Wednesday, August 25, 2010

BEAUTIFUL BANANAS




You know the story, your lovely ripe bananas have been neglected, they develop those black spots and you plan to do something with them and next thing you look and they are black smelly specimens fit only for the bin - well I have to admit I used them and what's more I'm glad I did!!  I'm not sure if it was the fact that the bananas were so sweet or that I used a really fantastic recipe (I'm thinking the latter!) but I made the nicest banana based buns/muffins/cakes/breads I have ever made.

No big surprise when I say that the recipe came from Nigella's "How to be a Domestic Goddess", she really does come up trumps time and time again.  They are her Banana, Cherry and White-Chocolate Cupcakes (I was out of dried cherries and used cranberries, they worked perfectly).

All I can say is that you should hide your bananas where nobody will find them, will them to over-ripeness (or put them in a paper bag with some other fruit) and make these little beauties - they are that good!!


Banana, Cranberry and White Chocolate Buns

125g         butter
200g         caster sugar
1tsp          vanilla
3              very ripe bananas - mashed
4 tbsp       sour cream
2               large eggs
1 tsp         bread (bicarbonate of) soda
1/2 tsp      baking powder
300g        plain flour
40g          dried cranberries, chopped
50g          white chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 180 C
Line a muffin tin with paper cases


Melt the butter, remove from the heat and add the sugar, vanilla and mashed bananas.
Stir in the sour cream and the eggs.  Mix well.
Add the bread (bicarbonate of) soda and the baking powder and stir in well.
Stir in the flour, cranberries and chocolate.
Blend being very careful not to over mix.
Divide between the muffin cases.
Bake for about 20 mins until golden and a skewer comes out clean.
Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Enjoy.

13 comments:

Lilly Higgins said...

Snap! I have a banana loaf lined up to post about this week, I made it at the weekend. These look gorgeous! I never tried this recipe, I love the idea of white chocolate! I hardly ever have over ripe bananas, I must buy extra next time and try these! x

Unknown said...

lovely recipe although my mum would have kittens if I made anything with bananas not using her recipe!!!

Susan Lindquist said...

Mmmm! Banana bread! Even better with white or semi-sweet chocolate! Kudos, my dear!

Gloria Baker said...

I love this banana cake, look delicious! I can smell! gloria

Jhonny walker said...

This is how I love to get my Pottasiums...:) Thanks for the wishes and a great cake recipe...

Patrice said...

What an awesome combination! Yum!!

Bigarade said...

these sound so good for breakfast! :D

Sally said...

Banana bread/muffins are the only way I will eat bananas...these sound deslish. Hungry now!

Julie said...

Oh wow, love it. I'm a little tired of plain old banana bread, but this sounds anything but plain.

Jutta said...

Don't forget where you hid the bananas though! My belief is bananas are useable until they grow mould.

Jacqueline Meldrum said...

Mmmmmmmm, that sounds good, although I never have left over bananas as my baby loves them, especially when they are mixed with avocado or mixed into porridge. I would have to buy extra bananas, but I think this recipe is worth it :)

Chef Dennis Littley said...

We all have those banana's I do freeze mine and when I have enough I make banana bread, I use Nigella's banana bread recipe. I have not seen that recipe for the cupcake, it sounds delicious, I will have to try it, and I think cranberries sounds like a good substitute!

Maria♥ said...

I love it when my bananas go ripe, it's an excuse to bake! You just can't go wrong with Nigella and one of my favourite recipes is her Banana and Butterscotch muffins from Nigella Express!

Your muffins look yummy.

Maria
x