Lemonade Soul: Coffee Shop Banana Streusel Muffins

These are awesome muffins.

First, there's banana in them. Which makes you feel better about what you're eating because if it has fruit in it, it must be healthy, right???

Second, they're muffins. And muffins are just amazing. I'm not going to go into the muffin vs. cupcake rant again, don't worry.

Third, there's streusel on the top. And I am entirely new to streusel. I've never made it before, and I have never eaten homemade streusel before. Coffee cakes from Jewel do NOT count. Ever.

And here is what I have to say on streusel: it is crunchy.

If you like crunchy on top of a deliciously soft muffin, that sort of contrast-thing going on, then eat these the day you make them.

If you're like me, and think it's weird to be taking bites of crunch and then suddenly you're eating more soft and it's freaking out your tongue and your mouth just goes, "whaaa???" - well, if you're like that, WAIT ONE DAY.

Or maybe twelve hours, I dunno. But cover them and wait! The moisture from the muffins will be trapped inside the container, and it will soften the otherwise super-crunchy streusel, and then it will be deliciously soft all over. And the streusel will still retain some crunch, and it will be perfect.

Uh-huh, trust me, I know everything.

Anyway, when I saw these on In Katrina's Kitchen, I just had to make them. Anything good enough for a coffee shop is good enough for me.

Speaking of coffee shops... (bear with me, I'll post the recipe in half a mo!)

My friend and I constantly argue about our favorite chain coffee shops. Of course, local shops are the best, hands down. But where we live, there are two huge competitors: Starbucks and Caribou Coffee.

When we were arguing, I'd only been to Caribou once or twice, and I'd been to Starbucks loads of times, so of course I stuck up for the shop where I discovered cake pops.

But then I tried Caribou's hot chocolate. It is to Starbucks' hot chocolate as a bowl of homemade butter pecan ice cream is to a McDonald's vanilla soft serve cone. As in not even close.

So, my decision is this: go to Starbucks for food, go to Caribou for beverages.

And now, without any more ado (because I've done a lot of ado today), the recipe:

Coffee Shop Banana Streusel Muffins

REQUIRES SOFTENED BUTTER

Muffins:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten/forked

4 ripe bananas, mashed

Streusel

5 tablespoons butter, melted

2/3 cup flour

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

optional: pinch of salt

Muffins:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease muffin pans with shortening or cooking spray, or line with muffin cups. (use a 6 standard cup and a 12 standard cup)
In a large bowl, whip mashed bananas 3-5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
In another large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add eggs, beating after each addition. Mix in whipped bananas.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt with a fork.
Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet.
Spoon batter into prepared muffin pans.

Streusel:

Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Transfer to a medium bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, powdered sugar, cinnamon (and optional salt) with a fork.
Add to butter.
Crumble WITH YOUR FINGERS until mixture is moist and crumbly.

Assembly:

Drop streusel on top of muffin batter.
Bake 15-18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from pans. Store in an airtight container. Makes 12-15 standard muffins.

Breaking it down:

Mash those bananas!

I think this is a potato masher, but I've never used it on potatoes. Only bananas.

Whip up those bananas, and then beat butter and brown sugar.

Add eggs, beat well, and add banana puree.

Mix together, and combine with dry ingredients.

Pour batter into muffin pans.

Melt butter...

Combine powdered sugar, cinnamon, and flour....

Crumble with your fingers, and drop crumb topping on top of the muffin batter.

NOM. Lol, I kind of got carried away with the streusel pictures.

Bake 15-18 minutes. I made a double batch and ended up with 30, although I should have ended up with 24... It all depends on how whipped your bananas become.