These gluten-free banana muffins are tender, fluffy, and bursting with banana flavor. Made with overripe bananas, a touch of vanilla and a hint of cinnamon, they bring that classic bakery taste to your kitchen while staying naturally gluten-free.
I’ve been gluten-free for several years and know how challenging it can be to achieve a light, bakery-quality texture. I developed and tested this recipe multiple times so it’s reliable, easy to follow, and consistently yields great results.
This post was originally published on July 18, 2021 and updated with new photos on March 1, 2025.
Recipe Highlights
- Texture: Soft, light, moist and wonderfully fluffy—these muffins have an ideal crumb.
- Flavor: Deep banana flavor from ripe, ideally overripe, bananas plus a warm hint of cinnamon.
- Foolproof: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps make this recipe great for beginners.
- Versatile: Enjoy them plain or stir in mix-ins like chocolate chips or chopped nuts.
Key Ingredients
The full ingredient list appears in the recipe card below. Key items to note:
- Gluten-free 1-to-1 flour blend: Choose a blend that contains xanthan gum for structure. Bob’s Red Mill is a good example.
- Cornstarch: A small amount helps keep the muffins tender without becoming gummy.
- Cinnamon: Just a touch adds warmth and a familiar, nostalgic flavor.
- Bananas: Use overripe bananas—brown-spotted skins—so the muffins are moist and intensely banana-flavored.
Tips For Making Bakery-Style Muffins
Follow these tips for tall, domed, bakery-style gluten-free muffins:
- Fill liners to the top: Fill each paper liner nearly to the top so the batter can rise above the pan and form a domed top.
- Add toppings: For a pretty finish, press a banana slice, a few chocolate chips, or chopped nuts onto each muffin before baking.
- Bake at two temperatures: Start in a very hot oven to set the exterior and promote rise, then lower the temperature to finish baking through without overbrowning.
- Space muffins for extra height: For taller muffins, fill every other cup in the pan to allow more air circulation between cups.
Storage Instructions
Storing: Keep the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This preserves texture and flavor.
Freezing: Wrap muffins individually and place them in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature or gently reheat. Remove any wrapping before reheating.
If you enjoy gluten-free muffins, you might also like a classic gluten-free blueberry muffin—equally fluffy and moist but made with butter and juicy berries.
Gluten-free Banana Muffin Recipe
Ingredients
- 1¾ cups gluten-free 1-to-1 flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup oil
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ cups mashed overripe bananas
- ¼ cup milk or buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup mix-ins optional
Instructions
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In a bowl, whisk together the gluten-free flour, cornstarch, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Set aside.
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In a separate bowl, combine the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, mashed bananas, milk (or buttermilk), and vanilla until well blended.
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Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture until smooth. Fold in any mix-ins if using. Cover the bowl and let the batter rest for 30 minutes to hydrate the flour.
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Preheat the oven to 410°F (210°C). Line a muffin pan with paper liners and evenly divide the batter. Bake at 410°F for 7 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) without opening the oven and bake another 15–17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
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Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Dairy-Free: Substitute unsweetened non-dairy milk for the milk to make the muffins dairy-free.
Nutrition
More Banana Recipes To Try!
- Classic banana bread—moist and tender—or a gluten-free chocolate chip banana bread for another crowd-pleasing option.
- Banana oat bars make a convenient grab-and-go breakfast.
- If you love banana and chocolate together, try chocolate banana cupcakes or double chocolate banana bread for an extra indulgent treat.
- For a show-stopping dessert, a banana upside-down cake is a beautiful choice.