If you've got a can of white beans around, here's a fun ways to use them. This recipe calls for pureed white beans, 2 very ripe bananas and a blend of spices. The results are handsome muffins that rise high and aren't too sweet. Plus you get to tell everyone they're made with beans!
Banana Bean Muffin Notes
My only concern when making these was that there is no added salt. Great Northern beans, the kind that I use, have salt. Still, I wasn't sure it would be enough so I threw in a pinch. You could probably get by without it. As for the chocolate chips, they were a definite improvement and made the muffins feel more dessert-like. On the other hand, the muffins were good without the chocolate, too. Add it only if you're in the mood.
Adapted from The Today Show. These muffins are actually pretty good. I recently made a batch with vanilla bean paste (going with the bean theme) and they were even better.
Recipe
Banana Bean Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup white beans, drained and rinsed Great Northern
- 2 large over-ripe medium bananas
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup firmly packed brown sugar (70 grams)
- ¼ cup yogurt (60 grams)
- ⅛ cup olive or canola oil (28 grams)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla or vanilla bean paste to stay on theme
- 2 cups whole wheat flour or a mix of wheat and white (250 grams)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger optional
- ½ cup walnuts pecans or chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 12 muffin cups.
- In a food processor, process beans with 1-2 tablespoons of water to make a puree. Add bananas, eggs, brown sugar, yogurt, oil and vanilla. Puree until smooth.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger (if using). Add salt if desired.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix to make a thick batter.
- Fold in nuts and/or chocolate chips.
- Spoon batter into muffin cups and put in the oven.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs.
Anna says
Megan, this is one of my older recipes so thanks for trying it and taking the time to leave a review. I need to make these again soon. But thanks again, and I'm glad you liked the recipe.
Megan says
Turned out delicious! I subbed in applesauce for the oil + water when blending up the beans.
Sue says
Interesting recipe! A little extra fiber and protein.
Sonya says
This is so cool! What an incredibly healthy muffin...including the chocolate!