Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins {gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free}

Gluten-free Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins - made healthier! They're also dairy-free, naturally sweetened with honey, and loaded with oats for a sweet breakfast treat you can feel good about eating.

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Annnnd just like that, the holidays are over and it's January again. I'm usually pretty ambivalent about the idea of New Year's resolutions, but this year I did decide to set a few goals for myself. One of those is a January-specific goal (inspired by Pinch of Yum) to clean up my diet just a lil' bit by cutting out refined sugar for the month. To be clear, I'm ALL for balance and enjoying sugary sweets in moderation - I'll indulge in a double chocolate muffin for breakfast now and then. But for now, I just want to give my body a reset after all the extra treats that the holidays bring, you know?

All this is relevant becauuuuuse these lovely Peanut Butter Banana Muffins you see here are not only gluten-free, they're also dairy-free (if you want them to be) and naturally sweetened with honey. I'm not saying that makes them health food, but I am saying it makes them a little bit more appropriate for breakfast, which is always a good thing.

So let's get into these deets of what makes these better-for-you muffins...

How to make healthier peanut butter muffins:

Substitute some of the flour for oats. Oats are complex carbs packed with fiber, so your body has to work harder to break them down, and they keep you full longer. Bonus: they add a little extra bulk and texture to these muffins, which is perfect for breakfast to-go.

Use natural, unsweetened peanut butter. Peanut butter without the sugar and unhealthy oils isn't *quite* as sweet and creamy as your classic stuff, but it's still full of flavor, slightly sweet, and perfect for using in a recipe like this one.

Sweeten with honey! The flavor of honey pairs perfectly with peanut butter and bananas, so it's great to use it in recipes like oat flour banana muffins and these banana chocolate chip muffins. Honey is also less refined than sugar, AND it's sweeter, which means you can use less.

Use coconut oil as your fat. Most baked goods need at least a little bit of fat (usually oil or butter) to keep them moist and tender. These muffins use a small amount of coconut oil (in addition to the peanut butter). You can use unrefined coconut oil if you're not worried about the potential for a little bit of coconut flavor in your muffins, but refined coconut oil is always a good, flavorless option for a healthy fat.

Substitute cow's milk for unsweetened oat milk. I've made this recipe with both whole milk and oat milk. Both work well, but if you're sensitive to dairy, or just want to consume less of it, oat milk is a great, creamy, dairy-free option!

Use a high-quality chocolate with less sugar. Dark chocolate is naturally low in sugar, but Lily's Chocolate Baking Chips are also a great option if you want a little more sweetness without the added sugar.

I've made these muffins at least three or four times now and LOVE having the option to eat a sweet treat in the morning without feeling like I'm pumping straight sugar and empty carbs into my body. They're not super heavy on the peanut butter like many peanut butter muffins are, but there's just enough of it in there to balance out the banana and chocolate chips without being overwhelming. They're filling enough to last you 'til lunch, just sweet enough, and amazing with coffee as a bonus!

More healthy(ish) muffin recipes!

Muffins are some of these easiest baked goods to make a little healthier! Here are a few other variations you can try next:

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