Whole Wheat Banana Muffins with Chocolate and Cherries
These Whole Wheat Banana Muffins with Chocolate and Cherries hold a bright red cherry surprise inside!
I have been meaning to share this recipe for Whole Wheat Banana Muffins with Chocolate and Cherries with you for so long! So long, in fact, that I had to reshoot the photos that I took more than a year ago. I guarantee that my procrastination will be worth your (unknown to you) wait, though. Bake up a pan of these muffins. The banana/chocolate/cherry combo is fabulously delicious!
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These muffins are a twist on our favorite banana muffins recipe, using white whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose. White whole wheat has become the preference for so much of our baking, adding deeper flavor and whole wheat goodness, while still retaining a light and fluffy texture that doesn’t easily dry out. We especially like what it does to banana muffins.
My favorite loaf of banana bread in all the world is a recipe from my aunt Mary Jane. When I was growing up, my mom would add chopped maraschino cherries to the batter, a little flair she borrowed from her own mom. And I just can’t help myself. I grew to love cherries in my banana bread and muffins, and continue the tradition to this day with my own family.
It’s such fun to slice through the muffin, to find that bright red cherry surprise hiding inside. Our girls get such a kick out of it!
And the mini chocolate chips sprinkled over the top? They’re just a natural way to finish off these muffins, if you ask me. And, confess I will: there’s rarely a banana muffin baked in this house that doesn’t sport a sprinkling of chocolate chips.
I’m planning to bake these whole wheat banana muffins, sprinkled with chocolate and hiding sweet cherries, for breakfast this Saturday. Pretty much the perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast, don’t you agree?
Whole Wheat Banana Muffins with Chocolate and Cherries
Ingredients
- ⅓ c. unsalted butter
- 1.5 c. mashed banana about 3 large bananas
- ⅔ c. sugar
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- 1.5 c. white whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. cinnamon
- 12 maraschino cherries
- ½ c. mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a regular size muffin tin with twelve paper liners and set aside.
- In a small bowl in the microwave, gently melt the butter. Let it sit to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, mash bananas thoroughly. Add sugar and egg. Stir to combine, and then stir in the melted butter.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add these dry ingredients to the banana mixture and fold lightly. Add half of the batter to the prepared muffin cups, dividing the batter evenly amongst the twelve cups. Gently press one cherry into the center of each cup of batter, taking care to not press the cherry to the bottom of the muffin tin. Add the remaining batter to the cups, dividing the batter evenly between the 12 muffin cups, covering the cherries. Sprinkle with chocolate chips.
- Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until nicely golden at the edges, and just set in the center. Let muffins rest in pan for a minute, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Other banana recipes you might enjoy:
- Banana Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Greek Yogurt Banana Bread from Recipe Girl
- Coconut Banana Bread from add a pinch
- Banana Crumb Muffins from My Baking Addiction
I made these, and they were a hit! I loved them! This recipe is a keeper for sure!
Wonderful! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know. Enjoy!
These look so yummy and fun! I have a bunch of bananas right now that need to be used. This will fit the bill very nicely. Can’t wait to try this fun combo!
I am charmed with the idea of the cherry in the center. Very very sweet. Whole wheat is good. I don’t even have to make a positive comment about the chocolate chips—I mean Duh we all know they rock.
Love these muffins! What a great flavor combination!
These look so delicious! Love the cherries tucked inside, my kids will love it. Can’t wait to make. Thanks!
These look delightful, and I LOVE the little cherry surprise inside!
we love baking with whole wheat flour! love these muffins and the surprise inside! so cute!!! This is the perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast!
I love the cherry surprise in this!
Love these whole grain muffins and that cherry in the middle. so fun!
Loving this healthier recipe!! Digging the banana and chocolate combo too!
Such lovely muffins, Brenda! I love the addition of the cherry to these – that just makes it so extra special!
Sure wish we were going to be at your home for breakfast on
Saturday! Happy Valentine’s Day all of you!
Beautiful muffins Brenda! Makes me want to get in the kitchen and start baking :)
Those are so cute!
You were behind me last night at the grocery store were’nt you?? I am the only one who eats bananas in this house and I bought two bunches. When we got home and I put them in the fruit bowl it hit me that I was going to be eating these bananas forever!! Thanks for this great recipe. I will definitely be making these!!!
I actually squealed a little when I saw this photo because I just love a little surprise inside of a baked good! These are FAB!