Baking Bliss- Choc Chip Banana Muffins

When it comes to Easter, the chocolate is all kinds of awesome. I personally can't get enough of that Cadbury Crunchie rabbit, and the Caramello eggs? Divine. There is however a downside to all that chocolatey goodness, and it's when you receive some of that less than palatable chocolate you find in a two dollar store. Seriously, why do people buy that stuff? I'm going to sound like the biggest spoilt brat on earth, but I would rather have no chocolate than $2 store chocolate. The stuff is blegh.  Carter won some in an Easter raffle and I'd been puzzling over what to do with it, when inspiration hit me today thanks to my old favourite Taste.com. 

I decided on Choc Chip Banana muffins, and enlisted a very eager Little Lion to help. 

First up, two cups of sifted self raising flour and half a cup of caster sugar. In a jug, combine 60 grams of melted butter, two eggs and half a cup of milk. 

We had some very enthusiastic stirring which resulted in flour and sugar coated legs, arms and kitchen floors, but cooking can be all about mess, right? After combining the dry ingredients, make a well in the middle and pour in the wet ingredients. Fold in together along with two mashed bananas until just combined. 

I broke up the cheap chocolate to use instead of chocolate chips, and threw in just over a cups worth. I then decided I'd do half mini muffins, and half normal sized muffins. 15 mins for the minis and 20 mins for the normals at 200 degrees Celsius and voila!  

Delicious little bite sized pieces of chocolate and banana goodness! Unfortunately none for the Little Lion because of his egg allergy, but he still enjoyed the process. Now for one or two with a cup of tea... 

And here's the whole recipe from Taste.com

Choc Chip Banana Muffins

Scrumptious treats which combine the goodness of banana and joy of chocolate.

Ingredients (serves 12)

• 60g butter
• 2 cups self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 cup (200g) Nestle Dark Choc Bits
• 
  

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a medium muffin tray (12 sections) with paper cases. Melt butter in a small saucepan or heat-proof bowl in the microwave. Set aside to cool slightly.
2. Sift flour into a mixing bowl. Stir in sugar. Make a well in the centre of dry ingredients.
3. Using a whisk, lightly beat milk, eggs and butter in a jug. Add to dry ingredients, along with mashed banana. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix ingredients until just combined. Stir in choc bits. Don't beat the mixture or the muffins will be tough.
4. Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin cases. Bake for 20 minutes or until firm on top when lightly touched (get an adult to help with this). Leave in the tray for 3 minutes. Transfer the muffins to a rack to cool.