banana pear & oatmeal muffins

 

These muffins are a great morning treat or snack, as they are packed with fruit and rolled oats!  The grated pears and banana help keep the muffins moist so you don't have to use very much oil, and the natural sweetness of the fruits allows you to cut down on the use of refined sugar.  Madi (my one year old) loves these and gobbles them right up.

what you need:

*best if everything is at room temperature

**makes 24 medium sized muffins

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats (I used 1 min quick cooking rolled oats)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 large bananas, mashed well
• 1-2 pears (to get 1/2 cup grated pear)
• 1/4 cup sugar, + 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk

what to do:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Combine flours, rolled oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and 1/4 cup sugar together in a bowl. Stir to combine. 
3. In a mixer (or with electric hand beaters), beat eggs and 2 tbsp sugar until light and airy, about 2 minutes.  Add milk, oil, grated pear, and mashed bananas.  Add dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated (do not overmix or muffins will be dense).
4. Line 2 muffin tins with medium cups.  Fill with batter and then bake for 10 min, or until very lightly golden on top and toothpick comes out clean.
5. Remove and cool when ready to handle on cooling rack.  Once at room temperature, store in air tight container.  Enjoy!

banana chocolate chip muffins

yogurt in this recipe makes them lighter
but still really flavourful

This muffin recipe is easy and a great way to use up overripe bananas.  Because there is 1/2 cup of yogurt in it, you can really cut down on the butter normally used in a banana bread or banana muffin recipe.

what you need:
*makes 12 muffins

• 2 large ripe (or overripe) bananas
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plain unsweetened yogurt (I used activia)
• 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

what to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line muffin tin with muffin cups.
2. Beat bananas with mixer (whisk setting) with sugars until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Combine flours, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
4. Add butter, egg, and yogurt to banana mixture and beat until mixed.
5. Add flour mix to banana mixture and mix with a spatula until combined (do not over mix or the muffins will be dense).
6. Add chocolate chips and stir (again, don't over mix).
7. Divide batter evenly into lined muffin tin. 
8. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, until golden brown on top and toothpick comes out clean. 
9. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 2 minutes then remove to further cool on a cooling rack.  Enjoy!