Chocolaty Banana Muffins {Guest Post}

Jacqueline enjoys baking bread, eating bread and posting delicious bread recipes at http://breadbabe.com. Visit today to download your free ebook of filled-roll recipes including the Bread Babe’s world famous Pepperoni Rolls.

My teenage son enjoys cooking and baking. This thrills me for several reasons:

1. He's a teenage boy and I am his 40-ish mom. We don’t share many common interests these days. Gone are the days of taking him to the zoo or pushing him on a swing. Now it’s video games, hanging out with friends and sports. So our time together in the kitchen is very special.

2. I decided years ago that I would not send a hapless, domestically challenged young man into the world. Laundry, housekeeping and culinary pursuits are not the domains of women only. So it’s nice that he considers cooking a pleasant pastime.

3. My son, as he spends time planning, preparing and cleaning up after meals, has developed a much deeper appreciation for his mother!

Recently, he noticed that I had set several overripe bananas on our kitchen counter.

"Can I make banana bread with those?" he asked.

I answered that I was actually planning to make muffins and showed him the recipe I had found wrinkled and forgotten in a dark corner of my recipe box.

"Wow, these sound really good!" he said. And he was right. Bananas, cocoa and chocolate chunks -- what's not to love? I’m only sorry that this recipe lay lost and forgotten for so long.

He got busy baking, choosing to make a few adjustments to the recipe to make it a slightly more healthful breakfast muffin. I don't know that these muffins should be considered health food, but they sure are tasty and if anything, you can feel good about eating them as a snack!

The recipe is quickly and easily prepared. It's forgiving as well--my son hasn't quite mastered "stir until moistened" and rather prefers to ‘stir vigorously until thoroughly mixed’. Happily, these muffins were moist and light.

Remember to use very black bananas for super moist 
muffins with a delightful banana flavor. 

Chocolaty Banana Muffins 

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/3 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1 egg
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks.

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In a small bowl combine the bananas, oil and egg; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chunks. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Makes one dozen.