Bananas and chocolate are a classic combination that I love. I think these muffins are a good excuse for a "dessert-like" treat at breakfast.
Playing Around
I've heard of pastry chefs using bottomless molds to make cakes and tarts so I thought why not muffins too. I pulled out some of my favorite cookie cutters and gave it a go, and it worked! I sprayed each cookie cutter with some cooking spray first, and then set them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. I used a piping bag (aka a freezer bag) to fill each cookie cutter 3/4 full and popped them in the oven.
So, if they're muffins baked in cookie cutters, are they "cookie muffins" or "muffin cookies"?
Makes 12 muffins
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
¼ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
½ cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350˚F.
Cream the butter and sugar. Mash the bananas with a fork in a separate bowl. Add the bananas to the butter/sugar mixture. Add eggs, and blend. In a separate bowl, whisk the baking soda and flour. Add the flour/soda mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in chocolate chips.
Pipe batter into cookie cutters that are lined up on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Tasting Notes
I love these banana muffins. If you don't like chocolate, you can leave it out or replace it with nuts. It's a simple, but delicious recipe!
21 comments:
What a cool idea! I love it!
Such a fantastic idea! I'm going to have to try this out.
How clever. Can't wait to try it out.
That's a great idea, Shari. Just make sure that the cookie cutters you use are spot-welded and not soldered. If they are soldered the solder will probably melt at the high oven temperature and make the muffins not edible!
Shari, this is BRILLIANT!
(I went to a event once where a pastry chef was demonstrating his art - and almost everything he used came from Home Depot (PVC pipe, etc. etc.) I don't even have to go to the hardware store now...)
Audrey
WOW! Those looks really really good! and what a great idea using the cookie cutters!
awww. these look adorable made in cookie cutters. that's creative. i shd give it a try some time. :) x
What a great idea! Those turned out so cute!
That is a darling idea to use cookie cutters. Who could resist these?
Very nice idea. Can't wait to see what you come up with next! Matt likes bananas and he likes muffins and I am thinking the addition of the chocolate would just take it over the top for him...going there with all that soon, thanks for the recipe.
Shari, your new blog looks fantastic. I love the colours and the layout. Great idea using cookie cutters. You've given me some great ideas for my next muffin recipe.
what an excellent idea--so creative and tres chic (and tasty:)
Wow, another great idea! Keep them coming, please! This one is just adorable.
Ciao !chocolate banana are great together and in cute shapes too
OH my gosh, awesome. Bananas and chocolate are always a fantastic combination. I love the little apple cookie cutter! I want one! These muffins look so moist and good and yuuuummmmmmmmmm.........
What a clever idea. I bet they would be great baked into heart shapes for anniversaries or birthdays.
Huh? Are there really people who don't like chocolate? Bring them to me! I want them to be my neigbours... and eat their leftover chocolate! LOL
Great idea, Shari... as USUAL! LOL
this is a tremendous idea--thanks for bringing it to my attention! i plan to make use of this brilliance immediately!
These are adorable! I wonder if you could use a cupcake batter in the cookie cutters, then frost the resulting cupcakes once you pop them out of the molds? Those would be cute, too!
clumbsy cookie - Thanks!
fuji mama - I hope you post your results!
jacqui - Let me know how it works for you.
cookiecuttersearch - Good point. Thanks for letting us know about this issue.
audrey - I'm looking forward to my next visit to Home Depot!
sabrina - Thanks!
diva - You should!
my sweet & saucy - Thanks!
bridgett - I've been having a hard time resisting them this week!
kayte - You're so sweet! Banana and chocolate are such a good combination, but it's too bad you don't like chocolate. One of my daughters is just like you -- won't touch these muffins at all!
syrie - I can thank Jessica from Delicious Design Studio for that. I wish I'd known about her a long time ago...the amount of hours I've spent on templates is embarrassing!
dharmagirl - Thanks!
cookworm - I may run out of ideas sooon!!!
natalia - I love chocolate and banana too.
irene - They are yummy and easy.
katie - Heart shapes are a great idea too.
vibi - My 9-year old daughter is one such person! She doesn't mind chocolate cake, but doesn't like chocolate chips in anything!
grace - Hope you post about it!
carolyn jung - Thanks for dropping by!
~Shari
I love this idea! What size cookie cutter did you use? I would like to give this a try.
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