There’s something magical that happens when you take ripe bananas and pair it together with sweet chocolate chips and turn it into an irresistible baked treat; it’s truly the perfect blend of flavors. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, with their golden-brown tops that are studded with chips and their flavorful interiors, make for a perfect breakfast (or anytime) treat.
The natural sweetness of ripe bananas not only lends itself perfectly with rich chocolate chips, but also helps to create a moist and tender texture to the muffin itself. And what’s better than having chocolate scattered throughout each bite?
Ingredient Line-Up
All-Purpose Flour – provides the structure needed for the muffin.
Baking Soda – is the leavening agent in this recipe that helps the muffin rise.
Salt – adds flavor and balances out the sweetness in the recipe.
Butter – bring to room temperature. Butter adds richness and moisture to the muffin.
Sugar – adds sweetness and flavor.
Eggs – bring large eggs to room temperature.
Banana – mashed banana adds flavor and a natural sweetness to the muffin.
Low-Fat Yogurt – not only does the yogurt add moisture to the muffin, but also a bit of tanginess to the flavor.
Vanilla – adds a warm, yet sweet depth of flavor.
Mini Chocolate Chips – milk chocolate,semi-sweet or dark chips can be used.
Tools Needed
Mixer – Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to combine ingredients.
Mixing Bowls – use different mixing bowls to combine the dry and wet ingredients separately before mixing them together.
Measuring Cups & Spoons – you’ll need both measuring cups as well as measuring spoons.
Kitchen Scale – you can weigh your ingredients, such as flour, with a kitchen scale.
Whisk and Spatula – a whisk is needed for blending ingredients together while a silicone spatula is needed for folding in ingredients as well as scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Cookie Scoop – use a cookie portion scoop to portion out your muffins evenly.
Muffin Pan – a good quality muffin pan is a must. Whether you use a standard muffin pan or a mini muffin pan, a non-stick pan will help with muffin release.
Paper Liners – paper liners make it easy to remove the muffins from the pan (mini paper liners can be used for mini muffins).
Cooling Rack – once baked, a cooling rack helps to circulate the air for even cooling.
Oven Mitts – a good oven mitt is essential when removing hot pans from the oven.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Achieving muffin perfection lies in the balance of ingredients and the careful execution of the recipe. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, this Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin recipe is designed for success. What’s more, you can bake up a multitude of sizes with just this one recipe – from mini muffins to standard size muffins to mini bread loaves – the choice is yours. And, muffins can easily be frozen and eaten later for a fast breakfast on the go when needed.
This recipe, as-is, will yield about 20-22 muffins, depending on size. I’ve also baked this recipe into 24 mini muffins and two mini bread loaves with just one batch. Muffins can be frozen for later consumption – just wrap in plastic wrap and place into a freezer bag.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1-1/2 cups ripe bananas, mashed (about 3 bananas)
- 1/3 cup low-fat yogurt (plain or vanilla)
- 1 tsp vanilla textract
- 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips for tops of muffin (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Place muffin liners into your muffin pan (or grease with cooking spray) and set aside.
- Combine the flour, baking soda and salt into a medium-sized bowl. Whisk or sift all ingredients together and set aside.
- Mash the ripe bananas well and set aside.
- Using the paddle attachment of your mixer, cream the butter until softened, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add sugar to the butter and mix well. Scrape down the sides of your bowl.
- Add eggs one at a time to the sugar/butter mixture, mixing well and scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
- Once the eggs have been incorporated, add the mashed banana, yogurt and vanilla to the mixture. Mix well.
- Add in the flour mixture all at once. Mix on low speed until just combined – don’t over mix.
- Using a spatula, carefully fold the mini chocolate chips into the batter.
- Using a cookie or ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into the muffin tins, filling about each muffin well until it is about two-thirds full. If desired, add a few mini chocolate chips to the top of each muffin.
- Bake at 350℉. For standard-sized muffins, bake for 15-18 minutes. For mini muffins, bake for 12-14 minutes and for small mini loaf pans, bake for 30-33 minutes. Regardless of pan size, bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out with just a few crumbs or is clean.
- Cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Remove muffins from the pan and continue cooling on the rack until completely cooled. Makes about 20-22 standard muffins.
Baking for Success
Baking the perfect batch of Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins is pretty simple. And, to help keep it simple, be sure to follow these suggested tips for deliciously baked muffins every time.
- Use Ripe Bananas – use overripe bananas for maximum flavor and sweetness. Bananas are ripe when the peels are mostly brown. And, be sure to mash them well to create a smooth batter.
- Don’t Overmix the Batter – over mixing muffin batter can create a dense muffin. Fold in the chocolate chips gently until just combined to avoid overmixing and to ensure an even distribution.
- Use the Correct Pan – using the correct muffin pan and preparing that pan correctly is essential. If you choose not to use paper liners, be sure to grease the pan for an easy muffin release.
- Preheat the Oven – starting with a preheated oven is the first key to baking success, as a preheated oven helps the muffins rise evenly and bake properly throughout.
- Don’t Overbake the Muffins – muffins tend to be dry when they are overbaked. Keep an eye on baking times and use a toothpick or cake tester to check for doneness. Muffins are done baking when only a few crumbs are attached to the toothpick versus wet batter.
Muffin Versatility and Experimentation
These muffins are versatile enough that you can easily add your own personal touch to bake them according to your taste preferences. Experiment with flavors by adding some cinnamon or nutmeg to your muffins for a different flavor profile. Or, use different types of chocolate chips—dark, milk, or semi-sweet—to customize your muffin. You can even add a streusel topping for an added crunch.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins are a simple, yet delicious treat. So, preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and get to baking. For more chocolatey goodness that’s ideal for breakfast (or even dinner), be sure to try these Chocolate Chip Pancakes.
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