The banana chocolate chip muffins at Paradise Bakery are one of my all time favorite muffins. They are insanely good. While ignorance is bliss, it’s safe to assume they are also insanely high in fat and calories (though really super duper extra yummy ones).
Because I can never leave well enough alone, I had to come up with a copy cat Paradise Bakery muffin recipe. This banana chocolate chip muffin recipe, or banana chocolate chip bread recipe if you are so inclined, is very tasty and much healthier.
I feel like I walk a fine line between taste and health – I want something healthy to feed my kids, but with a super picky eater, it better be REALLY tasty, or it won’t past muster. This does both. Beautifully. I promise.
Here’s what you need…
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe – Makes approx 24-30 muffins.
Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees
- 3 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour (EDIT – I NOW USE 2 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour and 1 cup of oat bran)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup flax seed meal
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 cup yogurt (I usually use a fat free vanilla Greek yogurt)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups ripe bananas (4-5 bananas)
- 1 cup chocolate chips (I like to mix semi-sweet, milk & dark)
- 1/2 square semi sweet baking chocolate – grated (optional)
- 1 cup walnuts (optional)
1. In a large bowl, combine your dry ingredients – flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt and flax seed meal.
2. In a separate bowl combine your wet ingredients – eggs, applesauce, oil, yogurt and vanilla.
3. Mash or puree your bananas (I prefer mine pureed smooth). After mashing or pureeing, add to your wet mixture and combine.
4. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just moistened. Add in your chocolate chips and optional ingredients such as grated chocolate and walnuts.
5. Fill paper lined or greased muffin tins 2/3 to 3/4 of the way full.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Let cool. Breathe in the intoxicating smell of warm banana bread. Febreeze has NOTHING on these babies.
8. Now stop letting them cool and quickly pull one out, slather it in butter (I somehow was lead astray on the healthy thing I guess) and taste test it as a public service to anyone else who may eat them later. You wouldn’t want to give out un-tested muffins, right? That’s my story at least…
Oh. So. Good.
Make sure to also check out my Banana Bread Muffins!
Enjoy!
Meet Christi, Love From The Oven
I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.
Oh, these look wonderful. Is there an easy way to print the recipe?
Christi, I’ve been looking for a healthy banana chocolate chip muffin recipe that doesn’t taste like pure cardboard. i should’ve known you had one hiding in your recipe box! can’t wait to try them.
Sally – the muffins are seriously my fave recipe. I’ve worked over the last two years tweaking them to a great balance of delicious and nutritious. We always have them in our freezer and my daughter usually has one for breakfast. Actually need to make a batch tonight. I promise, they taste nothing like cardboard! 🙂
Oh my gosh! I love bananas (I mean really love, love, love bananas) and chocolate chips. To combine the two is genius! I’m going to try this recipe as soon as I buy all of the ingredients!
Banana chocolate chip loaf is a favorite in our house and was one of my first blog posts. I make it as a whole loaf, mini loaves, and muffins. I’ve just started replacing some of the flour with whole wheat to start weaning my family into a healthier version. It’s just so delicious right out of the oven – crispy on the outside, soft, fragrant, and oozing with chocolate on the inside. They never last more than a day. I usually have to make a double batch.
Congrats on your SITS day – always love seeing a food blog!
I’ll print these out and give them a try, since I today have everything I need to make them.
Yay!
Happy SITS day!!!
Oh my gosh, I am a cook but not a baker, sooo I bow down to you! 🙂
i love banana ANYTHING!And this banana muffin recipe sounds great (i think i might have to try it this weekend). Think you can put a healthier twist on Martha’s coconut cupcakes recipe? I made them recently and they were amazing.(http://peaceloveandgirlythings.com/2011/09/06/coconut-cupcakes/)
ps. I’m a SITSta! Love your blog. Love the colors…love the baked goods. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
WOW these look fantastic! Anything with banana and chocolate means I’m in!
These do look amazing. Perfect to make on the first day of school, grab and go… God knows everyone will be running super late.
Omg my favorite are banana and chocolate are my favorite combination! Thanks for the yummy recipe!