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Vegan toasted millet banana muffins made in one bowl! They are gluten-free, nut-free, and can be made without oil.

banana millet muffin in a metal muffin tin
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These crunch-wonderful banana muffins are made with a nutritious, inexpensive, gluten-free alternative to nuts: millet.

Recipe Benefits

As banana muffins go, these are already pretty wonderful. In taste, most definitely, but also because they are:

  • Vegan (no eggs, no dairy)
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Naturally sweetened (banana and a bit of maple syrup)

But the addition of toasted millet makes them extra-nutritious.

a metal measuring cup filled to the brim with uncooked millet.

What is Millet?

Millet is naturally gluten-free, rich in B vitamins (especially niacin, B6, and folacin) and offers calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.

Here is more good news: one half cup (cooked) serving has 11 grams of protein. Wowzers! You can buy it in bags, or in bulk at health food and natural grocery stores.

Use Millet as a Nut Substitute in Baked Goods

Millet can be used to make porridge and polenta, but I learned to love it most in graduate school, as a frugal alternative to nuts in some of my favorite baked goods.  You can use it raw, but if you want the flavor to shine, give it a quick toasting in the oven. Case in point these muffins.

Ingredients

The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post. Toggle between US Customary (volume) and Metric (weights) for preferred measurement option.

Banana millet muffin on a blue and white plate, split opne and spread with vegan butter

Step by Step Directions

Note that the complete directions are also in the recipe card below.

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180C). Line 12 cups of a standard size muffin tin with paper or foil liners, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Spread the millet out on a cookie sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes. Every three or four minutes, take the sheet out and give it a careful shake (not too hard, or you’ will have millet all over your oven and floor–yes, I’m speaking from experience); this will ensure that every kernel of millet gets toasted. Set aside to cool.
  • Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add the maple syrup, oil, banana, and vanilla, stirring until combined. Stir in the millet.
  • Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Cool for 5 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove muffins from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
banana millet muffins in a metal muffin tin

Happy baking!

FAQ

  • How Should I Store the Muffins? Store the cooled muffins in an airtight container at cool room temperature for 1 day, the refrigerator for 5 days, or the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Can I Make these Without Oil? Yes. You can replace the oil with an extra 1/4 cup very ripe mashed bananas, or nondairy milk. Keep in mind that eliminating all oil changes the texture of the muffins. Oil gives baked goods like this a soft crumb and tender texture. Without the oil, the muffins will have a firmer, sturdier texture.
  • What Can I Substitute for Maple Syrup? You can replace the maple syrup with 1/4 cup of the granulated sweetener of your choice, plus 1 tablespoon water. For example, coconut sugar, brown sugar, or granulated sugar.
  • Can I Use a Single Gluten-Free Flour in Place of the Flour Blend? I have only tested this recipe with a 1:1 all purpose gluten-free flour blend. However, 1 and 2/3 cups (200 g) of chickpea flour should work well as a substitute. I do not recommend other gluten-free flours (e.g., almond flour, coconut flour, millet flour) for this particular recipe.

More Vegan & GF Banana Baked Goods:

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4.67 from 6 votes

Vegan Toasted Millet Banana Muffins (Gluten-Free)

By: Camilla
Vegan toasted millet banana muffins made in one bowl! They are gluten-free, nut-free, and can be made without oil.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12 muffin

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180C). Line 12 cups of a standard size muffin tin with paper or foil liners, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Spread the millet out on a cookie sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes. Every three or four minutes, take the sheet out and give it a careful shake (not too hard, or you'll have millet all over your oven and floor–yes, I'm speaking from experience); this will ensure that every kernel of millet gets toasted. Set aside to cool.
  • Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
  • Add the maple syrup, oil, banana, and vanilla, stirring until combined. Stir in the millet.
  • Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
  • Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove muffins from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Notes

Storage: Store the cooled muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day, the refrigerator for 5 days, or the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 29.3g | Protein: 4.1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 4.4g | Sodium: 183.5mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 6.8g
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!
close up of a toasted,illet banana muffin that is both gluten-free and vegan

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About Camilla

I'm Camilla, food writer, author, runner, and spin instructor. PowerHungry® is where I share my easy, minimalist, plant-based recipes, designed for living a healthy, delicious, empowered life.

4.67 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  1. Hi, about this recipe or any other one (like millet bread) that has hulled millet: can I soak overnight the millet before using it in the recipe? I want to make it easier to digest to my toddler who has a sensitive gut. Thank you!

    1. Hi Carolina, yes, you definitely can soak the millet before using in the recipe. I’ve soaked a lot of millet for other purposes and know that it absorbs very little water, so you really do not need to adjust the recipe if you’re planning to grind the millet for part of a recipe. For this one you can drain and pat dry the millet and then directly toast it. 😊

  2. The recipe is very good , I used whole wheat flour I also added a few chopped up dates , it’s plenty sweet . First time baking with millet and it must be an acquired taste because I don’t really care for the crunch in the muffin it feels funny . I guess I won’t be making them again , thank you .

    1. Hi Brigitte,

      Glad you were brave and gave these a try! Did you test the millet? It should be light and crunch once toasted (not good added raw). But perfectly understandable if the taste/texture does not suit your tastes 🙂

    1. Hi Dr J,

      You might be able to use chickpea flour or millet as a sub. But I have not tried it. GF recipes do not always have simple alternatives without re-testing the recipe to make sure it will work.

  3. These are the perfect amount of sweetness. Thanks for using banana and real maple syrup for sweetening to help keep it natural. Thanks!

  4. These are great! They satisfy my urge for something crunchy in my muffins (which usually means nuts or chocolate). I just wanted to add that I tossed some butterscotch chips into several of my muffins, and they were delicious, as well.

  5. This is a great recipe! I have to admit I make them with chocolate chips and no millet, it is such a good banana muffin recipe!

  6. OK, you’ve made me want to try millet! I’ll get it the next time I see it … then probably forget why I wanted to buy it…

  7. I love adding millet to my muffins–it gives them the greatest bit of crunch! These sound just lovely, and I bet toasting it first really brings out the flavor.

  8. Thank you Kelley! Yes, I was defintely a wanderer for awhile; but it really did allow me to figure out what I wanted to do. I wish everyone could have such supportive parents as I have, they were key in encouraging me to take risks early on. Happy baking, Kelly!