Fluffy and Moist Sour Cream Banana Bread (Whole Wheat option)

This morning, I volunteered for the "Breakfast for Learning Program" at my older kiddies' elementary school.   Through generous donations from the community, school and the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), our children's school can offer a simple breakfast for those who come to school hungry.  The PAC helps purchase and provide juice, milk, yogurt, cereal bars, cinnamon buns and muffins.  Depending on the volunteer, someone can make pancakes or waffles for a hot breakfast!  

  

Since this was my first gig for the year, I simply set out the usual milk, fruit, juice and store bought bran muffins.  To test the waters, I also brought a batch of my sour cream whole wheat banana bread.  I made them into mini muffins, mini loaves and a big loaf.  I was OVERWHELMED by the response!  When I ran out of mini muffins, I cut up the last loaf and it was GONE IN SECONDS.  Wow.  

This is another one of those recipes that I have been using for over 10 years.  Great for gift-giving and Christmas.  I think the secret is the moistness and fluffiness from the sour cream. 

What can a creative mom do to get school kids try whole wheat banana bread?  For marketing purposes, I added some chocolate chip garnish, so they can try my home baked goodies.  And sprinkled a wee bit of cinnamon sugar on top... I got rave reviews!!!  No one noticed that I used half whole wheat flour in the recipe.  

Fluffy and Moist Sour Cream Banana Bread

makes 4- 7"x3" loaf pans

3/4 cup butter (I used non-hydrogenated soft margarine)
3 cups white sugar (I decreased to 2 1/2 cups)
3 eggs
6 very ripe bananas, mashed (I used 5 large ripe bananas)
1 (16 ounce/2 cup) container sour cream (I have used light sour cream, plain yogurt and combination of both)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 tsp baking soda
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (2 cups whole wheat flour + 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour)
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional (I used chocolate chips in the batter + on top instead)

Preheat oven to 300F.  Grease four 7x3 inch loaf pans.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon.  Mix in salt, baking soda and flour.  Stir in nuts (or chocolate chips, if desired). Divide into prepared pans.

Bake for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

- Adapted from Allrecipes.com:  Sour Cream Banana Bread

Note:  I have baked this as mini muffins, muffins, mini loaves and in loaf pans.  It is a very flexible recipe that can handle substitutions and changes, if needed.  I have also baked this at 350F for mini muffins and mini loaves.  Please check the times accordingly so you don't overbake!  

Mini muffins made without any nuts or chocolate chips. 

I had to promise the school kids that I will bring more next time!  I couldn't cut my last loaf fast enough for them!  That is the biggest form of flattery for this mom!  They really made my day.

Have a wonderful day!

Enjoy!

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Maple Yogurt Banana Muffins

It has been too long since I posted a recipe!   We had a huge change in routine ever since we started karate and violin lessons for all 3 children and mommy!  On top of that, I have been getting my flower beds and veggie patches ready for our short and late growing season.  No wonder I'm tired these days...  

Whew!   

I had a craving to make banana muffins.  Is that an odd notion? Even with my sudden food allergies, I still like to bake things I cannot eat.  It's the act of baking that makes me happy.  I pray that one day, my body will heal itself and I can enjoy the same foods as my family.  In the meantime, it hasn't stopped me from making their favourite classics, like banana muffins. 

I used my Honey Whole Wheat Banana Muffins recipe and used maple syrup and plain yogurt instead of honey and buttermilk.  Hubby had the difficult task of tasting these muffins and he declared them "good".  The children enjoyed them too with a glass of milk after school snack.  They were also convenient for a quick and easy breakfast.   

Maple Yogurt Banana Muffins

makes 12 regular sized muffins 

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

½ cup wheat germ

2 Tbsp ground flax seed

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 large egg

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup plain yogurt

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ cup canola oil, melted butter or coconut oil, melted (I used melted butter)

4 bananas, mashed (between 1-2 cups, it's a flexible recipe!)

Preheat oven to 400F

Mix all dry ingredients together.  Add egg, maple syrup, yogurt and vanilla to the dry ingredients.   Add bananas and melted butter.  Mix until the ingredients are well blended together. 

  

Scoop batter in 12 greased or lined muffin tins, each about ¾ full. 

Bake about 15 min or until until done. Check the muffins around 10-12 minutes.  Mini-muffins were done around 10-12 minutes, so check accordingly.

 - Adapted from 100 Days of Real Food:  Whole Wheat Banana Bread

My kiddies prefer the "mini" muffin size for their little hands.  I filled each greased mini muffin cavity up to the top.  I was able to make 24 mini muffins and 2 regular sized muffins in paper lined ramekins.  The mini-muffins were done baking around 10-12 minutes.  

Enjoy!

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Carrot Apple Coconut Muffins

Another Snack Day approaches for Nessa tomorrow and I decided to make Carrot Apple Coconut Muffins from Weelicious.  It is such a great resource for healthy snacks and meals for toddlers, babies and the whole family.   

To make life easier, I used my Cuisinart food processor to grate the carrots and apple.  Earlier today, I used it to make some roasted garlic and sundried tomato hummus.  

 

This recipe makes 30 mini-muffins but I made 24 mini muffins (as per my mini muffin pan) and 6 regular sized muffins. After filling my mini muffin pan, I used the remaining batter to fill 6 regular sized muffins in 4 oz custard ramekins lined with paper muffin liners.  

Carrot Apple Coconut Muffins

makes 24 mini muffins + 6 regular sized muffins

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 
•  (I used 1 cup whole wheat flour + 1/3 cup wheat germ + 2 Tbsp flaxseed)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/3 cup milk (I used 1/3 cup sour cream)
• 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 1/2 cup honey 
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 carrots, peeled & grated, about 1 cup
• 1 apple, peeled and grated, about 1/2 cup (gala, fuji, pink lady or red delicious are good choices)  (I forgot to peel my apple.  I ended up with 1 cup grated apple with great results)

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl.  In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients.  Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet and stir to combine.  
2. Mix in the grated carrots, apple and coconut.   Place 1 tbsp of batter into greased mini muffin tins.  Bake mini muffins for 10-15 minute.  Regular sized muffins for 15-18 min for until toothpick comes clean.  Serve.

- Adapted from Weelicious:  Carrot Apple Coconut Muffins

My youngest couldn't wait to get her hands on one!  It was a hit!!  Hubby and the kids approved of this recipe (even when I used a blend whole wheat flour/wheat germ/ground flaxseed instead of all purpose flour).  The kiddies ate 2 mini muffins each and wanted more.  I had to hide the rest to bring for Snack Day tomorrow! 

Enjoy!

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Honey Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

I told my kids that the brown spots on ripening bananas were "brown sugar spots".  The more spots, the sweeter they are... and that's how I got my kiddies to eat bananas as they ripened.  So if I want to make banana bread or banana muffins, I have to hide my ripe bananas or else they would be all gone!

I had 4 bananas that were ripe for baking.  I was inspired by my friend's gorgeous Banana Chocolate and Peanut Butter Muffins!  Alas, I am allergic to chocolate and hubby and the kids are allergic to peanuts.  Instead of chocolate and peanut butter,  I used different ingredients.  My last batch of whole wheat blueberry bran muffins turned out really good and moist, so I'll go whole wheat again.

I used a basic whole wheat banana bread recipe and made my modifications from there.  I wanted to use whole wheat flour, wheat germ, ground flaxseed, buttermilk, honey and coconut oil.  For more information about coconut oil, visit Dr. Oz's article on the Benefits of Coconut Oil.  

The result?  A very pleasant, not too sweet, moist and healthy banana muffin that my family enjoyed.  I will make this one again.  

If you are expecting a super fluffy, sugary sweet and intense banana flavoured muffin/cupcake, this is not it.  I told hubby that the muffin has the taste of honey whole wheat bread with a kiss of banana.  I find that the banana flavour intensifies when they are super ripe and a lot of sugar is added.  

Honey Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

½ cup wheat germ

2 Tbsp ground flax seed

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 large egg

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ cup canola oil, melted butter or coconut oil, melted (I used coconut oil)

4 bananas, mashed (between 1-2 cups)

Preheat oven to 400F

Mix all dry ingredients together.  Add egg, honey, buttermilk and vanilla to the dry ingredients.   Add bananas and melted coconut oil.  Mix until the ingredients are well blended together. 

  

Scoop batter in 12 muffin tins, each about ¾ full. 

Bake about 12-15min until done. Check the muffins around 10-12 minutes. Mine were done at 12 minutes.   

- Adapted from 100 Days of Real Food:  Whole Wheat Banana Bread

 Enjoy!

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Whole Wheat Blueberry Honey Bran Muffins

Trying to eat better is always a struggle!  I strive for balance and moderation. The cupcakes are a great treat and fundraiser but we can't that all the time or it wouldn't be special anymore.  Looking around the web, there is a wonderful movement for eating real food.  Food that is unrefined, unprocessed, made from scratch and organic.  

So I tried to look for a bran muffin recipe that was: 1) simple and easy  2) didn't use white sugar or white flour and 3) healthy.  I came across the Eat Clean Diet website for Blueberry Bran Muffins and had to give it a try! 

They turned out beautiful!  Maybe it's just me, but I thought they were a little on the sweet side.  Hubby didn't complain that they were too sweet.  Nor did the kids.  Next time, I will try use 1/3 cup honey instead of 1/2 cup and see if anyone notices the difference. 

Whole Wheat Blueberry Honey Bran Muffins

Makes 1 dozen

1 1/2 cups wheat bran
1 cup skim milk (I used 1% buttermilk)
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1/2 cup honey (Next time will try 1/3 cup)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt (I used 1/2 tsp )
1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen) (I used 1.5 cup)

Preheat oven to 375F.  Line or spray muffin tins with oil. 

Mix together bran and milk - let stand 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix applesauce, egg, honey and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, make a well. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stir until combined. Add bran/milk mixture and mix until just blended. Fold in blueberries.

Scoop into muffin tins and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the tops spring back when lightly tapped.

- From The Eat Clean Diet: Blueberry Bran Muffins

  
It's so rewarding to watch my family enjoy these muffins.  It keeps me going.  I try my best, but I won't feel guilty for the odd bag of potato chips and a rum (Malibu!) and Coke after a rough day! 

Enjoy!

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Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry muffins are a classic staple in our household.  When blueberries are in season and on sale, I buy as much as I can and freeze them on cookie sheets so we can enjoy them year-round. 

I have made many muffins and realized that I learned how to make muffins way back in my Grade 8 Home Economics class.  In just a few short years, my kiddies will be old enough to make this! 

Muffins are easy to make but I was in search of a recipe that was fluffy, fruity, lightly sweetened, moist and not dense.  My old stand-by recipe was pretty good but not as moist as I would have liked.   Then I decided to try the Blueberry Muffin recipe from The New Best Recipe cookbook as posted on www.simplyrecipes.com.  I needed to use up some plain yogurt.   

Boy, was I surprised how moist and fluffy they turned out!  Almost as fluffy as a cupcake, yet still a muffin.  Of course, I didn't follow the recipe exactly but close enough to get what I was looking for.  I never would have thought that plain yogurt is the trick! 

The batter was thick and fluffy due to the plain yogurt. 

A small sized ice cream scoop made the job so much quicker and easier.  

I was able to make 12 regular and 16 medium sized muffins from one recipe. 

I filled the muffin cups right up to the top.  I also dusted them with a bit of cinnamon sugar before baking.

Finished product!  Look how they rose and browned nicely. MMMmm... 

Blueberry Muffins

3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened  (I used 1/2 cup non-hydrogenated margarine)
1 cup sugar (I used 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup white)
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel (I used 2 tsp vanilla extract instead)

2 cups blueberries
1 Tbsp flour (if using defrosted frozen berries)
 1 Tbsp white sugar  (optional cinnamon sugar for lightly sprinkling tops before baking)
1/4 tsp cinnamon   

Adjust the oven rack to the middle-lower part of the oven. Preheat oven to 375°F.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together, beating until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating until incorporated after each one. Beat in the grated lemon peel (or vanilla).

Beat in one half of the dry ingredients until just incorporated. Beat in one third of the yogurt. Beat in half of the remaining dry ingredients. Beat in a second third of the yogurt. Beat in the remaining dry ingredients and then the remaining yogurt. Again be careful to beat until just incorporated. Do not over beat. Fold in the berries. If you are using frozen berries, defrost them first, drain the excess liquid, and then coat them in a light dusting of flour.

Use standard 12-muffin muffin tins. Coat each muffin cup lightly with olive oil or grapeseed oil using a pastry brush, or with a little butter. Or use one of those convenient vegetable oil sprays. Distribute the muffin dough equally among the cups. Sprinkle tops with a little cinnamon sugar, if desired.  Bake until muffins are golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Test with a long toothpick (we use a thin bamboo skewer) to make sure the centers of the muffins are done. Set on wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from the tin and serve slightly warm.

Yield: Makes 12-16 muffins. (I was able to make 12 regular and 16 medium sized muffins with this recipe.  I normally check the muffins after 15 minutes and then every 5 minutes until done, as every oven is different).  

- Adapted from The New Best Recipe, posted on www.simplyrecipes.com. 

Enjoy!

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