Choco-nana Muffins with PB Filling and PB Crumble
Friday, March 12, 2010 at 1:16PM in Breakfast, Brunch, Quick Bread, baking, chocolate, desserts, muffin, recipes, snack Another mouthful of a recipe! Chocolate Banana Muffins with Peanut Butter Filling and PB Crumble. I just love the sound of “PB Crumble!” Your brain just knows good things are coming when it hears PB Crumble. Maybe it’s just my brain?
I don’t know if there’s anyone out there that doesn’t like the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. Is there? What if we add banana to the mix? Well then, maybe we’re channeling Elvis or something…
I wanted to make chocolate muffins with a peanut butter filling. Another craving, I suppose. Whenever I want to make chocolate muffins, I always go straight for these--only, without the filling. They’re truly a family favorite. Easy, chocolaty, moist--a never fail recipe. It always makes the kids happy when they see I’m making them! You may be forced to hide some bananas so they can get nice and ripe, though. I always have to. The kids always make a beeline for the spotty bananas. Find a spot in a high cabinet or in the back of the pantry--just don’t forget them there! I don’t want to hear any stories of “Now my kitchen is a 24 hour vacation spot for fruit flies.” As a side note, if you find yourself with too many brown bananas on your hands, peel and mash them, measure how much you have--and put them in a Ziploc bag. Flatten them out, seal and label the bag, toss it in the freezer--and the next time you want banana bread or muffins, you’re all set!
I knew I needed a filling that would hold up to baking. Peanut butter, sweet, and kind of firm. Remember those Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars that everyone was making a few years back? Yep--that makes the perfect filling. Peanut butter, butter, sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and a touch of salt. I could eat that with a spoon! Hell, forget the spoon--just hand me the bowl!
These don’t fit into the healthy or good for you category. They’re not vegan, they’re not sugar free... But they’re so freaking good. And sometimes, that’s just what you need. A special treat that we all need occasionally. Good for your soul. Don’t laugh, I’m serious! The muffins are moist and tender, but sturdy enough to hold in the filling. The filling is rich and peanut buttery. As the days go by, the very edges of the peanut butter ball that’s tucked inside start to soften up a bit more and sort of melt back into the muffin surrounding it. Don’t worry, the filling is still there, just the edges of it get sort of melty, but in a totally good way! I promise.
Chocolate Banana Muffins with Peanut Butter Filling, Topped with PB Crumble
Makes 18 muffins
Filling:
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
couple pinches of kosher salt
Muffins:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 2/3 cups mashed ripe banana
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
Directions
Prepare the filling:
Mix the melted butter and peanut butter in a medium bowl.
Add the sugar and cracker crumbs, and salt, then mix well until everything's incorporated.
Roll the filling into 18 balls, a little smaller than a walnut, and set aside. You should have some of the filling leftover to crumble over the tops of the muffins later.
Prepare the muffins:
In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients.
In a small bowl, combine bananas, oil and egg.
Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. The batter is quite thick, but keep folding it gently, making sure to get the batter on the bottom of the bowl, and it'll all come together.
Grease 18 muffins cups. You can use paper liners if you like, but I never do.
I used a small ice cream scoop (3 tbsp capacity) to fill the bottoms of the muffin cups. Then place a peanut butter ball in each one, centered.
Use the same scoop, or 3 tbsp worth of batter, and cover each peanut butter ball completely.
Use the remaining peanut butter filling and crumble it over the muffins.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done.
Cool on racks for about 10 minutes, then carefully remove the muffins to the racks to cool completely.
Now go, feed your soul! Or, maybe just feed the kids. You decide. Either way, someone's going to be thanking you!
I also want to keep up with my VYY Project. The current recips is Aloo Mattar. This one was definitely a favorite! It's not difficult to make, but is packed with flavor. The author recommends that you go ahead and invest a small amount in the whole spices. Look for places that sell them in bulk, so you can buy just a little bit, or check out your local ethnic markets.
Speaking of the whole spices, it's also said in the recipe that they don't need to be removed before eating. Well, I may be old school, but I had to remove the bay leaves. Gagging on one of those didn't appeal to me. I did leave the whole cloves and cardamom pods, though. Cloves=ok. Cardamom pods? BIG mistake! I bit into one of those and I swear it tasted like a bar of soap. So I went through and took out the rest.
All in all, a fantastic dish. A red curry with potatoes and peas, served over rice. Hearty and so good.
Click here to check out Renee's version at Flamingo Musings!
Reader Comments (34)
Those look unreal. Holy yum!
First it's Jessica's Chocolate Covered bananas.. and now this?! Oh my goodness, they look deliciously sinful....
Definitely my kind of Soul Food! ;-)).
Okay, so you were waiting for that, right?
I'm going to have to call them 'sole' food...since the soles of my shoes are gonna be worn out trying to work these off on the treadmill!
Those are beautiful, dark, luscious lookin' muffins you got there! I'll take two...maybe three.. Just hide them from me.
Or maybe I'll have these for dinner? These look nana-licious!
Oh my they look so good. I must make these and eat them!!! hehe! Thanks for the frozen banana tip, I usually have to make banana bread. thanks!
OMG, Elleburger! I NEED THESE RIGHT NOW!!!! YUM!
I have my very own chocolate pb weakness cooling right now: Reese Squares. These like good too!
oh Elle! those muffins - what is not to love. what a creative idea.
Holy crap. I need those muffins. They look unreal! I don't happen to remember those peanut butter bars, I'll have to make those too. Mmmm, peanut butter.
I really wanted to make this but could not get curry or fengreuk leaves :( My Indian friend told me using powder or seeds would not give me the same result so I skipped out.
Chocolate and peanut butter - a match made in food heaven! Your muffins looks so delicious.
These look absolutely delicious. Just the thing you want to eat to make you feel good inside.
Hahaha - "so freaking good" ... That's good enough for me! They look wonderful!
you know that middle is calling my name OUT LOUD. Hello!
I think those muffins would send Matt into heart failure with happiness!
Oooh, you evil evil woman!! These look insanely good!
How to get all those favorite flavours into one amazing cupcake!! Looks great!
I am kicking the hubs out of the house so I can make these. He can come back in a few hours when the PB smell is gone:) These look amazing my friend!
Those look A-MAZING!!! Definitely need a treat from time to time, and these are perfect for that. I'll take 1 (ok, 2) with a cup of coffee, please!
I wass just finishing off a pint of Coldstone's chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream so these are just thing to take care of that craving. Peanut butter and chocolate are a match made in heaven!
Oh my goodness! These look absolutely amazing!! They have been bookmarked and they WILL be made ASAP!
What a great flavor combination and such pretty little cupcakes.
wow these look so good! For some reason I've never thought to put a filling into muffins. I love chocolate and peanut butter together (who doesn't?) so i bet these are great!
This is too good not to have.
Gorgeous cupcakes and one combination that been in on mind for a few weeks now!
You have such a beautiful blog and these choco-nana muffins are perfection. Dawn from Vanilla Sugar told me about your blog and I am happy to have met you. I look forward to reading more!
See, several people even eluded to the fact that these are totally not muffins, but rather cupcakes with the frosting inside!
Nice and Yummy Muffins you got here :)
Oh wow, if these aren't my perfect muffin, I don't know what is.
Hello over-the-top delicious muffins!
I'm getting ready to make these for the third time and thought I should finally post a comment. Words that immediately come to mind... Outstanding, scrumptious, excellent, delectable, fantastic... in other words, "out of this world" delicious! Everyone LOVES these and I've had several people ask me for the recipe. Making them today for a new group of people who haven't tried them yet. I think I'll just print out extra copies of the recipe so I'm prepared! Thanks for posting this one; it's a definite favorite in our house!
Renee--I can't thank you enough for those kind words! It just makes my day--no, week! to hear how much a reader likes a recipe I've posted. Would love to hear how this new group of tasters feel about them, too! :) Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thank you again, so much!
never ever been blessed with cooking! but i am attempting these muffins at the moment as they look so yummy! thankyou for the recipe and i cant wait to see how they turn out will update :D x