Looks all demure, doesn't it, sitting there on its pretty plate with its beribboned cutlery. Wouldn't harm a fly, an innocent little muffin like that. Nothing evil about it at all, right?
Hah.
Think fishnet stockings and lacy suspenders under a sober business suit; a tattoo under a school uniform; a fluffy kitten with the teeth of a full-grown tiger; or a V-12 Ferrari engine under the hood of a Mini. Don't let appearances fool you! Remember my post a while back about the Banana Muffins of Good? Well, it's time for their evil twins to make an appearance. If those muffins were Dorothy, then these are more Damien.
We all know about the benefits of a low-fat, high fibre diet; about the dangers that gluten, dairy and sugar can hold. But let's face it: sometimes you just need to be a little, well... bad :o). Listen to that little demon on your shoulder; haul out the flour; call up the butter; and make sure you swing past the sugar & chocolate shack. These muffins may politely introduce themselves as a healthy option filled with nourishing bananas, but in reality they are buttery, chocolatey wolves in sheep's clothing.
Just the way I like them ;o)
If you liked this recipe you might also like to try my:
Recipe from Taste.com Australia
BANANA CHOC CHIP MUFFINS (makes 12 regular muffins)
Ingredients:
60g butter
2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup dark chocolate chips
Method:
Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a regular muffin tin (12 muffin cups) with paper cases or, in my case, whip out your nifty silicone muffin cases! Melt butter in a small saucepan or heat-proof bowl in the microwave and set aside to cool slightly.
Sift flour into a mixing bowl and stir in sugar. In a separate jug, using a whisk, lightly beat milk, eggs and butter. Make a well in the centre of dry ingredients and add the liquid to the dry ingredients, along with the mashed banana. Using a wooden spoon, gently mix ingredients until just combined; then stir in the choc chips. Don't beat the mixture - just mix until everything is moist.
Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin cases. Bake for 20 minutes until golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave in the tray for 5 minutes, then transfer the muffins to a wire rack to cool.
And in other news...
It is with great pleasure that I announce the 2011 Food and Wine Blogger Indaba! This event was held for the first time in 2009 and I was honoured to be asked to speak. The good news is that I will be speaking again and hosting workshops at this year's event in Cape Town! Bookings are streaming in and tickets are selling fast - so if you are a food or wine blogger or if you are interested in becoming one, the Indaba is the place to be on 20 February 2011. Book now!
Dont forget to check out the series of posts we are running on the Plate to Page workshop blog featuring a review of 2010 and plans for 2011 from our four workshop instructors Ilva, Jeanne, Meeta and Jamie. The May 2011 Plate to Page hands-on food writing and photography workshop is now sold out - but register now if you are interested in Plate to Page II in Italy in Autumn 2011.
My 2011 calendars are now available! They are A3 size, printed on high quality heavy paper and make the perfect gift - for foodies, for those who love London or Italy or the beach - or those who simply love my Saturday Snapshots! And at £15.51 each they are an affordable luxury.
A killer combination.Chocolate is my favorite addition to banana bread. Have a great week!
Posted by: Nisrine|Dinners & Dreams | February 01, 2011 at 01:34 AM
Hallo Evil Muffin. Come to me. Pappa wag vir jou.
Posted by: Firefly | February 01, 2011 at 06:33 AM
Chocolate and bananas - fantastic! Reminds me of camping as a kid, slices if chocolate inside a banana wrapped in foil - roasted in a camp fire - wonderful! Got to go make these now!
Posted by: Liz | February 01, 2011 at 08:06 AM
Awesome combo. If you enjoyed these, you should see my banana bread crammed full of Rolos. Great minds surely do think alike. :-)
Posted by: Marisa | February 01, 2011 at 08:29 AM
Ooooooh I feel so weak... want.these.muffins.
Posted by: Astrid | February 01, 2011 at 09:11 AM
Bring on the evil muffins! I think I listen to the little devil on my shoulder more than I should!
Posted by: joey | February 01, 2011 at 09:31 AM
I made a batch of these because I just happen to need a banana muffin recipe for Thursday and needed to do the all important taste test. Given that I just polished off 2 and am considering a third, I would say they passed the taste test with flying colours! I added cinnamon as well, just because... I'll use this recipe with my group of 8 and 9 year olds on Thursday. Wish me luck! Mx
Posted by: Michele AKA 5am Foodie | February 01, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Two please! I always say that when I moved to Europe I finally learned how to eat guilt-free and enjoy every single sinful, decadent goodie. Thanks for sharing, sister, now pop the bubbly and pass the plate! They look fabulous!
Posted by: Jamie | February 01, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Taste.com has the best recipes. But don't you know that the addition of a fruit, ie banana, to any chocolate recipe, makes it part of your 5 plus a day? So, really, if you haven't had any other fruit or vegetables today, you should have five of these muffins. At least.
Posted by: Adele | February 01, 2011 at 11:20 AM
These muffins are the best of both worlds. I'm now envisioning a graphic of a devil on one side and an angel on the other side of the muffin. I just wish I could draw.
Posted by: Lael Hazan @educatedpalate | February 01, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Ah yes, but you see they are called muffins for a reason - so that we may continue to delude ourselves into eating cake for breakfast! I for one see absolutely nothing wrong with that logic :-D
Posted by: Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen | February 01, 2011 at 02:38 PM
I definitely need to be bad today and just wish I had some of these divine-looking muffins in my cake tin to help me along. All I can find are the two turkish delight chocolates that no-one wanted from the Christmas chocolate selection... Not going to hit the spot like these muffins.
Posted by: Antonia | February 01, 2011 at 06:20 PM
I like the addition of choc chips to a banana muffin.
Posted by: Barbara | February 01, 2011 at 10:57 PM
These muffins of Evil look fabuliciously gooood! I need some in my tummy now!
Posted by: SaraOneTribeGourmet | February 01, 2011 at 11:02 PM
These look delicious! I make a choc banana smoothie for brekky quite often, but this is pure decadence! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Martyna @ Wholesome Cook | February 01, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Oh mercy. :-) These ARE fabulous!! You know, I've never used self-raising flour in my life and am foolishly nervous about it. :-) My Aussie friends bought me a bag though, so I must try it soon. :-)
Posted by: Krista | February 02, 2011 at 06:01 AM
These muffins are best of both worlds. I imagine one side, a pair of angel devil muffins the other graphics. I just hope I can draw. I want to brekky often a Choc banana smoothie, but this is pure decadence! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Kitchens | February 02, 2011 at 02:52 PM
Will be just for the ocassion!.. we are having hells temperature here in Argentina, I guess Devil Muffins will be ok for this!... :D
Great Recipe and the most beautiful blog ever!... kisses
Posted by: Baking Colours | February 02, 2011 at 05:59 PM
Can I resist that evil temptation? No - great post - there's a big grin on my face now.
Posted by: Sally | February 03, 2011 at 03:13 AM
Theperfect muffin for my Demon! ;o) You know me well sweet sister. Banana and chocolate are made to be with each other - always and forever!
Posted by: meeta | February 03, 2011 at 07:57 AM
I'm certainly more a muffin than a cupcake fan. Hardly needed an excuse to try another muffin recipe - definitely going to try these "healthy" treats!
Posted by: Rosemary | February 03, 2011 at 09:52 AM
Hello : )
Why do people (society in general) still pre-judge people with tattoos. women especially?
I am a 26 year old F, have got 9 tattoos, many of which cannot be spotted on my everyday travels. Five To Six during the warm months are pretty much constantly on display. I don't work for attention and I have a loving boyfriend WITH NO TATTOOS .I get the impression that lots of people believe that tattooed persons are blind, once we get stared at, even if we return a glance people carry on staring. When will society improve?
Posted by: Girly Tattoos | February 03, 2011 at 12:49 PM
I have a similar recipe w/espresso - soooo good Jeanne! They're great to bake ahead and put in the freezer; then you can pull one out for breakfast or when you just want a sweet treat!!
Posted by: SMITH BITES | February 03, 2011 at 01:38 PM
And here I am trying to be a good mother and cook healthy muffins for my kids, when I would much prefer these deadly chocolatey ones myself... I think my secret chocolate habit may just have to be outed from the larder.... oh they already knew about it?!!
Posted by: Kit | February 08, 2011 at 10:55 AM
I love the comparison of a tattoo under school clothing. All innocent on the outside but with a darker side too. (Yes, I have a tattoo as do many of my friends.) It's not a judgement, it's just two sides to the one thing.
I just made these and they are lovely! I admit to adding some cinnamon and vanilla, but then that's me. Thank you for the recipe!
Posted by: Lisa | March 05, 2011 at 03:08 PM