Food: Healthy Banana Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Muffins

Lately I’ve been spending more of my evenings hunched over the oven – I’m really trying to nail this baking malarkey. I’m definitely no Deliciously Ella, and I won’t be putting myself forward for the Great British Bake Off, but I have to say I’m getting much better. And I’m pretty proud of myself!

My latest ‘healthy-ish’ creation isn’t one I’m going to take credit for. It’s a recipe I discovered over at my blogger buddy’s website SpamellaB – who bakes naturally yummy creations.

So last week’s ‘bake off’ for me featured these Peanut Butter, Banana and Dark Choc Muffins. The only ‘sugar’ included in this which I get a bit funny about is maple syrup, but I amended the recipe to have 3 tablespoons, instead of the usual 5.

Ingredients:

• 4 bananas
• 5 tablespoons smooth ot crunchy Peanut Butter
• 2 eggs
• 4 tablespoons milk (I used soya but I’d recommned almond!)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons coconut sugar (If you have this – I’ve skipped this step before)
• 50g dark chocolate, chopped into chunks

The Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C and lightly grease a 6-hole muffin tin (or adapt the recipe for 12 muffins)
2. Place 3 bananas, Peanut Butter, eggs, almond milk, vanilla and maple syrup in a blender and whizz up until smooth.
3. Stir together the dry ingredients: the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and coconut sugar in a large bowl.
4. Pour the blended peanut mixture into the dry ingredients and stir well to combine. Gently fold in the chocolate pieces.
5. Divide the batter between the muffin tins to reach just the top. Slice any remaining banana into thin coins and place one in the centre of each one. I made a mistake here by making my bananas too thick, which can weigh down the mixture and prevent a full rise
6. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, until risen and golden. Leave to cool in the tin.
7. Voila! These taste amazing when slightly warm and the dark chocolate has melted a little

Delicious with a cup of Green Tea, in which you can feel slightly naughty, but not too bad!