If you’re anything like me, you’ve got those two sad, overripe bananas sitting on the counter right now, just begging to be turned into something delicious. Forget the standard banana bread—today we are leveling up!
These Chocolate Banana Smarties Muffins are my new go-to. They are incredibly moist, intensely chocolatey, and that pop of color from the Smarties makes them look like they came straight out of a bakery window. Plus, they come together so fast, you’ll have a fresh batch ready for your afternoon coffee in no time.
Let’s get baking!
What You’ll Need
This recipe is simple, straightforward, and uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
The Ingredients:
For the Muffins:
2 Bananas (the riper, the better!)
1 Large Egg
100g Light Brown Soft Sugar
55g Butter, melted (because butter just tastes better!)
65ml Skimmed Milk
200g Plain Flour
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
30g Cocoa Powder
For the Fun Stuff:
3 ½ Tbsp Icing Sugar
1 Tsp Cocoa Powder (for the glaze)
½ Tbsp Water
36 Smarties (that’s 3 per muffin!)
How to Make Them
1. Prep is Key: Start by pre-heating your oven to 160°C (fan setting) and line a 12-hole cupcake tin with your favorite paper cases.
2. Dry Mix: In a large mixing bowl, grab a whisk and stir together your plain flour, light brown soft sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and bicarbonate of soda. Give it a good mix to make sure there are no cocoa lumps.
3. The Banana Magic: In a second bowl, mash those bananas until they’re nice and smooth. Pour in your melted butter and stir. Then, crack in the egg and add the milk, mixing until everything is well combined.
4. The Big Mix: Pour your wet banana mixture into the dry ingredients. Whisk it all together until you have a smooth, glorious chocolate muffin batter.
5. Bake: Divide that batter evenly between your 12 paper cases. Pop them into the oven for 20-25 minutes. You’ll know they are done when they have risen beautifully and a cocktail stick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Cooling: Resist the urge to dive in immediately! Move them to a wire rack and let them cool fully.
7. The Finishing Touch: Whisk your icing sugar, the extra teaspoon of cocoa powder, and the water together until you have a smooth, glossy paste. Drizzle it over the cooled muffins, and finally, press 3 Smarties onto the top of each one.
Why You’ll Love Them
These muffins are the perfect balance of fruity sweetness and rich cocoa. The butter adds a lovely depth of flavor that you just don’t get with spread, and the Smarties add that perfect little crunch in every bite.
They are fantastic for lunchboxes, a cheeky treat at work, or just for enjoying on a lazy Sunday morning. Give them a try and let me know in the comments how they turned out for you!
Happy baking,
