Recipe

These Banana Chocolate Espresso Muffins Are the Make-Ahead Breakfast You Need

By Caitlyn Heter at Temple University

I love make-ahead breakfasts. I bake something on a lazy Sunday afternoon and I get to hit the snooze button all week long.

These muffins are the ultimate to-go breakfast: a sweet, chocolatey muffin with the fruity goodness of bananas and just a hint of espresso, which brings out the chocolatey flavor even more. Because chocolate is part of a balanced breakfast, obviously.

I added sweet banana chips for a little crunch, especially because I don’t care for nutty muffins, but they’re totally optional if you don’t have 2 hours to bake them.

Banana Chocolate Muffins

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Servings: 18 muffins
  • Medium
Ingredients
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 4 bananas
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Photo by Caitlyn Heter

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Step 2

In a medium bowl, smash 4 bananas. Whisk in the oil, milk, eggs, salt, and vanilla.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Step 3

In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, brown sugar, and espresso powder.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Step 4

Use a wooden spoon to create a well by pushing the dry ingredients (from step 2) away from the center of the bowl. Then pour the wet ingredients (from step 3) into the well. Stir with the wooden spoon until a lumpy batter forms, being careful not to stir too much. Stir in walnuts, if desired.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Step 5

Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray. Divide the batter among the cups of the muffin tin and put the muffins in the oven. As soon as they’re in, turn the temperature down to 375°F and bake for about 30 minutes.

Starting the oven at the hotter temperature of 425°F will make your muffins fluff up on top, but we don’t want them to burn or cook unevenly.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Step 6

Cool the muffins. Eat them plain or go crazy by adding whipped cream, candied banana slices (recipe follows), and a sprinkle of decorative sugar.

Enjoy.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Sweet & Crunchy Banana Slices

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
  • Servings: 2-4
  • Easy
Ingredients
  • 1+ bananas (as many as you want!)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Cooking spray

Photo by Caitlyn Heter

Step 1

Peel the banana(s). Using a mandolin slicer or very sharp knife, slice the banana(s) on the diagonal into very thin ovals. I highly recommend a mandolin slicer, because slicing evenly is critical for even cooking in this recipe.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Step 2

Use a baking sheet lined with a silicon baking mat or parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray. Lay the banana slices flat. Mix the lemon juice and water together and brush or lightly sprinkle onto the bananas.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Step 3

Mix the kosher salt, cocoa, and espresso powder and sprinkle lightly over the slices. The salt will help to dehydrate the bananas for a crunchy texture, and creates a salted caramel flavor when they’re done.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Step 4

Bake at 250°F for one hour, then carefully flip the slices. Bake for another 30 minutes, then test for doneness by removing one slice from the oven. If it hardens when it cools, you’re done! If it’s still soft and leathery when it cools, keep the bananas in the oven for another 20 minutes, then check again.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Step 5

Cool completely to allow bananas to reach ultimate crunchiness. Then, enjoy! These are delicious as alternative chips or make a beautiful topping for breakfasts and baked goods.

GIF by Caitlyn Heter

Want to get in on the action and make epic food videos? We’re recruiting for the Spoon University video contributor program. E-mail video@spoonuniversity.com for more info!

Check out these other recipes for make-ahead breakfasts: