Cinnamon Spice Banana Date Muffins
These muffins are perfection when it comes to banana bread! Wonderfully moist and delicious, with ooey-gooey chocolate and dates throughout, this is our go-to comfort treat for rainy days! The cinnamon and spice paired with the sweetness of dates and bananas make for the perfect combination.
Ingredients
- 6 ripe bananas or 4 bananas and 1 ripe avocado
- 2/3 c coconut oil
- 3/4 c sugar
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 c Medjool dates pitted and diced
- 1 c chopped semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1/4 tsp himalayan pink salt
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 3 c flour
- 1/2 c OPTIONAL: chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees (F) because you will be done mixing in no time.
- Soak the dates in hot water so that they become plump and soft for about 5 minutes. Drain the water from the dates.
- Smash the peeled bananas, soaked dates, and coconut oil together.
- Mix in the sugar and spices.
- Add the eggs with the vanilla. Whip it in.
- Stir chocolate into the batter, along with nuts if using .
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt,
- Add in the flour mixture last. Fold in gently until incorporated, being careful not to over-mix. Over mixing makes for rubbery muffins!
- Scoop the batter into a muffin pan or into two 9 inch round pans. If you want to dress up the round cake, prepare a walnut mixture on the bottom of the pan by mixing chopped nuts with coconut oil, cinnamon, and sugar. Pour the batter on top and bake on the top rack of your oven. Bake for 18-22 minutes, depending on your oven.
- TIP: If you want muffins to rise with big fluffy domes, allow the muffins to rest in the pan, on the counter for about 20 minutes. Start the oven at 400 degrees (f) for the first 8 minutes, then turn down to 350 (F). Bake for 18-22 minutes total, depending on your oven. Check them at 18 minutes. If they look set, then prick with a toothpick. The stick should come out clean, aside from the gooey dates and chocolate.
- Once removed, allow to cool for 5 minute, and then remove from the pan and set on a towel so that the bottoms don't get soggy. ENJOY!
Notes
Nutritious mom hack: Measure out 1/2 cup of rolled oats and 1/4 cup of ground flax seed and use this in the recipe by cutting out 1/2 a cup of flour. Completely omit the sugar if you want, or use honey in its place. That is a total of:
2 1/2 c of flour
1/2 cup of rolled oats
1/4 c of flax
1/2 c honey
for an extra healthy breakfast treat or snack!