Gluten-Free Banana Muffins

These gluten-free banana muffins are yummy on their own but I am a huge fan of cinnamon crumble. Top them with a simple sweet glaze and you have a perfectly pretty muffin. As is, the muffins without the cinnamon crumble (streusel) are dairy-free and I have provided easy substitutions to make these vegan.

For more gluten-free muffin recipes, check out my gluten-free blueberry muffins and my cinnamon swirled gluten-free dairy-free muffins. Or for muffins that are filled with veggies and fruit but don’t taste like it, try my Zucchini Carrot Apple Muffins, gluten-free of course.

Ingredients

I have used several different gluten-free flour blends for these muffins and they all worked well. My custom blend of sorghum, millet and brown rice flours with potato and tapioca starches is my favorite. See the notes in the recipe for a super simple DIY gluten-free flour blend or my blog post on gluten-free flours. Mixing up your own gluten-free flour blend can be a big money-saver.

Here is my special flour blend that I love for this recipe and many more of my gluten-free recipes:

• 1 c sweet white sorghum flour
• 3/4 c millet flour
• 1/4 c brown rice flour
• 2/3 c potato starch
• 1/3 c tapioca starch

If you prefer a store bought flour blend, I like King Arthur Flour All Purpose Gluten-Free flour or their Measure for Measure flour. Omit the xanthan gum in the recipe if you flour already contains it, guar gum or inulin.

For the best banana muffins, be sure that your bananas a VERY ripe. The more ripe they are the stronger the banana flavor. How do you ripen a banana quickly? A trip to the microwave can get your not quite ripe enough bananas over the hump. Cut a few slits in the peel and microwave on high for 30 seconds.

If you don’t mind chunks of banana in your muffins, just use a masher. For perfectly smooth, no-lump banana, an immersion blender is the best tool,

Vegan Gluten-Free Muffins

To make these gluten-free banana muffins vegan, use an egg replacer or flax eggs. Make a flax egg by combining 1 Tbsp flax meal with 3 Tbsps warm water per egg. Let it sit for 5 minutes and beat in just as you would with the eggs. The cinnamon crumble can be made vegan by using either a vegan butter or coconut oil in place of the butter.

Topping Variations

This muffin recipe includes a basic powdered sugar glaze. But you can introduce other flavors with these easy toppings.

• Peanut Butter Glaze – Salty peanut butter is yummy with banana and cinnamon. Place 1/4 c peanut butter and 3 Tbsps cream in a microwave-safe bowl, heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. If is melted and smooth, it’s done. Otherwise, microwave for 20 -30 seconds and stir. Drizzle over the cooled muffins.
• Strawberry Sauce – Strawberries are a perfect sweet and tart combo with banana. Try my three-ingredient easy strawberry sauce.
• Orange Glaze – Combine 3 Tbsps powdered sugar with 1 tsp orange juice and 1/2 tsp orange zest.