We love banana bread, banana muffins, banana anything! I make banana nut bread for my family now and then, but wanted to make something a little different. I woke up in the middle of night about a week ago thinking, Banana Muffins with Coconut! I kid you not! I know, it's weird. Don't judge me.
So, I made the muffins, and oh-my-word, they are so fabulous!! Adding cream cheese icing made them decadent, but you can certainly make them without it if you are calorie counting. They are delicious either way!
Banana Muffins with Toasted Coconut
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup rice flour
- ½ cup turbinado sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup low fat buttermilk
- 1 cup mashed very ripe banana
- ⅛ cup applesauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon Baker’s Secret*
- ½ cup coconut plus 2 tablespoons, toasted
Icing
- 6 ounces Neufchatel Cheese
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 36 banana chips
- Toast coconut on low under broiler until lightly browned
- Set oven to 375 degrees
- Line 36 mini muffin tins with paper cups or spray with cooking spray
- In large bowl, stir together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and Baker’s Secret
- In another bowl, using a whisk, mix the banana, buttermilk, applesauce, egg, vanilla and coconut
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, just until blended well
- Fill muffin tins three-quarters of the way
- Bake for 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
- Cool completely
- Blend Neufchatel Cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy.
- Lightly spread icing on cooled cupcakes
- Top muffins with remaining toasted coconut and one banana chip stuck in center

Banana Muffins with Toasted Coconut
Ingredients
- Muffins
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup rice flour
- ½ cup turbinado sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup low fat buttermilk
- 1 cup mashed very ripe banana
- ⅛ cup applesauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract I use Nielsen Massey, my favorite!
- ½ teaspoon Baker’s Secret from The Spice & Tea Exchange
- ½ cup coconut plus 2 tablespoons toasted
- Icing
- 6 ounces Neufchatel Cheese
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 36 banana chips
Instructions
- Toast coconut on low under broiler until lightly browned
- Set oven to 375 degrees
- Line 36 mini muffin tins with paper cups or spray with cooking spray
- In large bowl, stir together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and Baker’s Secret
- In another bowl, using a whisk, mix the banana, buttermilk, applesauce, egg, vanilla and coconut
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, just until blended well
- Fill muffin tins three-quarters of the way
- Bake for 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
- Cool completely
- Blend Neufchatel Cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy.
- Lightly spread icing on cooled cupcakes
- Top muffins with remaining toasted coconut and one banana chip stuck in center
*Order Baker's Secret directly by calling 941-301-7629 to get free shipping! Just tell them you saw it here.
Rachel H
These look positively scrumptious! Do you deliver? 😀
admin
If we will be at any of the same conferences, I just might do that for you, Rachel!
jenny at dapperhouse
I am saving this recipe for the next bake sale or pot luck so I can WOW the neighbors! Sounds and looks SO GOOD!
Julia Potvin
Everything I love in a banana muffin, I take mine with the icing please 🙂 Yummy!
Sharon
These look delicious! Love the recipe format so I can just print it and keep it by my stove when I'm ready to start cooking!
Jennifer
These look incredible! What a unique recipe!!
MyKidsGuide
Those look yummy! I like how the toasted coconut gives a new flare to a classic muffin!
LisaLisa
Let me grab some tea and sit back and enjoy one of these muffins...Yummy! I think I am going to try to make these.
Crystal G
I have a couple questions about some of the ingredients sorry I am a novice when it comes to ingredients in baking these 4 ingredients are they sold in regular stores or do I have to go to a speciality store to get it. And what is turbinado sugar.
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
¾ cup rice flour
½ cup turbinado sugar
½ teaspoon Baker’s Secret (from The Spice & Tea Exchange)
Thanks
admin
No problem, Crystal! The flour and turbinado sugar are both in local grocery stores, as well as Walmart. I believe you can find rice four in most stores now, too. Ask for Bob's Red Mill. Most stores have a large selection (including Walmart.) The only real specialty ingredient is the Baker's Secret. You can get it at the Spice & Tea Exchange. http://www.spiceandtea.com/locations-ezp-1.html?chapter=1 This store is so much fun, and has changed the way I cook. Love it! Thank you so much for asking. I'm sure other's have the same question 🙂
Crystal G
great thanks so much I will be trying this recipe soon :).
Kristin Wheeler (Mama Luvs Books)
DELICIOUS!! I love banana muffins and the coconut seems to give it a unique twist! Pinning!
Amanda @ Guide For Moms
That looks SOOOOOOO good! I am going to try these for Mothers Day brunch!!
Nickida
This looks like a great recipe to try.
Jamie
YUM!! So let's see, if I make these, after my husband has his, there should maybe be 1 left for me to try. Hmmm...that's worth it!! 🙂
admin
Sounds like my husband, Jamie! Enjoy! Thanks so much for visiting!
Amallia
this one is my favorite muffin, many I've made this, my husband always eat that for breakfast.