Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Yes, the 105th recipe I have posted with peanut butter and banana.  Sorry, but it's just a combo that I love!  These muffins are perfect for breakfast or just when you need a snack.  They combine banana, peanut butter, and get an extra protein boost from Greek yogurt.  Yep, I used Chobani banana flavored yogurt.  Yum! Greek yogurt adds that extra protein, keeps the muffins moist, and adds a slight tang to the flavor.   With only 1/4 cup brown sugar, these are perfect to share with the kiddos.  I even used whole wheat flour to up the healthy factor!

Don't go worrying that these are blah, health-nut muffins.  I sprinkled a few chocolate chips on a couple of these little guys.  Chocolate chips, banana, and peanut butter...perfect combo!  

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

adapted from Craving Chronicles

3/4 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 ripe bananas

1/4 cup brown sugar

6 ounce cup Chobani banana Greek yogurt

2 Tablespoons milk

1 egg

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 375, prepare your muffin pan with paper liners

Whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a small bowl.  In a large bowl mash together bananas and brown sugar with a fork.  Add Greek yogurt, milk, egg, peanut butter, and vanilla.  Whisk to combine, mixture will be lumpy.  Add dry ingredients and stir until just combined, careful not to overmix.  Scoop batter into prepared muffin tin, filling about 3/4 full.  Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  

*If you'd like to add chocolate chips, you can either fold in about 1 cup prior to baking, or place a couple on top of muffins prior to baking.

Easy and tasty?  I'll take two right now please.  The perfect muffin when you need a grab and go breakfast, a mid-day pick-me-up, or just a little treat.  Go ahead...you know you want to!

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

So sorry about my long absence here on the blog!  We just moved into our new home and only got our Internet set up last week!  A week without Internet is just the worst! Thank goodness I have my trusty Iphone!  We've had a lot going on, and I'll fill you in on the new place, but here's a quick recipe.  This is the first thing I baked in my new kitchen!  I probably should have made something super impressive and delicious.  Honestly though, this was pretty delicious.  P and I enjoyed it for breakfast for a couple days.

I love quick and easy breakfasts and these bars fit the bill. Very few ingredients and only 1/4 cup brown sugar!  Perfect to share with the little ones.  I, of course, like to spread mine with a little extra peanut butter.  These were simple enough that I could do most of the work while the baby ran around the house.  A little yogurt on the side and we were satisfied till lunch!  Great to eat on the go for those who are too busy to sit down to breakfast.

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars

1 and 1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1/4 packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 large ripe banana, mashed

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350.  Prepare 8x8 square baking pan with cooking spray or parchment paper.

Mix together oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.  Add in the vanilla, milk, and egg. Stir together.  Finally add banana and peanut butter.  Stir until ingredients are fully combined.  Pour into baking pan and spread evenly.   Bake for 20 minutes.  Cut into squares and enjoy!  Store in airtight container for up to three days.

Baby approved!  Looking forward to sharing more treats with her, and you, from our new home and kitchen!

Mini Banana Bundt Cakes

Things in my life have been pretty bananas lately. MIght as well have a cake that fits that theme.

My friend Anna recently put out a call for  some blogging friends to help her celebrate all that is the delicious banana.  We made some banana treats, got together to eat and gossip and received some cool swag from Dole bananas. We had muffins, breads, pies, curry salad; all delicious.

This is the second time I've used my mini bundt pans. They just make the cutest little cakes!  Perfect little portions that I suppose you could share, but it's really not necessary.

This recipe is very similar to banana bread.  Darling Hubby said it was like banana bread and coffee cake....sounds like a win-win.  Each little cake is topped with a brown sugar glaze. This recipe made 8 mini bundt cakes and a small 6 inch cake.  You can easily cut it in half or use a regular size bundt pan.

Banana Bundt Cake

adapted from Dorie Greenspan

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 sitcks (8 oz) butter.  I browned it for extra flavor.

2 cups brown sugar

1 Tbsp vanilla

2 eggs

4 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)

Preheat oven to 350 and grease pan(s)

Brown butter: cut butter into cubes, melt in a saucepan, constantly stirring, until it starts to foam up. You will notice small brown bits on the bottom of your pan and smell a strong nutty aroma.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, soda, and salt.

Once cool, mix browned butter and brown sugar using a stand mixer.  Beat in the vanilla and then add eggs one at a time.  Reduce speed to low and add mashed bananas.

Add half of your dry ingredients, then yogurt (or sour cream) and then the remainder of your dry ingredients.  MIx until just combined.

For the mini cakes I baked them for about 25 minutes.  For a regular bundt pan I would bake for 60-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let cool for about 10 minutes before removing from pan. While your cake is cooling, prepare your glaze.

Brown Sugar Glaze

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup heavy cream

Combine all in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir until all sugar is dissolved.

Using a fork, poke holes in your cake, pour warm glaze over warm cakes.  I added a little extra to the middle of the cakes.

Serve this cake to your banana-loving friends.  I had a great time preparing them and sharing them! Thanks for including me Anna!

Also, I started a Facebook Page for the blog! All my posts will be on there and also some random fun and photos.  Check it out!