Sunday, January 31, 2010

Banana Crumb Muffins Take Two


I'm the kind of person who needs to have something sweet with every meal I eat. Breakfast is usually cereal, so that doesn't need dessert, but lunch and dinner is always supplemented with at least a piece of chocolate. I can't help it. This is me, and I need sweets. I've tried to change it, but now I just accept it. We are who we are, right? And I'm a dessertaholic. Anyone else in this club? Allowing myself at least a small treat with every meal prevents me from eating a whole pan of brownies in one sitting, something that I used to do often before I started this treat-a-meal approach.

I like to make these muffins when I need a break from some of the richer desserts I make often (cookies, brownies, cakes, etc). These muffins are satisfying in many ways -- they are made with whole wheat pastry flour and studded with walnuts, which makes them filling and they are topped with a sweet and crunchy crumb, which truly makes them dessert and not breakfast. I usually add chocolate chips which definitely satisfies my chocolate cravings, but this time I added white chocolate and dried cranberries. Some people complain about white chocolate not being "real chocolate", and I say "sure" - that just means more for me!

Chocolate Chip Banana Crumb Muffins (adapted from allrecipes)
(Makes 12 muffins)

* 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 bananas, mashed
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 1 egg, lightly beaten
* 1/6 cup canola oil
* 1/6 cup applesauce
* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
* 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries


Crumb Topping

* 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* pinch of ginger
* 1 tablespoon cold butter

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 12 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 3/4 cups all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg, oil, and applesauce. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Stir in walnuts and chocolate chips. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. Crumb Topping: In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

14 comments:

  1. I too, am a dessertaholic. :) I love muffins with lots of texture; nuts, fruit, chocolate etc. These look wonderful! :)

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  2. Great looking muffin! You're hilarious!! "Breakfast is usually cereal, so that doesn't need dessert". LOL! But ya know what, we can chill out together, because I'd love to start all my meals with dessert! Banana muffins are one of my faves. In fact, I baked and blogged about them not too long ago. ;) Keep the sweet treats comin'!!

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  3. Ooo, the crumb on top of these muffins sounds delicious. YUM!

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  4. Great minds think alike indeed! Really like the addition of white chocolate

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  5. Those look SO good!!! I love the white chocolate chips and cranberries in them!

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  6. Hubby's the one in our family who has to have something sweet after every meal so I always try to have something that's at least somewhat wholesome for him. This recipe definitely qualifies!

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  7. I've got to focus on eating up all the muffins in my freezer so I can justify making these- they look terrific, and fall enough into the healthy category, too!

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  8. You're posting faster than I can comment. Your newest creation looks (of course) good. I don't even like bananas in baked goods, but I'm tempted to try these anyway. Your description of them just sounds sooo good.
    I like white chocolate a lot, too -- I don't care if it's "real" chocolate as long as it makes me really happy :)

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  9. Holy moly this sounds good! I eat something sweet with every meal as well :)

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  10. Yeah, me too, I love my desserts. Something sweet at the end of a meal - perfect! Your muffins look great particularly the crumb topping.

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  11. Yes, (raising my hand here) I love desserts too.
    Also love banana bread, so I would adore your muffins. Kudos on adding choc. chips and dried cranberries! And the crunchy topping!

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  12. I am definitely in the sweets at every meal club! Sounds like a muffin I'd better try!

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  13. Love a sweet at lunchtime, that's when I seem to crave it the most. A bite of something sweet or a cookie and I'm happy. Same for after dinner. In the morning I have coffee, with sugar, so I think that's probably why I'm not looking for something else, grins.

    Your muffin certainly sounds like it would be perfect for our weekends here, when I don't drink coffee, (go figure) and have a sweet like french toast or pancakes instead! Muffins like these are perfect!

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  14. I have NOT forgotten about these, and finally today, got white chocolate chips! I also have a whole cauliflower, and you know what that means... soon to be cooking up all kinds of msmeanie delectables! Can't wait for these muffins, tho... nicely black bananas are at the ready!

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