easy to make and with the added cream cheese frosting make the perfect sweet breakfast, sweet treat, or dessert!
    5 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Cooling and Frosting (optional): 25 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 12 muffins
    Calories: 292kcal
    Author: EmilyFabulous

    Equipment

    • muffin pan
    • muffin liners or non-stick spray
    • large mixing bowl
    • 2 medium mixing bowls
    • hand mixer, stand mixer, or silicon/rubber spatula
    • piping bag/tip (optional)

    Ingredients

    Banana Muffins

    • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (I used freshly ground nutmeg, optional)
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 large ripe bananas
    • ⅔ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 tablespoon milk
    • 6 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
    • ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

    Cream Cheese Frosting (optional, but highly reccomended)

    • 1 cup cream cheese, room temp
    • ½ cup confectioners powdered sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cinnamon stick (optional garnish)

    Instructions

    Banana Muffins

    • Preheat the oven to 425°F and prepare a muffin pan with paper liners or non-stick spray. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and set aside.
      cupcake pan with cupcakes liners
    • Place the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium mixing bowl and mix together using a whisk or fork and set aside.
      dry ingredients for banana muffins
    • Peel and place the ripe bananas In a large mixing bowl (or in the bowl of your stand mixer or mix by hand) and beat on low until mashed and smooth.
      ripe bananas mixed in a bowl
    • Beat in the brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, milk, and melted butter on medium speed until everything has combined. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then beat or stir until just combined. Give the mixture a turn or two with your spatula/spoon and mix in the nuts by hand if you are adding them.
      banana muffin batter with nuts on top
    • Place the batter in the muffin pan evenly across 12 sections. The cups should be almost full. Bake for 5 minutes at 425°F and then reduce the temperature to 350°F. Don't open the door, just reduce the heat. This step will help the muffins rise in the pan and bake evenly. Continue baking for 15-18 more minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes before placing them on a cooling rack to cool completely.
      banana batter in muffin tin liners

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Put the cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat until everything is combined. The frosting will be thick and creamy so it doesn't pipe into shapes well.
      cream cheese frosting
    • If you want, you can pipe some of the frosting into the middle of the muffin before adding frosting to the top. I used my long piping tip to get some frosting in the middle and the same tip to make a pile of frosting on top. Dust the top with freshly grated cinnamon if desired and enjoy!
      banana muffin with cream cheese piped into the middle

    Notes

    • Store frosted muffins in the fridge for 3-4 days in a covered container or unfrosted muffins at room temperature in a covered container for 3-4 days. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 31.9g | Protein: 4.5g | Fat: 16.7g | Saturated Fat: 8.9g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 268mg | Potassium: 205mg | Fiber: 1.7g | Sugar: 15.9g | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 1mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

    Banana muffin with cream cheese frosting swirled on top
    Click on the image above to PIN for later!

    Did you Make these Banana Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting?

    If you make these Banana Muffins don't forget to leave a comment below! And, if you snap a pic, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gabriela says

      March 17, 2021 at 11:35 am

      5 stars
      Your recipes are always so beautiful and easy to make. I like how you simplify it with all the steps and the picture you include for us. Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 17, 2021 at 3:10 pm

        Thanks, Gabriela, you made me smile 🙂. That's exactly what I hope for on my site. Enjoy the muffins!

        Reply
    2. Jessica Formicola says

      March 16, 2021 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      I have some bananas on the counter that need used up, so these muffins are exactly what I'm going to make! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 17, 2021 at 2:06 am

        Perfect timing, enjoy!!

        Reply
    3. Chef Dennis says

      March 16, 2021 at 2:09 am

      5 stars
      Hmmm yum! These Banana Muffins are mouthwatering! And the Cream Chees frosting is perfect!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 16, 2021 at 5:03 am

        Thanks, Dennis!

        Reply
    4. Arica says

      March 16, 2021 at 1:16 am

      5 stars
      These look so good and I love that you added the cream cheese frosting! That makes them even more of a treat!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 16, 2021 at 5:01 am

        I pretty much look for any excuse to make and eat frosting 🤣!

        Reply
    5. Addison says

      March 16, 2021 at 12:35 am

      5 stars
      I love these banana muffins! So yummy!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 16, 2021 at 5:01 am

        😊 Thank you, Addison!!

        Reply
    6. Raquel says

      March 15, 2021 at 10:30 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious Banana muffins and the frosting! Thank you for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 15, 2021 at 11:14 pm

        You're welcome, Raquel, I'm so glad you enjoyed them!

        Reply
    7. Michelle says

      March 15, 2021 at 4:45 pm

      5 stars
      Love the addition of fresh nutmeg to these banana muffins! They're made even better with the cream cheese frosting!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 15, 2021 at 6:11 pm

        Anytime I can add fresh nutmeg to a baked good I do! It makes such a difference.

        Reply
    8. Megan says

      March 15, 2021 at 4:40 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious. Perfect recipe!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 15, 2021 at 6:10 pm

        Thanks, Megan!

        Reply
    9. Amy says

      March 15, 2021 at 3:58 pm

      5 stars
      These look amazing!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 15, 2021 at 4:28 pm

        Thanks, Amy!

        Reply
    10. Jennifer says

      March 15, 2021 at 3:58 pm

      5 stars
      You had me at cream cheese frosting! I love this combination of flavors and I can't wait to make these. The hidden frosting down the middle is genius!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 15, 2021 at 4:29 pm

        LOL, thanks, Jennifer! I'm a lover of frosting as well so anytime I can get a little extra, I do!!😂

        Reply
    11. Michelle says

      March 15, 2021 at 3:55 pm

      5 stars
      Made these at the weekend with my little one and they were so tasty! Easy to make and everyone loved them.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 15, 2021 at 4:30 pm

        That's so great to hear!! My son loved these as well, they make a great kid snack.😊

        Reply
    12. Michelle says

      March 15, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      5 stars
      Yes, please. I love that you piped some frosting in the middle. It's basically like dessert for breakfast!

      Reply
      • Emily says

        March 15, 2021 at 4:30 pm

        Michelle, I totally agree, dessert for breakfast and add some frosting, please!!🤣

        Reply

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