Banana & Butterscotch Muffins
I bought a huge bunch of bananas the moment I read they were to triple in price thanks to cyclone Yasi. The last time a cyclone (Larry) hit Queensland, my mum didn’t buy us bananas at all. You never know how much you miss something until it’s taken away from you, or becomes too expensive!
We don’t eat a whole lot of bananas at home between the two of us, but I was suddenly craving them since I knew I wouldn’t have the luxury of buying them for under $2 a kilo. So we ate as many as we could, but they were ripening faster than we could eat them. So some went into the freezer, and some I wanted to get creative with.
I’m currently going through a Nigella Lawson phase. I’m watching her dvds and just getting caught up in some of her recipes. At times I think “oh woah, that’s low fat right?” as she goes over the top with the butter, full fat cream, etc. I love how she just stashes things away in her freezer, which I need to start doing, as for example; I needed lemon rind last night yet didn’t have any lemons! Lemon rind in the freezer could have saved me.
So anyway, I whipped out her book Express, and flicked straight to the index to find ‘banana’. The sound of banana and butterscotch muffins had me looking no further for inspiration. I’ve had a packet of these butterscotch chips in my pantry for about a year now; I also have a packet of cinnamon chips (shall try with cinnamon next time). A few sifts and stirs and the muffin batter was ready. TOO easy as you use vegetable oil instead of softening butter and creaming it.
They were amazing after cooling down a bit from the oven. Hamsley requested a hot one with ice-cream, but I didn’t have any ice-cream in the “deep freeze” as Nigella calls it. I really should listen to her more often, she rants on about how you should ALWAYS have ice-cream in the deep freeze in case unexpected guest pop in.
Anyways, they are awesome, and you should try them yourself. I rename them: awesome in a cupcake wrapper.
Banana & Butterscotch Muffins
Nigella Lawson
3 very ripe bananas
125ml vegetable oil
2 eggs
250g flour
100g caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
150g butterscotch (or chocolate) morsels
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6 and line a 12-bun muffin tin with muffin papers.
2. Mash the bananas and set aside for a moment.
3. Pour the oil into a jug and beat in the eggs.
4. Put the flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder into a large bowl and mix in the beaten-egg-and-oil mixture, followed by the mashed bananas.
5. Fold in the butterscotch morsels, then place equal quantities in the prepared muffin tin – I use an ice cream scoop and a spatula – and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
White chocolate or dark chocolate morsels can be used in place of the butterscotch ones – Nigella
Conversions can be looked up here.
Serves 12.
Amy @ cookbookmaniac
I absolutely adore Nigella. She is is the poster-child for all us greedy, happy girls. These muffins look wonderful!
Mez
noooooooooooooooooooo not bananas!!! they are the EVIL fruit nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
penny aka jeroxie
i actually picked up relatively cheaper bananas at the organic section at Vic market. I am not a big fan of bananas as well and only usually like them baked 😉
kristy @ ksayerphotography
One word: yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I’m actually waiting on my boyfriend to get back to Australia so he can bring me some butterscotch chips and mint chips too! Australia totally needs to catch up on the delicious baking products the US has.
Hannah
Eeep! Where did you get butterscotch and cinnamon chips? I’d kill (well, not really) for those! Although I’d eat them straight, not cook with them 😛
Susan
I love butterscotch flavoured things and think it would taste fantastic with banana, maybe some bourbon too.. I remember watching an episode when Nigella says to keep vanilla ice cream in the freezer and I always try to, cause it goes so well with everything.
Michelle
Butterscotch! The sound of it reminds me of heaven!
GourmetGetaways
They look so yummy!! I have always wanted to try the Hersheys cooking range, wished we had it here 🙁
LOL about the “deep freeze” I have kids and nothing is stored in the deep freeze, especially ice-cream, they have a built in food radar. My hubby loves things like this hot too. The would be extra nice with a caramel sauce and ice-cream… oh no, I am making myself even hungrier!
Celeste @ Berrytravels
Wow! I’m starting to jump on the Nigella bandwagon as well recently, influence from all sides does that to you!
Bananas have gone batshit with their prices, but once the prices come down once more, I’m definitely going to try it. Though where I’m going to find butterscotch chips is another matter. Joys of a tiny country town!
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
I’m unabashedly in love with Nigella – first name basis, here 😉 and I love bananas so these look like a winner! I remember you tweeting about these, and have felt like one ever since. Great pictures too!
Heidi xo