BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

These banana chocolate chip muffins are an absolute staple in my house – they are the perfect way to use bananas I buy when they are ripe most weeks with good intentions, and which inevitably leave to turn brown and have to turn into baking. This recipe makes 6 larger muffins but feel free to scale them down a little to make smaller ones too.

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 20 MINUTES MAKES: 6

• 250g plain flour

• 2½ tsp (10g) baking powder

• 100g sugar

• Pinch of salt

• 100g butter, cold from the fridge is fine

• 200g whole milk, lukewarm or at room temperature

• 1 size 8 egg (50g without shell), at room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

• 250g over ripe banana, mashed (weight is of flesh of banana, not skin)

• 150g dark chocolate, chopped, or chocolate chips

• Raw sugar for sprinkling, optional

Preheat the oven to 220°C bake. Line a muffin tin with liners of your choice – you can make your own by cutting 14cm squares of baking paper. I made seven muffins, if you want them a little smaller you can make 8-9 muffins.

1. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.

2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low heat, then add the milk, briefly placing it over the heat again if the milk causes the warm melted butter to curdle. Leave to sit for a few minutes to cool slightly.

3. Add the egg, vanilla and mashed banana to the milk and butter mixture, and whisk with a fork to combine. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix until some flour still remains, then add the chocolate and mix until just combined.

4. Divide the batter evenly between 6 holes in the muffin tin using a spoon or scoop (I used a ½ cup scoop), then sprinkle with raw sugar.

5. Bake the muffins for 10 minutes at 220°C bake, then turn the temperature down to 170°C bake and bake for another 11-12 minutes until the muffins spring back when touched and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

6. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

7. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Re-warm briefly before eating.