If you love healthier muffins as much as I do then you will love my Banana Streusel Muffins with Flaxseed!
One of my favourite breakfasts is muffins. I love that you can pack so much flavour – and even nutrition – in such a delicious little package. I’m always trying to sneak the nutritious stuff into muffins. As you can see from some of the older photos below, I’ve been making this particular recipe for some time.
Whether it’s my Carrot Walnut Bran Muffins or my Banana and Chia Seed Muffins, you can usually find something nutritious tucked into just about every muffin recipe I make. Well, maybe not every muffin recipe, but definitely most of them!
A Lower Sugar Muffin with a Sweet Streusel Topping
The muffin itself isn’t all that sweet as the main recipe contains only half a cup of sugar, however the crumbly, cinnamon sugar topping laced with finely chopped pecans really does make these Banana Streusel Muffins a treat.
There’s something about streusel that makes a muffin look – and taste – extra appealing. These Banana Streusel Muffins with Flaxseed still taste wonderful without the it, but if you can afford to treat yourself a little, the topping really does make them extra special. Plus the cinnamon in the topping is good for you.
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Banana Streusel Muffins are a great way to use up leftover bananas, the riper the better. The addition of the flaxseed (also known as linseed) adds a great flavour as well as micronutrients, Omega-3 fatty acids (the good fats), dietary fiber and iron. The pecans are good for you too as they contain potassium, protein and vitamin E.
The combination of a lower sugar muffin with a sweet, cinnamon spiked streusel topping makes my Banana Streusel Muffins with Flaxseed the perfect balance between naughty and nice. Perfect for breakfast, teatime or a snack, these easy to make muffins are sure to become a family favourite.
Banana Streusel Muffins with Flaxseed – Printable Recipe
- For the streusel:
- 3 tablespoons cold butter, cut in small pieces
- 6 tablespoons flour
- 4 tablespoons sugar (Demerera (Turbinado) if possible but white sugar is fine)
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup finely chopped pecans
- For the muffins:
- 3 very ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
- ½ cup mild olive oil
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream (you can use light or low fat)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1⅔ cup flour
- 2 tablespoons milled (ground) flaxseed
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- a generous pinch of salt
- ¾ cup pecans, roughly chopped
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C or 160°C for a fan oven).
- Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper liners.
- First, make the streusel-
- Cut the flour into the butter using a pastry blender or two knives until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the sugar and continue to cut in.
- Using a fork, stir in the cinnamon and the ¼ cup finely chopped pecans.
- Set aside.
- Now, for the muffins -
- Beat the oil and the eggs together in a medium bowl or jug.
- Beat in the vanilla and crème fraîche or sour cream.
- Stir in the mashed bananas and set aside.
- In another, larger bowl, mix together the flour, flaxseed, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ¾ cup chopped pecans.
- Add the oil and egg mixture to the flour mixture in the larger bowl and stir until just combined.
- Divide the batter between the muffin cups. (An ice cream scoop makes this easy.)
- Sprinkle a bit of the streusel mixture over each muffin.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the muffins comes out clean. (It's a good idea to watch the muffins after 15 minutes - oven temperatures can vary so radically.)
- Cool on a wire rack. Delicious warm or at room temperature.
More Delicious Banana Recipes
Old Fashioned Banana Cake Recipe
Patty Haxton Anderson says
October 3, 2015 at 10:40 amHaving morning coffee as I type this wishing I had one of these delicious muffins.
April Harris says
October 4, 2015 at 5:03 pmWish I could send you some, Patty 🙂
Angela says
October 3, 2015 at 6:04 pmWhat a perfect way to start the day or to enjoy with my afternoon coffee. Looking forward to these muffins!
April Harris says
October 4, 2015 at 5:03 pmThank you, Angela!
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
October 3, 2015 at 6:33 pmI love that you make your muffins nutritious…now if I could get you to make them for me! 😉
April Harris says
October 4, 2015 at 5:03 pmI wish I could, KC 🙂
Winnie says
October 4, 2015 at 9:58 amI don’t eat breakfast, but with my afternoon tea I’d eat a few of these happily 🙂
April Harris says
October 4, 2015 at 5:03 pmThank you, Winnie 🙂
nancy@skinnykitchen.com says
October 4, 2015 at 2:53 pmWhat a yummy way to start the day!
April Harris says
October 4, 2015 at 5:04 pmThank you, Nancy!
swathi says
October 5, 2015 at 12:43 amBanana streusel muffins with flaxseed is healthy and delicious April, I wish I can join you for an afernoon tea.
April Harris says
October 5, 2015 at 11:49 amThank you, Swathi! I would love it if you could join me for tea, that would be lovely. Hopefully one day 🙂
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
October 5, 2015 at 1:10 pmApril, these are so my kind of muffins and I plan to try them very soon! Have you ever used a whole-grain or GF flour in this recipe? I have all kinds of flours I like to “play” with such as spelt, oat, almond, white-whole wheat as well as GF mixtures. Would love to know what you think as you are the baking maven!
April Harris says
October 5, 2015 at 1:16 pmHi Linda, Thank you so much! I have been meaning to try more gluten free flours but as yet I have not done as much experimentation as I would like to. I am sure that they would work though as muffin recipes are generally very forgiving. If using whole wheat flour I would probably go 50/50 with white flour just to keep the texture a bit lighter 🙂
Hadia says
October 5, 2015 at 11:26 pmYour Banana Streusel Muffins with Flaxseed sound so yummy April! Pinning.
April Harris says
October 6, 2015 at 8:06 amThank you so much, Hadia!
Julie says
October 6, 2015 at 1:44 pmHi April,
Thanks so much for sharing this awesome muffin recipe with us at Cooking and Crafting with J & J.
We love having you and have a wonderful week.
Julie xo
April Harris says
October 6, 2015 at 5:53 pmMy pleasure, Julie! Thank you so much for hosting!
Sarah says
October 8, 2015 at 9:15 amI can’t think of much better than one of these with my morning coffee – they look lovely and delicious! Thank you for sharing!
April Harris says
October 8, 2015 at 2:12 pmThank you so much, Sarah!
Joanne/WineLady Cooks says
October 11, 2015 at 7:52 pmI so enjoy streusel toppings on my muffins and pies. A healthy muffin just in time to celebrate fall.
April Harris says
October 13, 2015 at 9:12 amThank you, Joanne! I’m a real fan of streusel toppings too 🙂
Jess says
October 11, 2015 at 8:52 pmThese sound so delicious!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Miz Helen says
October 12, 2015 at 12:40 amWhat a lovely setting to enjoy this delicious Banana Streusel Muffins. Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Platter Talk says
October 12, 2015 at 5:36 pmHealth, ease, and flavor! What more could anyone ask for from these beautiful muffins?!
April Harris says
October 13, 2015 at 9:14 amThank you so much, Dan!
Quinn Caudill says
October 13, 2015 at 4:07 pmApril these look so tasty. Thanks for the mention in your post and for sharing with us at #Throwback Thursday link party. Please join us again next week and invite your friends to join. Pinned
April Harris says
October 14, 2015 at 8:07 amThank you, Quinn, and thank you for pinning too 🙂
Lisa Huff says
November 15, 2016 at 5:54 pmThese look perfect! Anything with streusel has my name written all over it!
April Harris says
November 16, 2016 at 6:38 amThank you, Lisa! I love streusel too 🙂
Rae says
November 15, 2016 at 6:33 pmI’m not a big banana person but I have the feeling these muffins would be absolutely delightful with a hot cup of coffee in the morning!
April Harris says
November 16, 2016 at 6:38 amThey really are a lovely way to start the day, Rae 🙂
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery says
November 15, 2016 at 7:49 pmThese look delicious – great way to get in those Omega 3’s!
April Harris says
November 16, 2016 at 6:40 amDefinitely, Julie – and thank you 🙂
Katie Crenshaw says
November 15, 2016 at 10:17 pmThese look so good! I am hosting a brunch soon. I will be making these!
April Harris says
November 16, 2016 at 6:40 amI hope you and yours enjoy them as much as we do, Katie. They are perfect for brunch!
Platter Talk says
November 15, 2016 at 10:21 pmCute, easy, bite size, healthy, yummy. Did I leave anything out?
April Harris says
November 16, 2016 at 6:41 amI don’t think so, Dan 🙂 Thank you so much!
Lindsay says
May 23, 2017 at 5:51 pmI love muffins. They are easy to make and keep for later. Flax is my go to every morning I have it in a protein shake. I can’t wait to try it in a muffin.
April Harris says
May 23, 2017 at 10:35 pmI love muffins too, Lindsay! I use flax in my smoothies and protein shakes too – but I confess I really do love eating it in muffins best 😉 Have a lovely week!
Judd@glutenfree A-Z Blog says
May 25, 2017 at 2:19 amApril,
I too love streusel especially in a muffin. With the addition of flax, it’s a healthy winner.
April Harris says
May 25, 2017 at 3:38 pmThank you so much, Judee 🙂
Barbara says
May 26, 2017 at 12:39 amYour muffin recipe sounds good and they have a lovely domed top!
April Harris says
May 26, 2017 at 3:34 pmThank you, Barbara 🙂
The Ninja Baker says
May 29, 2017 at 7:47 amStreusel to muffins is like icing to cake…the best part! But a flaxseed sprinkled banana muffin sounds like a very guilt-free yummy treat =)
April Harris says
May 29, 2017 at 5:57 pmI totally agree, Kim, streusel makes a muffin extra special! Thank you 🙂
Carol A Cassara says
May 29, 2017 at 4:08 pmThese look absolutely scrumptious and are going on my list! Fromt he treat party and it is a treat!
April Harris says
May 29, 2017 at 6:02 pmThank you so much, Carol 🙂
Cristina says
May 30, 2017 at 7:15 amIt looks very delicious April! And I love your teapot set!
April Harris says
May 30, 2017 at 3:52 pmThank you so much, Cristina. It belonged to my great grandmother 🙂
Jaxx The Bearded Hiker says
May 30, 2017 at 12:25 pmPerfect with an afternoon cup of coffee!
April Harris says
May 30, 2017 at 3:54 pmThank you, Jaxx 🙂
Miz Helen says
June 5, 2017 at 11:10 pmCongratulations!
Your post has been featured on Full Plate Thursday! Thanks so much for sharing with us, we have really enjoyed it and we hope you enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
Claire Justine says
February 22, 2019 at 3:30 pmThese look Tasty April. I could just reach out for one, right now 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Creative Mondays. Have a great weekend and we hope to see you soon.
April Harris says
February 23, 2019 at 2:12 amI’m so glad you like them, Claire! I hope you have a lovely weekend too!