Well the long weekend is over and it's back to the grindstone. However I'm still basking in the warm glow of three whole days with nothing to do but hang out with my sweetie! These muffins are a great example of why I love a long weekend; when else can you laze in bed before heading to the kitchen to whip up something hot and tasty for breakfast? So in honour of long weekends, I'm giving away a copy of the cookbook that this recipe came from. It's called 'Baked: New Frontiers in Baking', and it's an amazing collection of decadent recipes from the Brooklyn bakery of the same name. All you have to do is tell me your favourite breakfast to enjoy on a lounge-about morning! I'll randomly draw a name on Thursday and announce the winner Friday.
Of course you didn't think I'd leave you hanging without the recipe for these beautiful muffins, did you? As sweet treats go, these verge closer to cupcake territory but don't let that stop you from eating them for breakfast! Moist and heady with fragrant banana, they hide gooey pockets of melted chocolate and boast a perfect---not too light, not too dense---texture. I had never used the fancy baking papers pictured here in the photo, so I picked some up on a whim and I'm never going back! They are foolproof, and you don't loose half your muffin to the accordion folds of a typical baking cup. In fact I love them so much, I'll pick a second name and give away a stash of 'em!
Banana Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins
Recipe Courtesy of 'Baked: New Frontiers in Baking' by Matt Lewis
1 1/2 cups mashed, very ripe bananas (about 4 bananas)
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup whole milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (I used about a tablespoon 'cause I love me some coffee!)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (next time I would use less, and I'd use bittersweet chocolate)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Either line a muffin tin with papers, spray with non-stick cooking spray, or if using fancy pants papers as above, just set them on a baking sheet. In a medium bowl, stir together bananas, sugars, butter, milk and egg. In another bowl, whisk together flour, espresso powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients, stirring until barely combined. Gently fold in chips--don't overwork the batter!--and then fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before removing. Enjoy!
Ooh! Those look so yummy. And those muffin papers are the cutest I've ever seen. I'm glad you shared your source!
Also, glad to know you had a fun weekend.
Posted by: christina | February 16, 2009 at 10:35 PM
sounds delish! Thanks for the recipe. My favorite breakfast would be more on the sweet side. I would have to go with french toast with fresh fruit.
Posted by: desiree@lookiloos | February 16, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Now that's a recipe I could tackle when I'm still sleepy! And those baking papers - pretty yet functional. Thank you!
Buttermilk pancakes with real maple syrup, berry compote and a little cream poured over would be something I'd get out of bed for.
Posted by: Shell Sherree | February 17, 2009 at 12:11 AM
These muffins look superb. I don't think they would last long at my place!
My favourite breakfast at the moment is French Toast with a tomato and avocado salsa (lots of lemon juice, olive oil and S and P) with bacon on the side.
Posted by: Clare | February 17, 2009 at 12:41 AM
the muffins look so good! i just bought a muffin tin the other day (late i know!) so maybe that's a sign to make some? ;)
my fav breakfast has to be pancakes with golden syrup & blueberries, although somedays i have it for dessert too,
xx
Posted by: Luphia | February 17, 2009 at 02:19 AM
Those muffins look fantastic and I love the darling little papers they are sat in rather than bun cases.
My favourite breakfast is what I call American pancakes (I make a stack of 5 or 6 fluffy pancakes and melt butter between each one - I then cut the stack in half and My Boy and I have half each, sometimes with bacon, sometimes with fruit compote). Probably a rather English version of what you just call 'pancakes'!
Posted by: Rachel | February 17, 2009 at 03:24 AM
these are next in line right after we finish the batch of applesauce muffins.
Posted by: ella novak | February 17, 2009 at 04:07 AM
your muffins looks great!
i would have to say my favorite breakfast is any breakfast i don't have to make. i am simple that way. :)
Posted by: Sarah | February 17, 2009 at 05:15 AM
Sounds good! I've been wanting to try baking papers for a while now - they dress up cupcakes/muffins so much. They might actually make mine look edible!
Posted by: heather{dot}com | February 17, 2009 at 06:06 AM
When we first started dating, my boyfriend and I used to head to this little restaurant in town famous for its decadent warm blueberry pancakes and blueberry syrup. We sat by the fireplace and read the newspaper while waiting for our server to bring breakfast out. Those were definitely some of my favorite breakfasts ever, and so worth getting up a little earlier for. :)
Posted by: Paulette Ink. | February 17, 2009 at 06:12 AM
There's never really a lounge about morning around our house, but I love to make savory scones on the weekends. They are moist and gooey and loaded with whatever cheeses we have on hand and to add to the caloric count, I brush them with melted butter as soon as they come out of the oven. They drink in that butter as if they had just emerged from the Sahara, all parched and dry! YUM!!!
Those little muffin papers are adorable. I love the scalloped edge. Thanks for the giveaway...keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
Posted by: nkp | February 17, 2009 at 06:20 AM
Oh yum! Thanks for the recipe!
My favorite lazy day breakfast is a quiche of some sort. I adore quiche!!
Posted by: Lisa of Lisa's Yarns | February 17, 2009 at 06:23 AM
This recipe looks amazing! I think I might make them with the ingredients I have in my cupboard- white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts in place of the chocolate and espresso.
Ugh! If only I didn't have to wait until the weekend for this treat of the week...
Posted by: Jess LC | February 17, 2009 at 06:36 AM
The muffins look wonderful! My favorite breakfast for a lounging around day is buttermilk biscuits.
Posted by: Allison L. | February 17, 2009 at 06:56 AM
these look fantastic! on a lazy morning, my go-to breakfast is hot oatmeal with fruit, granola and dried cranberries.
Posted by: cupcakes and cashmere | February 17, 2009 at 07:13 AM
I'm a muffin girl, they are so versatile and easy to adapt to any mood.
Posted by: Jessica | February 17, 2009 at 07:13 AM
Favorite breakfast - French toast made by my sweetie, with strawberries & maple syrup, & a none-too-healthy side of bacon, eaten with the aforementioned sweetie & our daughter.
Posted by: Kim | February 17, 2009 at 07:21 AM
yum!
Posted by: Abbey | February 17, 2009 at 07:22 AM
Ooh, I love contests and I love breakfast! My favorite breakfast has to be a german puff pancake (that is the simplest thing ever to make) with just a little lemon and powdered sugar, fresh fruit on the side and a big glass of chocolate milk. Mmm... my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Posted by: Kristin @ Contented Me | February 17, 2009 at 07:33 AM
That Baked book is so great - my mom got a copy for Christmas and every single thing in there that we have made has knocked our socks off. Mayb I'll have to try these next!
Posted by: stephanie | February 17, 2009 at 07:42 AM
I've been wanting to do something with all my frozen black bananas. This is it!
Posted by: April | February 17, 2009 at 08:06 AM
favorite lounge-about breakfast: whole grain pancakes (usually oat because I most often have that on hand) smothered in pureed mixed berries--no added sugar necessary! or more savory: cooked steel cut oats with grated cheese, dried cranberries, and coarsely ground salt and pepper.
I usually make muffins for weekday grab and go breakfast. Thanks for the recipe!
Posted by: Jayne | February 17, 2009 at 08:21 AM
Yummy, yummy! My luxury breakfast is french toast with orange zest infused butter and an orange and raspberry simple syrup. I make it whenever I have time!
Posted by: Molly | February 17, 2009 at 08:23 AM
Those muffins look amazing and the muffin papers are so pretty! My all time favorite breakfast is pancakes with real maple syrup :)
Posted by: Melissa | February 17, 2009 at 08:37 AM
Delicious and adorable! I'd have to go with warm scones or biscuits with strawberry jam and a cup of joe. Thanks for the idea!
Posted by: Adriene E | February 17, 2009 at 08:38 AM