Rhubarb Banana Muffins

Name: Rhubarb Banana Muffins
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 37 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup honey (170 grams); 1/3 cup oil ((I used coconut oil 72 grams)); 2 eggs; 2 medium bananas (about 1 cup or roughly 225 grams); 1 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp sea salt; 2 tsp cinnamon; 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour or white flour (180 grams); 2 cup rhubarb chopped (250 grams ); 2 tbsp coconut sugar (28 grams) or brown sugar (24 grams)

Published: Jun 14, 2023 · Modified: Jul 19, 2023 by Danika Vanderpyl · This post may contain affiliate links · 27 Comments

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You are going to love this recipe for rhubarb banana muffins because they are moist and delicious! The best part is they are easy to make with perfectly ripe bananas and they are totally healthy! This recipe can be made into muffins or banana rhubarb bread.

Banana muffin with rhubarb and brown sugar on top, fresh chopped rhubarb in muffin tin.

I make muffins almost weekly for the whole family and some for the freezer, this is a favorite when our rhubarb is ripe, I also love making these pretty pink rhubarb oat bars!

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Reasons you'll love these muffins:
Ingredients You'll Need
Optional Add In's
Let's Make Banana Rhubarb Muffins
Tips for Baking
Make these Muffins into Banana Rhubarb Bread
FAQ
Other healthy baked snacks!
Rhubarb Banana Muffins

Reasons you'll love these muffins:

These muffins are healthy! They are made with honey instead of sugar, and you can make them with whole wheat flour.
These healthy muffins are toddler friendly, just like my recipe for oat flour blackberry muffins!
It's a tasty and pretty way to make something with fresh rhubarb, just like my recipe for rhubarb fruit leather.
This is an awesome way to use bananas up!

Child grabbing a rhubarb muffin from the muffin tray.

Ingredients You'll Need

You need 11 basic ingredients to make these muffins! This recipe is dairy-free, no sour cream or yogurt or butter is needed. See below for optional flavor additions.

Whole wheat flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, eggs, banana, rhubarb, coconut sugar, honey, coconut oil

Melted Coconut Oil: increases the moisture in the bread and gives it a great texture. I haven't tested this recipe with other oils but I think it would work fine.
Honey: sweetens the loaf and compliments the rhubarb well.
Eggs: increase the rise of the loaf and make this loaf moist.
Bananas: increase the sweetness and bring that awesome flavour. Use bananas with brown spots as they are sweeter! I have tested this recipe with frozen bananas and it worked great! Just thaw two bananas, mash, and use them.
Baking Powder and Soda: are needed to make these muffins rise.
Salt: brings out flavour of the rhubarb and banana in these muffins.
Cinnamon: brings it all together - the rhubarb and banana into a burst of flavour.
Whole Wheat Flour or White Flour: I have tested this recipe using just whole wheat and just white flour, either works. Alternatively, you can make these muffins with a mix of both flours.
Rhubarb: the key feature of these muffins make a lovely tangy taste and a beautiful color. After testing with loose chopping and smaller ½ inch sized pieces I found ½ inch pieces work best for flavour and moisture. (Have lots of rhubarb? Try this fruit leather recipe!)
Coconut Sugar or Brown Sugar: a few tablespoons is used to sprinkle on the top. If you prefer, you can omit the sugar!
Equipment needed: For this recipe, you will need a mixing bowl, a spatula, measuring spoons, and a muffin tray. It's optional to use silicone muffin liners.

See recipe card below for quantities needed.

Optional Add In's

Give your rhubarb banana muffins a twist by adding these ingredients!

Chocolate Chips: add ½ cup when you add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
Walnuts: add ½ cup when you add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.
Cardamon: add 1 teaspoon to the dry ingredients for an awesome rhubarb cardamon flavour!!
Strawberries instead of Rhubarb: Like this recipe but we are out of rhubarb season? Use chopped destemmed strawberries instead of chopped rhubarb.

Ran out of rhubarb? Try these healthy whole wheat banana muffins. Or these orange muffins are another fruity muffin made in the blender! If you want something higher in protein try these egg bites baked in a muffin tray!

Let's Make Banana Rhubarb Muffins

Follow the step by step photos to make these muffins in your kitchen! For specfic ingredient quanities look in the recipe card below.

Eggs in a glass bowl with mashed banana for muffins.

Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F. In a mixing bowl, mix together the melted honey, melted coconut oil, eggs and mashed banana.

Flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, in a small bowl for rhubarb muffins.

In another bowl place the baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and flour, and mix well. Add 1 ½ cups of rhubarb to the flour mix (adding in the rhubarb now prevents it from sinking in the muffins).

Dry ingredients with wet ingredients folded gently together.

Gentle fold the dry mix to the wet ingredients just until mixed. This is the key to getting muffins or quick bread to rise well.

Muffin batter in muffin tray with rhubarb and brown sugar on top, with greasy pastry brush beside.

Grease a muffin tray. Add just less than ⅓ cup of batter into each muffin cup. Bake for 7 minutes at 425 degrees F, then turn the oven down to 350 F for 24-26 more minutes until fully baked in the centre.

Tips for Baking

> Use ripe bananas with brown spots: this increase the flavor and sweetness of the muffins! If your bananas aren't ripe yet, place them on a cookie sheet (with the peel on) while the oven is warming up for 10-15 minutes. This will turn them brown and release the sugars in the banana, mash and use!

> Add the rhubarb with flour to prevent sinking: before adding the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, add the chopped rhubarb to the flour mixture. Coating the rhubarb with flour will make sure it is evenly distributed through the muffins and not all at the bottom!

> Don't overmix the batter: making muffins or a quick sweet loaf it is important to only mix the wet with the dry just until incorporated. This helps everything rise well!

> Wait 5-10 minutes before removing muffins (or a loaf): from the baking pan once they come out of the oven. If they are removed too soon they can fall apart.

Make these Muffins into Banana Rhubarb Bread

Using the same batter, bake it in a greased loaf pan. You will need to bake this banana rhubarb bread at 350 F for 60-65 minutes until the center is fully cooked. Let it cool for 5 minutes before removing it from the pan. Keep it in an airtight container or wrap it in tin foil once it is cool. It freezes well.

I have tested this recipe as a loaf. I think the muffins are best the first day or for the freezer, however, made into bread it tastes great if you enjoy it over 3-4 days.

Rhubarb muffins batter in a loaf pan, to make rhubarb banana bread,

FAQ

When is rhubarb ripe?

I did some research and rhubarb is ripe when it is 7-15 inches long, between late April and July. The color red, pink, or green does not relate to when rhubarb is ready, as it differs depending on the variety. Spring through early summer.

What's the best way to store muffins?

The best way to store muffins is in a sealing bag or airtight container. They will be good for about 4 days if kept cool and out of direct sunlight. Keep a paper towel in the bag or container to soak up any moisture. If you want to keep muffins fresh longer, freeze the muffins for up to six months in an airtight bag or container.

Are rhubarb banana muffins healthy?

Yes, this recipe is considered healthy rhubarb banana muffins. This is because we are using honey and bananas to sweeten the bread. Eggs and coconut oil are a good source of fat. Whole wheat flour and rhubarb are good sources of fibre. This is a great healthy snack for the week or to feed toddlers!

Brown muffins from whole wheat flour, with rhubarb and brown sugar on top, baked and in a muffins tin with cutting board with chopped rhubarb.

Other healthy baked snacks!

Love muffins? Check out these wholesome muffin recipes all made with fruit!

Still have more rhubarb?? Try this recipe for fruit leather roll ups!

Like this post for rhubarb banana muffins? Let me know down below the recipe! And give this recipe a star rating. I love hearing from you, and it helps others making this recipe!

Brown muffin with pink rhubarb and brown sugar on top, sitting in a muffin tray.

Rhubarb Banana Muffins

Danika Vanderpyl

You are going to love this recipe for rhubarb banana muffins because it's moist and easy. The best part is it's also healthy! This recipe is easily adaptable and can be made into banana rhubarb bread.

5 from 10 votes

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 22

Total Time 37

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings muffins

Calories 184 kcal

Equipment

1 muffin pan

Ingredients

½ cup honey 170 grams
⅓ cup oil (I used coconut oil 72 grams)
2 eggs
2 medium bananas about 1 cup or roughly 225 grams
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 ½ cup whole wheat flour or white flour 180 grams
2 cup rhubarb chopped 250 grams
2 tablespoon coconut sugar (28 grams) or brown sugar (24 grams)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees farhrenhiet.
Mix together the melted honey, melted coconut oil, eggs and mashed banana.
In another bowl put the baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and flour, and mix well. Add 1 ½ cups of rhubarb to the flour mix.
Gentle fold the dry mix to the wet ingredients just until mixed. Grease a muffin tray. Add ⅓ cup of batter into each muffin cup. Distribute the sugar and ½ cup remaining rhubarb on top of each muffin.
Bake for 5 minutes at 425 degrees F, then turn the oven to 350 for 24-26 more minutes until the muffins are fully baked in the centre. After removing the muffins from the oven let them cool in the muffin pan for 5-10 minutes before removing them from the pan, then transfer the rhubarb banana muffins to a cooling rack.
Store in an airtight bag or container. Placing them on a paper towel in the bag or container will help absorb any extra moisture. They will stay good at room temperature for 2-3 days, then transfer to the fridge for 2-3 more days. Or freeze for up to six months.

Notes

For Rhubarb Banana Bread: Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 F for 60-65 minutes until fully cooked.

Rhubarb size: From testing this recipe I found chopping the rhubarb smaller and distributing it more evenly in the muffins, gives good flavour and moisture throughout. Chop the rhubarb to ½-inch size pieces.

Oil: I used coconut oil, but any oil will work!

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 194mgPotassium: 202mgFiber: 3gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Banana, Dairy Free, Muffins, quick bread, rhubarb, rhubarb loaf, spring baking

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