Gluten-free Applesauce Banana Zucchini Muffins

Go beyond gluten-free zucchini muffins by including fruit! You’ll love these freezer-friendly gluten-free, applesauce banana zucchini muffins! They’re dairy-free too!

What do you make when you have overripe bananas AND your neighbor brings by a bunch of zucchini?  That’s what I was wondering! I could make gluten-free banana muffins. I could make gluten-free zucchini bread. But instead I thought I’d come up with something new!

Since my kids love muffins, I decided to see about combining these to make a healthy muffin. I decided to add applesauce too, as it adds more Vitamin C and using it allows me to use less butter or oil as well. I was able to combine applesauce, bananas, and shredded zucchini together in these delicious gluten-free muffins that my family happily devoured!

I’m always looking for new recipes to use up zucchini from our garden and our neighbor’s gardens. When I have a huge zucchini to use up, I pull out my food processor, put on the shredding blade (the one you use for shredding a bunch of cheese), quarter the zucchini, remove the seed layer, and shred it up -skin and all. This weekend, we did that with two huge zucchini that my neighbor dropped by. I was able to make two batches of these gluten-free applesauce banana zucchini muffins, one batch of our favorite gluten-free zucchini cake brownies, and froze the remaining zucchini in 1 1/2 to 2 cup portions in freezer bags for future baking.

You could definitely pack even more nutrition into these by adding in some ground flaxseed, in fact I’m going to do that next time!

We’re firmly in the no nuts in muffins camp, but if you like nuts, feel free to mix in 1/2-3/4 cup or so or your favorite nuts (pecans would be good), stirring them in at the end of the mixing process.

These gluten-free banana zucchini muffins freeze well too. I froze some and am pulling them out to send as part of my boys’ lunches. Quick and easy!

What is your favorite way to use up zucchini?

Gluten-free Banana Zucchini Muffin Recipe:

Yield: ~2 dozen

Gluten-free Applesauce Banana Zucchini Muffins {Dairy-free}

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Gluten-free Applesauce Banana Zucchini Muffins are a healthy muffin that tastes great!

Ingredients

• 3 cups good quality gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed (yields about 3/4 to 1 cup mashed)
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cup finely shredded zucchini

Instructions

1. Line 2 cupcake/muffin pans with paper liners or spray well with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Preheat oven to 350°.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together gluten-free flour, xanthan gum (if needed), salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Set aside.
4. In a mixing bowl, beat together melted butter, applesauce, mashed banana, eggs, sugar and brown sugar for 1 minute on low speed. Scrape down sides of bowl and beat on low another 20 seconds.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix on low speed just until mixed.
6. Add shredded zucchini, mix just until combined.
7. Use a large scoop to fill paper lined muffin tin cups 3/4 full.
8. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until muffins are set and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached.
9. Cool in pan 5 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.
10. Once cooled, store in airtight container at room temperature or stack in freezer bag and place in your freezer to enjoy later!

Notes

*If the gluten-free flour blend you use already has xanthan gum or guar gum in it, then omit the xanthan gum called for in this recipe.

*I tested this with Gluten Free Mama's Almond Flour Blend.

If you can have dairy, you can substitute the melted coconut oil for an equal amount of melted butter.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Wilton Perfect Results Muffin and Cupcake Pan, 12 Cavities
• 
  White Cupcake Paper Liners, Pack of 500
• 
  OXO Large Cookie Scoop #20
• 
  KitchenAid KFP0933OB 9-Cup Food Processor with Exact Slice System - Onyx Black
• 
  Spectrum Organic Refined Coconut Oil, 29 Ounce
• 
  Kirkland Saigon Cinnamon 10.7 Oz Bottles( Pack of 2) - 21.4 Oz Total

Please pin this to your gluten-free muffins board on Pinterest so you can find it again!

I hope you and your family enjoy these as much as my family does!