Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I used to make these Mini Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins for breakfast when my sons were young. However, at that time I wasn’t topping the muffins with melted chocolate and nuts. A person only has some much time in the morning!

Breakfast has always been one of my favorite meals, so I used to love to cook all kinds of great things for breakfast, such as a really delicious breakfast custard. Or we used to have cornmeal pancakes, banana nut pancakes, apple pancakes, waffles, Egg Benedict, Eggs in a Frame and Goldenrod Eggs on toast etc.  Was I always on time for my job as a teacher….. nope. But I always arrived with a Happy Tummy!!

The original recipe didn’t call for chocolate chips – or melted chocolate on top – but I believe you can never have too much of a good thing.

Oven at 400 F     Makes 16 mini muffins      Makes 12 regular muffins

13 (or so) minutes for “mini” muffins – – – For the mini muffins, grease both the bottom & the sides of the muffin cups.

15 minutes (or so) for regular-sized muffins   You can use cupcake liners – or – grease the bottoms only.

Ingredients     I checked online and the recipe has been changed a bit since “way back when”, so I’m posting the latest amounts because I think the changes are good. There’s a bit more mashed banana, plus a little more sugar.

• 1 egg
• 3 Tbs. melted butter – microwave for 10 seconds — OR — 3 Tbs. oil
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 cups Bisquick
• 1 1/4 cups mashed VERY RIPE banana
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips – for top of muffins
• 1 tsp. Crisco
• some chopped walnuts, to sprinkle on top of muffins

In a medium bowl, mix egg slightly with a fork. Add the 3 Tbs. melted butter, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 cups Bisquick and 1 1/4 cups mashed banana. Mix with large spoon until just combined.

Add 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and 1/4 cup chocolate chips. Fill muffin cups to 1/2 full. Bake according to the above directions, depending upon the size of your muffin pans. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick or a knife into the center of a muffin. If it comes out clean, then your muffins are done. (Don’t get confused by the melted chocolate sticking to either the toothpick or the knife. As long as the batter’s cooked, then the muffins are done!)

Allow muffins to cool for a few minutes, then remove to a cooling rack. While muffins are cooling, melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1 tsp. Crisco in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Return to microwave for another 20 – 35 seconds. Stir again, then, with a spoon, drizzle the melted chocolate over the muffins. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts.  Enjoy!!