Hello and welcome to Cotswold Kitchen Mom. Today, on the blog we will be making a yummy anytime treat- my delicious banana bread muffins with cinnamon sugar crumble.Â
As a mom, I love making banana bread (or banana muffins) for my family. This simple recipe allows me to be resourceful with- otherwise- too ripe bananas.
Generally, yellow bananas get eaten quickly in my home. However, (with picky young children) living amongst my husband and I, we often find brown bananas are left in the fruit bowl…every single time! In fact, as soon as there are a few brown spots on the skin of the banana, my children’s interest in eating those bananas vanishes almost immediately.Â
Cue the banana bread muffins. This classic recipe is sure to please everyone in the family. Both young and old alike.
My family and I would be thrilled if you would join us in the kitchen for a little (sneaky banana)Â anytime treat.
How to Make Banana Bread Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar Crumble (My Top Tips)
Making banana bread muffins is really quite simple. Personally, I enjoy making banana bread for four main reasons.Â
Firstly, a banana bread recipe stays true to my “waste not- want not” mantra. As a mom, I love banana bread because it is so resourceful. As I mentioned in my intro, when bananas start to brown in my home, my children often turn their noses up to them. Ironically, they never turn down those same bananas in my banana bread muffins. Go figure!Â
Secondly, this is one recipe that does not require a mixer of any kind. Simply your own two hands and a bit of motion. This is largely due to the fact that my banana bread recipe uses melted butter. Therefore, eliminating the need to cream the butter and the sugar with an electric mixer of any kind.Â
Thirdly, and certainly not least important, is the fact that banana bread is a delicious anytime treat. Perfect for any crowd, any time or any occasion.
Do I even need to list any more reasons to love banana bread or banana bread muffins?
But since, I said I have four reasons I will let you in on my fourth reason. When my husband and I were dating, I made a visit to England to meet his family. (You can read more about my first visit to England here). Before I left him- to go back home to America- I made him this banana bread recipe. Now, whenever I make banana bread for my family, I smile remembering those sweet times.
Top Tips:
- Top tip number 1: Use very ripe bananas. The softer and mushier the banana, the more prominent the flavor.
- Top tip number 2: Use salted butter. Salted butter adds a depth of flavor to the banana bread batter that otherwise would be lacking.
- Top tip number 3: Do not overbake your banana bread muffins! (Read that again.) Recipes with fruit can be tricky to gage when they are cooked completely through. Banana bread should be moist- so be careful not to overbake. Set a timer and do not venture too far from the kitchen.
- Top tip number 4: Add the cinnamon. Some banana recipes do not contain cinnamon, but I find the cinnamon adds great warmth to the batter. In my opinion, there is just something about cinnamon that also warms the soul.
- Top tip number 5: Serve banana bread muffins warm- with a generous pat of butter and a hot “cuppa” tea. Try it, try it…I think you will agree!
Banana Bread Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar Crumble Recipe:
Banana Bread Muffins with Cinnamon and Sugar Crumble
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, add 1/3 cup of melted butter. Add sugar and golden syrup to the butter and stir.
- Add two ripe bananas (and mush down with a fork).
- Add the two eggs, cream, and vanilla. Stir until well combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl, (spoon and smooth your 1 3/4 cup flour). Adding the baking soda and the baking powder- stir together to combine.
- Add cinnamon to the dry ingredients and stir.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients by gently folding the ingredients together.
- Spoon the banana bread muffin mix into the prepared muffin pan and set aside. *Fill each liner 3/4 of the way full (leaving room for the crumble topping).
- Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and 1/4 cup flour to the butter. Gently mix until all the flour has disappeared.
- Evenly add the crumble mixture over the top of the muffins.
- Place muffins in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 16-18 minutes. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions about Banana Bread Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar Crumble
- Can I use non ripe (yellow) bananas? Bananas that are ripe (i.e. soft and have brown spots on them) yield the strongest flavor. I have made banana bread with yellow bananas, but the flavor is much more subtle. Plus, the bananas do not mash quite as easily as ripe bananas do.
- Can I add other spices to my batter? Absolutely, other variations to try are nutmeg, all spice, and pumpkin pie spice mixtures.
- Do I have to make this recipe in muffin form? No, you may add this same batter to a loaf pan and make a banana bread loaf (instead of) banana bread muffins. However, it is worth noting that muffins bake faster than a traditional banana bread loaf- so be mindful of the baking time. Generally, the muffins cook in about half the time as a traditional banana bread (which takes approximately 55 minutes to bake). A positive to making banana muffins (as opposed to the banana bread) is that the muffins are easy to serve in cute individual portions. Thus, creating a bit less mess for children (or should I say for the mothers?).
- Can I use soft butter instead of melted butter? Yes, you can cream the butter and the sugar together instead of stirring in the melted butter. Creaming the sugars can create a lighter bread, but it does require an extra step.
- Can I use unsalted butter in this recipe? Yes, you can use unsalted butter. I prefer the richness of the salted butter, but you can also add a 1/4 tsp of salt to the unsalted butter if you do not have slated butter on hand.
- How to store the leftover muffins? Leftovers? What leftovers? Simply place the leftover muffins in an airtight container or Ziplock bag. The muffins will remain fresh for a couple of days, but like all baked goods, the muffins are best eaten fresh from the oven.
Final Thoughts on Banana Bread Muffins
Banana bread muffins with cinnamon and sugar crumble are a delicious, simple, anytime treat. Children and adults alike will enjoy these moist and flavorful muffins. The cinnamon and sugar crumble top is sure to be a favorite addition that will keep your loved ones coming back for more. Afterall, it is hard to beat the warming scent of cinnamon wafting about the kitchen air.
I hope you enjoy this simple recipe with your family and friends. For more delicious recipes check out my English traditional food guide. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you do not miss a post.
If you enjoyed this post, please let me know in the comments if you would like to see more recipes like this one. Until then, check out my Facebook and Pinterest pages for more ideas and inspirations. Keep baking!
Until next time…
~Elizabeth~