Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins w/ Cinnamon-Sugar Topping

I needed to use up several very ripe bananas, but banana bread takes up to an hour and fifteen minutes to make.  It was already a late Saturday morning, and I didn't want banana bread that badly.  My already lazy Saturday would have become even lazier!  So, I decided to look for a quicker banana muffin recipe to make instead.  I found a recipe here that used applesauce instead of oil, which is good because we had lost our oil in our move, and it hadn't been replaced yet.  It also makes the muffins a little bit healthier.

I changed the ratio of whole wheat flour to all-purpose flour just a bit.  I then changed up the recipe even more by adding chocolate chips (YUM) and a cinnamon-sugar topping!  The result...a yummy, moist, chocolate-y muffin.  The cinnamon-sugar topping was just the right touch to make this weekend breakfast special.  I think the next time I make these, I may try using all whole wheat flour.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
 adapted from SparkRecipes (SERENITY)

1/2 cup all whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 ripe bananas)
1/4 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)
1/4 cup applesauce
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2-3 Tbs semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the Topping:
4 Tbs butter, melted
cinnamon-sugar mixture (2 tsp cinnamon to 4Tbs sugar)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease muffin tin or use paper muffin liners.  Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In a separate bowl, beat banana, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Stir in applesauce.  Stir in flour mixture. Once combined, add the chocolate chips and stir to combine.
Pour batter into muffin cups, about 3/4 full.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.  A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean (mine took the full 20 minutes).  If you use paper liners, the muffins stick to the paper until they have set awhile.  While the muffins are still warm, dip the tops in the melted butter, and then into the cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Makes 12 muffins.

Blueberry Lemon Muffins

I try to vary my kids' weekday breakfasts.  Don't get me wrong, cereal is quick and easy when we are trying to get out the door on time, but it can get boring day after day after day...  I also worry that it isn't all that healthy, especially when your kids have nagged you enough that you finally say yes to the cereal that is ladened with preservatives and artificial colors and flavors.  Eww!  It happens every once in a while (especially when Dad does the shopping).

I decided to make these blueberry lemon muffins that I found over at The Girl Who Ate Everything.  I thought they would go well with fruit & yogurt parfaits or green smoothies..  I love that they are made with frozen blueberries because we always have these on hand. 

Blueberry Lemon Muffins

To make these muffins a bit healthier, I replaced half of the white flour with whole wheat flour.  I also replaced the sugar (in the batter) with agave nectar.  These were a hit with my family and co-workers (my son wasn't so happy that I decided to share our leftovers).  These muffins crown nicely (Don't you just hate puny, flat muffins?).  They aren't overly sweet, either.  The sugar topping is the perfect touch.  They will make even the novice baker a star!