Monday, October 20, 2008

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins baked in cookie cutters

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins baked in cookie cutters
Bananas and chocolate are a classic combination that I love. I think these muffins are a good excuse for a "dessert-like" treat at breakfast.

Playing Around

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins baked in cookie cuttersI've heard of pastry chefs using bottomless molds to make cakes and tarts so I thought why not muffins too. I pulled out some of my favorite cookie cutters and gave it a go, and it worked! I sprayed each cookie cutter with some cooking spray first, and then set them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. I used a piping bag (aka a freezer bag) to fill each cookie cutter 3/4 full and popped them in the oven.
So, if they're muffins baked in cookie cutters, are they "cookie muffins" or "muffin cookies"?
Recipe

Ingredients for Banana Chocolate Chip MuffinsMakes 12 muffins

½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
¼ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
½ cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350˚F.

Cream the butter and sugar. Mash the bananas with a fork in a separate bowl. Add the bananas to the butter/sugar mixture. Add eggs, and blend. In a separate bowl, whisk the baking soda and flour. Add the flour/soda mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in chocolate chips.

Pipe batter into cookie cutters that are lined up on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cookie CuttersTasting Notes
I love these banana muffins. If you don't like chocolate, you can leave it out or replace it with nuts. It's a simple, but delicious recipe!





21 comments:

Clumbsy Cookie said...

What a cool idea! I love it!

Rachael Hutchings said...

Such a fantastic idea! I'm going to have to try this out.

thecelticcookinshanghai said...

How clever. Can't wait to try it out.

CookieCutterSearch said...

That's a great idea, Shari. Just make sure that the cookie cutters you use are spot-welded and not soldered. If they are soldered the solder will probably melt at the high oven temperature and make the muffins not edible!

Audrey said...

Shari, this is BRILLIANT!
(I went to a event once where a pastry chef was demonstrating his art - and almost everything he used came from Home Depot (PVC pipe, etc. etc.) I don't even have to go to the hardware store now...)

Audrey

Sabrina said...

WOW! Those looks really really good! and what a great idea using the cookie cutters!

Anonymous said...

awww. these look adorable made in cookie cutters. that's creative. i shd give it a try some time. :) x

My Sweet & Saucy said...

What a great idea! Those turned out so cute!

La Bella Cooks said...

That is a darling idea to use cookie cutters. Who could resist these?

Anonymous said...

Very nice idea. Can't wait to see what you come up with next! Matt likes bananas and he likes muffins and I am thinking the addition of the chocolate would just take it over the top for him...going there with all that soon, thanks for the recipe.

Anonymous said...

Shari, your new blog looks fantastic. I love the colours and the layout. Great idea using cookie cutters. You've given me some great ideas for my next muffin recipe.

dharmagirl said...

what an excellent idea--so creative and tres chic (and tasty:)

cookworm said...

Wow, another great idea! Keep them coming, please! This one is just adorable.

natalia said...

Ciao !chocolate banana are great together and in cute shapes too

Irene said...

OH my gosh, awesome. Bananas and chocolate are always a fantastic combination. I love the little apple cookie cutter! I want one! These muffins look so moist and good and yuuuummmmmmmmmm.........

Katie said...

What a clever idea. I bet they would be great baked into heart shapes for anniversaries or birthdays.

vibi said...

Huh? Are there really people who don't like chocolate? Bring them to me! I want them to be my neigbours... and eat their leftover chocolate! LOL
Great idea, Shari... as USUAL! LOL

grace said...

this is a tremendous idea--thanks for bringing it to my attention! i plan to make use of this brilliance immediately!

Anonymous said...

These are adorable! I wonder if you could use a cupcake batter in the cookie cutters, then frost the resulting cupcakes once you pop them out of the molds? Those would be cute, too!

Shari said...

clumbsy cookie - Thanks!

fuji mama - I hope you post your results!

jacqui - Let me know how it works for you.

cookiecuttersearch - Good point. Thanks for letting us know about this issue.

audrey - I'm looking forward to my next visit to Home Depot!

sabrina - Thanks!

diva - You should!

my sweet & saucy - Thanks!

bridgett - I've been having a hard time resisting them this week!

kayte - You're so sweet! Banana and chocolate are such a good combination, but it's too bad you don't like chocolate. One of my daughters is just like you -- won't touch these muffins at all!

syrie - I can thank Jessica from Delicious Design Studio for that. I wish I'd known about her a long time ago...the amount of hours I've spent on templates is embarrassing!

dharmagirl - Thanks!

cookworm - I may run out of ideas sooon!!!

natalia - I love chocolate and banana too.

irene - They are yummy and easy.

katie - Heart shapes are a great idea too.

vibi - My 9-year old daughter is one such person! She doesn't mind chocolate cake, but doesn't like chocolate chips in anything!

grace - Hope you post about it!

carolyn jung - Thanks for dropping by!

~Shari

Unknown said...

I love this idea! What size cookie cutter did you use? I would like to give this a try.