September 11, 2019

Spiced Rum Banana Muffins {Vegan}

Growing up, banana muffins were always one of my favorite treats, but with the rate at which we went through bananas, we hardly ever had any that lasted until they were overripe. (They called me “Monkey” for a reason!) Nowadays, I buy plenty of extras to set aside for baking because these Spiced Rum Banana Muffins are definite staples to have on hand.

Ingredients

Spiced Banana Rum Muffins feature warm fall spices, rich dark chocolate, and a splash of rum for good measure. Here’s a complete list of what you’ll need to make them:

Overripe bananas
Ground flaxseed
Water
Avocado oil
Pure maple syrup (dark)
Spiced rum
Cinnamon extract (or vanilla)
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Cloves
Baking soda
Celtic sea salt
Whole wheat pastry flour
Dark chocolate chips

Nutrition Notes

My favorite part about Spiced Banana Rum Muffins is that they taste indulgent, but are overall quite healthy. Because the bananas are so sweet naturally, I only added 1/3 cup of additional sweetener. Instead of overly processed, refined sugar, I opt for pure maple syrup. If you can’t find a dark variety, amber will work just fine, but it has a milder flavor.

For the oil, I use for avocado oil since it is high in unsaturated fats, unlike butter or coconut oil. If you want to make this recipe fat free, use unsweetened applesauce instead.

Due to my egg allergy, I make a flaxseed egg by combining three tablespoons of hot water with one tablespoon of ground flax. This can also be done with chia seeds (although I haven’t tested it in this particular recipe). Three tablespoons of aquafaba also make a great egg substitute for this bread.

When it comes to flour, I love using local, organic varieties from Lonesome Stone Milling. Unfortunately, they haven’t had it stocked at my food co-op recently, but Bob’s Red Mill Whole Wheat Pastry Flour is another favorite of mine for baking. However, this has been hard to find too, so I’ll sometimes use King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour instead.

To finish off the muffins, I like folding in a cup of dark chocolate chips. One of my favorite chocolate brands is Raaka. They are transparent about prices and ingredient sourcing, and are fair trade. They also don’t use gluten, nuts, soy, or dairy, making them safe for many dietary needs. Some of their chocolates are refined sugar free, so check the label if that is something you’re looking for.

I hope you give Spiced Rum Banana Muffins a try and I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below! Happy baking!