Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

To be perfectly honest, I've never been much a muffin fan... however over the past year or so, I've come to really enojoy them.  

It all started with my hubby, he hates eating breakfast, however if we have muffins in the house, he'll eat those {strange I know}.  So after buying muffins for a few weeks, I realized that making them would be cheaper & I could take the regular muffin recipe and turn them into mini muffins, which are perfect for my little munchkins fingers :)

 

Last week's Pintastic post was a bunch of new recipes, so I thought it was time to finally try a new one out.  This recipe does not disappoint!  They were DELICIOUS! 

My hubby & kids love muffins... especially when they are filled with chocolate chips {well who doesn't - right?}  and I love them because they are super easy to make and a great, quick snack that can be eaten on the go.

Since we are always running late in this house, on the go food works for us!

Here is how you make them.  Seriously, it's super easy and most of the ingredients are probably already in your cupboard.    

First you'll need your ingredients:  
Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Salt, Baking Soda, Bananas, Butter, Milk, Vanilla, Eggs & Chocolate Chips

Today I was lucky, since I had my assistant helping... made it easier for me to take pics

I don't normally pour all the measurements out into separate bowls {since it just means more dishes for me to wash}, but since my little one was helping, this step made it much easier for her :)

She's cute huh??

okay, back to the muffins

Combine your wet ingredients:  Milk, butter, eggs & vanilla

Next combine your dry {except the sugar} ingredients in a large bowl: Flour, Salt, Baking Powder & Baking Soda

 Now pour your wet ingredients into the bowl with your dry ones.

{do you see her little tongue sticking out?  When I'm concentrating, I do the exact same thing!}

 Mix {just until combined}

 Time to add the banana ** which you peeled and smashed up in a separate bowl**

 

 Stir in the banana

 

Time for everyone's favorite part ... THE CHOCOLATE!

She "sneaks" a few chips. but who doesn't?? hehe

She even shares them with her baby sister... thank you kisses... so adorable!!!!

 

Okay, back to the recipe, no more distracting photos.... 

Last but not least, you want to fold the sugar in gently.   This produces a muffin with a delicious, crunchy exterior without having to make a streusel.

Interesting, huh?   I actually picked up this tip from Ina Garden {yes, yes, we are BFF's} hahaha, NOT!  I actually picked up the tip from watching one of her Food Network shows.

Time to scoop the mix into your muffin pan.  I use a mini muffin pan, but you could definitely use a regular muffin pan.  Use liners or spray with PAM first

I use a melon baller to ensure that all the muffins will be the same size.

Instead of making 2 batches of mini muffins, we made 1 batch of mini muffins and 1 batch of animal muffins.

 Bake at 350° for about 12 minutes

I tasted one before I remembered to take a pic... oops! 

Of course my helper had to test one out too!

These are how our animal muffins turned out.  My munchkin decided that these were "her & sissy's special muffins"

 

FULL RECIPE
Mini Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter {melted}
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas {peeled and smashed up}
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup sugar

Heat oven to 350. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt in a large mixing bowl, set aside.  In a smaller bowl combine the butter, milk, vanilla & eggs.  Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and MIX.   Stir in the bananas and the chocolate chips.  Lastly, fold in the sugar** 

Scoop batter into a greased bread muffin tins.  Bake mini-muffins for 12 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Larger muffins will take approximately 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes. Complete cooling on a wire rack.

 

**This produces a muffin with a delicious, crunchy exterior without having to make a streusel. {tip I picked up from Ina Garden}

     

HAPPY BAKING!
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