Let’s ease into fall-baking, okay? I mean, I’ve been ready since September 1st to bring on the pumpkin and spice…but I know not everyone is quite as enthusiastic as I am for the best-season-of-all-the-seasons, AUTUMN! Basically, this is my transition from fall to summer and as soon as that equinox arrives, you better believe I’ll be smashing open a can of pumpkin.
So, let’s ease into it with nutty brown butter, a little spice, wholesome bananas, and a little chocolate for good measure. These muffins are moist and tender, rich with brown butter and banana, and indulgent thanks to the chocolate. Banana is basically an all-season fruit to me, but paired with chocolate and browned butter, it speaks of early fall and the much-anticipated baking season. So, pull on a sweater, grab a cuppa something warm, and get to baking!
[recipe]
Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Banana Muffins
I used a bar of chocolate provided to me by Kallari, an Ecuadorian farmer-owned, organic chocolate company. Kallari was kind enough to send me a sample to try out and I used it in these muffins. Their chocolate is rich, smooth, and comes with an amazing mission. They grow and own the cacao and make it into chocolate, and pay a living wage while striving to conserve both their culture and land.* Feel free to use whatever chocolate you like.
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
3 tablespoons milk
2 ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
5 tablespoons butter, browned
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 ounces chopped dark chocolate
Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease well.
Brown your butter in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the milk solids in the butter turn deep golden brown and smell nutty and fragrant. Pour into a small dish, making sure to scrape out all of the browned bits, and set aside to cool.
In a bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and sugar. Set aside.
In another bowl whisk together the yogurt, milk, banana, eggs, the cooled brown butter, and vanilla extract. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture. Fold until just combined, don’t over mix! Some small lumps are okay. Fold in the chopped chocolate.
Divide the batter between the 12 muffin cups and bake in the center of the oven for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack. Can be stored, covered well in the refrigerator, for 4 days. [/recipe]
*Kallari provided me with chocolate to sample. I was not paid for this post, as usual all opinions are my own.
Tieghan
Yup, these are my favorite muffins. Theres banana, theses chocolate, the BROWN BUTTER! Basically, they have got it all!
cindy
oh, they ahve it goin’ on! thanks, Tieghan!
Erika
Ohhhh.. that basket of muffins.. I need that..right now..Brown butta and bananas with chocolate.. Yes sista..you got down with this.. and thanks for easing me into the season instead of throwing 634,689 pumpkins in my face.. 😉
cindy
haha, no problem!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Browned butter, bananas, chocolate – I think you just nailed the perfect muffin flavor combo right there! Pinned!
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen
Oooh, how have I never added brown butter to muffins before? These look delicious! Yay for fall baking!
Billy
GUESS WHO HAS 2 RIPE BANANAS?!
Sarah | The Sugar Hit
You are taking your photos and styling to a new level my friend. I am digging it.
Sarah Crowder (punctuated. with food)
I haven’t baked yet with brown butter but this is good motivation. Fall is good motivation too.
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com
I think muffins might be the only baked good I haven’t brown buttered yet, so obviously I need to change that immediately! I love, love, love the sound of these muffins. I think adding a few toasted hazelnuts would make these my ideal food.
Dannielle
I seriously need to hop on the brown butter train, like every recipe lately calls for it which can only mean it’s delicious. I think I’ll give these a go this weekend!
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
You had me at brown butter. And chocolate chunk. And muffins.
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
I am busting out the pumpkin as of tomorrow, too. I’m THIS excited. Times one thousand. I’d take a dozen of these muffins in the meantime though. Brown butter + bananas + chocolate = banana bread love.
Michelle
I made these muffins and brought them to a cottage where we stayed for the weekend. They were a hit, everyone loved them. So good! They even commented on the “special taste” that I assume came from the brown butter. 🙂
Tracy | Peanut Butter and Onion
You had me at browned butter