Nutella Stuffed Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Banana and Zucchini Muffins
I made this with one person in mind.
And that one person is four years old.
Of course right now would be the time she would jump in and say “Yeah Tiegy, but I’ll be five on August 30th”.
You guys, five years old.
Seriously, how in the heck did that happen. It seems like just yesterday I was fifteen and thinking about things like getting my learners permit and summer vacation ending. Okay fine, some of you may say it was just yesterday, but really time flies and my gosh I feel like a totally different person than my unconfident fifteen year old self.
I know I may still have a lot of life to live and lessons to learn, but I feel I have come a long way. I never would have thought back then that I would be through with school, writing a food blog and cooking my butt off day in and out.
It is still kind of crazy when I really sit and think about it.
But we’ll talk more about that another day. Today’s all about these muffins and my best friend heading off to her first day of kindergarten tomorrow.
And trust me, it is a full day.
School starts at 8:45am and goes all the way till 3:55pm.
Gesh, that’s a long day! Oh, but this one has no fear and no nerves. It’s all excitement!
Asher and I? Yeah, we could not be more different.
She is jumping out of her skin excited.
She has been counting down the days for weeks, picked out her prettiest first day outfit and packed up all her new and exciting school supplies in her new (and so cheesy) pink Barbie (yes Barbie) backpack.
Since you know I am her very favorite sister I thought I’d make her some muffins with her absolute favorite thing.
Nutella!
Seriously, is Nutella every kid’s favorite?
Oh and yeah, I am her only sister so she has no choice……and I like it that way! She’s got five brothers and everyday she has a different favorite. But everyday when I ask her who her favorite sister is it is always “Tiegy!”.
Love. That.
About these muffins.
Yes, they are whole wheat and yes, they are mixed with mashed banana and yes, they are also mixed with shredded zucchini. So yes, I am calling these a healthy after school snack.
But chocolate is a health food around here…….as I feel it should be everywhere, but to each their own!
The official taste tester LOVES these. In fact she has demanded I make them again.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Nutella Stuffed Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Banana and Zucchini Muffins
Course: Dessert, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana, muffins, peanut butter
These are whole wheat, mixed with mashed banana and yes, they are also mixed with shredded zucchini. So yes, I am calling these a healthy after school snack.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas mashed
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 12 tablespoons heaping Nutella
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a muffin pan with nonstick spray or line with muffin cups. You can also make 24 mini muffins. Set aside.
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In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together bananas, zucchini, peanut butter, oil, egg, vanilla and brown sugar. A stand mixer can be used to beat the wet ingredients.
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Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and stir or mix until just combined. Do not over mix. Fold in chocolate chips. Scoop batter into prepared muffin pan. Fill 1/2 the way up or just under that, Drop 1 teaspoon of Nutella on top of each muffin. Spoon more batter over the Nutella, filling the cups 3/4 the way full. Add a teaspoon more of Nutella on top and swirl with a knife or toothpick. Do the same for mini muffins. Bake 20 to 25 minutes (10-12 for mini) or until lightly browned on top.
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Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then loosen the edges of the muffin pan with a knife and remove, transferring muffins to a cooling rack.
Recipe Notes
For high altitude add one teaspoon baking powder.
For her entire class…. I guess it’s a good thing they are quick and easy!
I have a banana-zuke bread recipe but have never done it as muffins. Or with Nutella. GREAT idea! And the swirls remind me of smiley faces. These are truly the happiest little muffins 🙂 Love em. And happy bday to the lil one!
Thanks Averie! The nutella swirls were a fun addition!
Oh my gosh. LOVE The nutella in the middle! And the banana, zucchini combo! These must get in my belly, like, STAT.
Hehe! Thanks so much, Jamie!
Awww such a sweet back-to-school treat for your sister! These sound amazing – and definitely packed with enough good stuff to be called healthy in my book!
Thanks so much, Tracey!
You’re a very special big sister to make muffins like this for her. They’re lovely.
Thank you so much, Maureen! You are so sweet!
Ok, seriously, how sweet is this? I love that you made them for your little sister 🙂
Thanks Jennifer!!
Your sister sounds adorable! I remember how exciting it was to head to school when I was younger–heck, I even got excited about it a bit in college. Mostly because I am obsessed with school supplies, haha.
Love how you added healthy additions like zucchini and mashed banana–they still look totally indulgent! 🙂 I want one!!
Love school supplies! LOL!
Thanks Laura!
Aw…I would be jumping up and down too! What a great sister you are! These look like the perfect treat.
Thank you so much, Cathy!
How sweet that you made muffins for your little sister. And you made them healthy. They look fabulous!
Thank you so much, Norma!
I’ll trade you my oatmeal for a muffin!!!
Done!!
Her new classmates would LOVE you if you showed up to school with these muffins.
I know, right?!?
Thanks Meagan!
So sweet of you to make these for your sister, they look incredible! Love the Nutella swirl on top!
Thanks you, Laura! The Nutella Swirls are so fun!
These muffins appear delicious in every sense o the word!! Great post!
Thanks Dan!
Peanut butter muffins just sound RIGHT… and with the addition of Nutella, I might be in love. SO beautiful!
Thank you, Jen!
These have some great flavors in them! I remember the first day back to school. I actually remember my first day of school EVER, and being so incredibly excited for it!
The first day of school is always exciting!
Thanks Melanie!
Lots of flavor in a little package, sounds delicious!
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thank you!
oh my gosh, I soooo need these!
Thank you!
A 5 year old is one of the best critics because they are honest. So sweet, everything you said abour your little sister. 🙂 I have 3 little sisters (only they are not so little…34, 31 and 27 years old).
My 2 young nephews love nutella so it totally must be a kid thing. I wonder if they’d like these muffins. It’s a great way to get their fruits and veggies in. Well if they don’t like them (we know how picky kids can be) I’m sure I will. These are gorgeous and I’d easily eat more than 1. 🙂
Yes, young kids will always tell you the cold hard truth! They are the best!
Thanks Tina!
These are awesome! I can get away with eating the whole batch cause they’re healthy right?
Totally!
Aw, your sister sounds adorable! She is lucky to have a big sis that bakes her muffins stuffed with nutella.
Oh she is! I cannot get enough of her!
Aww, your little sis sounds so cute! My big sister is like that, too–saying how she is my favorite sister. not like I have any choice. xD she’s awesome, though.
These muffins look fabulous! (I especially love the minis) and I love how you swirled the Nutella on top like that. They’re so picture perfect. 🙂
Thank you, Abbie!
5 is such a great age. And these muffins are fabulous! Chocolate is totally a health food. It’s it’s own food group and should be eaten every day!
AGREE!! I swear, we have the same brain!
Thanks Dorothy!
Totally craving these muffins! Love those swirls of Nutella!!
I had fun with the swirls! Thanks Julie!
Nutella and “healthy” – I’m in! They look great Tieghan!
Hehe! Thanks so much!!
I made these last night, they are so delicious, you forget they are healthy! A great snack for kids and grown-ups! My swirls aren’t as neat as yours, but they taste great! Thanks for the recipe.
Oh yeah! So happy you loved these! Thanks so much, Caroline!
Great idea, i like it.
Thanks Camilla!
How many calories r in these?
Hi Kristen,
I do not track the calories, but you kind calculate them online here.
Hope that helps and I hope you love these!
I made these for my friend’s birthday and everyone at the party thought they were good. It’s always nice to make muffins/dessert for a party because you can have a taste of your creation without eating ALL of it!
So happy these worked out for you!! Thanks Amber!
Hey Tieghan –
If I wanted to sub in applesauce for the mashed banana, how much would you recommend I add?
These look delish…can’t wait to recreate in my own kitchen!
Thanks so much, Brie
Hey Brie!
Use equal amounts applesauce for the banana. Should work great.
Hope you love these!!
Thanks!
Teighan,
These muffins were OMG delicious! I substituted coco’-loco instead of the Nutella just because I am a super coco-loco junkie:) I love your blog by the way!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Sam
Thank you so much, Sam! I am so excited you loved these!
Making these today!
Hope you love them! 🙂
Teighan would I be able to use 100% natural peanut butter here?