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Chocolate Chip Banana and pumpkin muffins made in a pinch with naturally sweet dates, bananas, and nutritious flax seed meal! These pumpkin banana muffins are the perfect fall treat using those leftover bananas on your kitchen counter!

Chocolate Chip Banana and Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin everything, are popping up everywhere this season. What better way to enjoy this popular food than at breakfast in the form of healthy and wholesome pumpkin banana muffins? I was inspired by a pumpkin muffin recipe I came across from the very talented food blogger, Kate from Cookie and Kate. Check out her pumpkin muffin recipe here.
Baking is still a scientific mystery to me. As I explore the culinary world in my small apartment kitchen, I tend to shy away from baking recipes, but I thought this would be a fun recipe to try for the season! There were also some lonely browning bananas on my counter and decided to mix them in with pumpkin for a different breakfast take.

The Sweeter Alternative

Instead of sugar, I used date butter which I make often for my energy bars as a sweetener alternative. To make this date puree (butter), soak dates in water for 10 minutes to soften. Second, remove the pit, chop, and throw in a food processor or high-speed blender. Add half the amount of water to your dates, for example, if you are using 1 cup of dates, add ½ cup of water. Lastly, blend until a smooth puree is formed, and use a spatula or spoon to scoop out. If you don't have dates, you can use 1 cup of granulated sugar for every ⅔ cup of date paste/puree.

Try Adding Flaxseed!

For the flour portion, I wanted to include a flaxseed meal that I had been planning to use for the first time finally. Flaxseed is an excellent source of good-for-you Omega-3 fatty acids and heart-healthy fiber. Most recipes call for reducing your flour contents by 25% if substituting flaxseed. Flaxseed is also very good as a replacer for oil and eggs, according to Bob's Red Mill, you'll want to use a 3:1 ratio (liquid to flaxseed).

Skipping Breakfast is a Big No-No

You've heard it before, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, it's true! Not only are you missing out on the right nutrients your body needs for fuel in the morning, but you're also making yourself extra sluggish and hungry later on. At breakfast, try to aim for a healthy combination of protein, fats, and carbohydrates. For these muffins, I ended up spreading a tablespoon of nut butter on top and pairing it with a low-sugar (less than 10 grams) Greek yogurt, or a healthy lower calorie smoothie as an addition to make a balanced meal. These chocolate chip pumpkin banana muffins also make a great snack or healthy dessert choice.

In this recipe, you'll want to make the liquid ingredients portion in a separate bowl and then mix in the dry ingredients. I used the oats as a topping for the muffins and did not include them in the batter. Feel free to add in the oats, dried fruits, and nuts of your choice as an additional topping at the end of the batter mix. Keep covered in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you have any leftover pumpkin purée try it in a smoothie! Like my Pumpkin Pie Smoothie!