Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin

Are you ready to give yourself the most delicious treat ever? Because I have just discovered my new favorite muffin. And they are so easy to make as well! They are wonderfully moist and the perfect density. I ate 5 the first day (oops! ;)

Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
4 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/4 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Lightly grease your muffin tins, or line with baking cups.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking soda.

In a large bowl, beat the sugar and the oil. Mash bananas well and add to sugar mixture with chocolate chips. Stir in the water and vanilla until incorporated. Add flour mixture a little at a time and stir until just incorporated.

Any excuse to use these lovelies 

Fill muffin cups evenly and bake about 20 minutes, until they are a light golden brown. The time depends on your oven and how much you fill the muffin cups. But a good rule of thumb with muffins and cupcakes is to stick a toothpick in the middle of the cupcakes/muffins and when ready the toothpick will come out cleanly.

Viola! This goes to show that anything is better with a little chocolate. ;)

Happy Baking!

*Hint* 

For muffins or cupcakes to rise follow this great cooking tip from Kelly Neil! 

Credit to Kelly Neil

*Thanks to Merry Merzville for sharing this great recipe!

So Easy a Pumpkin Could Do it!

In the spirit of fall, not of halloween (I dislike halloween, but that's another story!) I decided to make some pumpkin muffins! Granted, I was led to when I saw how easy this recipe was. I was highly skeptical that something so simple could really be delicious. Well, I stand corrected. THEY ARE DELICIOUS! And so easy a toddler can make them!

A friend found the recipe on the ever-so-addicting Pinterest. (You can follow me on Pinterest here.) P.S. I have limited myself to 10 min max a day on it because it is a bit too addicting. I realized how many other things I could have been doing, that are bit more worthwhile! Oops, did I just say that? yes. yes i did. I challenge you to limit yourself on Pinterest, or on the computer all together. Go for a walk, or here's a novel idea! Bake something! Ok. Preaching over. : )

Now to the Pumpkin! 

Ingredients:

1 box of Classic Yellow Cake Mix

1 15 oz can of Pumpkin Pie Mix

Yes, that is all. No eggs, water, oil, nada!

Mix together cake mix and pumpkin. 

Set oven to 325〫

I like to use an ice cream scoop, but when I do not have one around I use a small spoon.

Place dough by rounded spoonfuls into cupcake liners. Fill liners depending on the desired size of muffins. I like to fill them about 1/2 full, but this dough does not rise as much as other recipes so feel free to add a bit more than usual. 

(I apologize for the poor picture quality. I do not have the best lighting in my house at college :)

Bake muffins for 20-25 minutes. The muffins should bounce back when touched.

And there you have it! Delicious and perfect-for-fall Pumpkin muffins!  I like to top mine off with a sprinkle of powdered sugar. It gives them a sweet little touch.

So here's to scrumptious easy recipes! 

Happy baking!