Almond Flour Banana Muffins

These almond flour banana muffins are soft and tender, honey-kissed, and the perfect option for a quick breakfast or snack on the go. Top these gluten-free banana muffins with chopped nuts and chocolate chips, or enjoy them plain - either option is delicious!

Years ago, my brother's family went on the GAPS diet (it's an all-grain-free diet). During that time, I created recipes for almond flour muffins, almond flour tortillas, and these almond flour banana muffins (among other recipes!). 

Not only did this recipe work for my brother's family at the time, but my husband loves banana treats (which is why I have so many recipes that include the popular ingredient). His favorites are gluten-free banana cake and vegan gluten-free banana bread. 

Almond Flour Banana Muffins

I like topping our gluten-free banana muffins with chopped pecans and dairy-free mini chocolate chips, but this topping is optional. As the muffins bake, the chopped pecans toast and become golden, so you are treated to a crunchy, melty-chocolate topping. 

Tips for Baking with Almond Flour

1. When measuring almond flour, you want to gently pack the flour in the measuring cup (like when measuring brown sugar) and then level off the measuring cup with the back of a butter knife. 
2. Refrain from overmixing or overworking your flour. Remember, almond flour is ground almonds. If you overmix it, the natural oils start to come out, like when making almond butter. The trick is to mix it just enough to get the muffin batter smooth, but not any more than that. 
3. When finished baking, muffins made from almond flour will appear significantly more golden brown on top than a muffin made with gluten-free grain flour. The natural oils from the almonds cause this additional browning; it's completely normal. The almond flour muffins should not burn if your oven is calibrated correctly; they turn a deep golden brown. 

Blanched Almond Flour vs. Unblanched Almond Flour

Blanched Almond Flour- Blanched almonds have their skins removed, so blanched almond flour contains no almond skins.

Unblanched Almond Flour- Unblanched Almond flour is made from almonds still containing their skin, so this flour is a bit darker in color and not relatively as smooth as blanched almond flour. 

I prefer to bake with finely ground blanched almond flour, as it provides a lighter, tender crumb. That said, you can undoubtedly use unblanched almond flour in this recipe. The skin of almonds contains a high amount of fiber, so from a health standpoint, you can't go wrong using the unblanched.

Almond Meal vs. Almond Flour

Depending on the brand of almond flour you buy, it could be more of a meal (grittier) than finely ground flour. While almond meal tastes excellent, I prefer the texture of the finely ground flour (they are equal in flavor). Either will work in this recipe. It just depends on what you prefer.

I have used and recommend the following brands of blanched finely ground almond flour:

• Kirkland
• Blue Diamond
• Anthony's
• Honeyville (though I find it more expensive, so definitely price check before you buy)

Are Almond Flour & Coconut Flour Interchangeable? 

One of the questions I get most often on my blog is, “Can I use coconut flour as a substitute for blanched almond flour?”. Unfortunately, the answer is no – coconut flour is not a suitable substitute for blanched (or unblanched) almond flour or vice versa; they are not interchangeable. Furthermore, almond flour is incredibly moist, while coconut flour is dry, two very different beasts.

Tips For Making Gluten-Free Banana Muffins 

• Choose ripe bananas. The bananas with brown spots will be the sweetest and softest and lend the best flavor. 
• The coconut oil should be just melted, not warm. 
• I prefer the Nutiva brand of coconut flour. I don't care for other brands (like Bob's Red Mill). 

How To Make Almond Flour Banana Muffins

• Measure out the dry ingredients.
• Mash the bananas.
• Add the remaining liquid ingredients to the mixing bowl with the mashed bananas.
• Stir the dry and liquid ingredients together. 
• Spoon the muffin batter into the muffin tins, and top with crunchy topping.
• Bake, cool, and enjoy!

How To Store Almond Flour Banana Muffins

Unlike most baked goods made from gluten-free grain flour, baked goods made with almond flour will stay moist for days. They stay so moist that I usually store my almond flour muffins in a gallon-sized storage bag left partially open on the counter. This way, air can circulate in the bag, preventing too much moisture/humidity from building up in the storage bag.

I live in Alaska, so our humidity levels are low since it's generally not hot here. However, if you live in a hot, humid climate, you may need to store your Paleo muffins in the refrigerator. 

I hope your family enjoys these gf banana muffins as much as we do!
xoxo, 
Mēgan

Almond Flour Banana Muffins Recipe

*Did you make these gluten-free muffins recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave an honest review below! 

Don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @allergyfreeak and #allergyfreealaska with your gf muffin pics!