Are you craving a moist, flavorful muffin that's both easy to make and incredibly satisfying? Look no further! This best banana muffin recipe with sour cream is your answer. These muffins are perfectly sweet, with a delightful tang from the sour cream that elevates the classic banana flavor to a whole new level. They're a fantastic quick dinner idea for a light meal or a perfect treat for breakfast or brunch. Get ready to enjoy the ultimate homemade cooking experience!
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
- Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions:
Getting Started:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease it well. This simple step ensures your muffins bake evenly and release easily.
Combining Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures all the leavening agents are evenly distributed, leading to perfectly fluffy muffins.
Creaming Butter and Sugar:
- In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Use an electric mixer for best results – it makes this step quick and effortless.
Adding Wet Ingredients:
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Don't overmix; just until combined.
Incorporating Sour Cream and Bananas:
- Gradually add the sour cream to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Gently fold in the mashed bananas. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can lead to tough muffins.
Adding Nuts (Optional):
- If using, gently fold in the chopped nuts.
Filling the Muffin Tin:
- Fill each muffin cup about ¾ full. This prevents the muffins from overflowing during baking.
Baking the Muffins:
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Keep an eye on them after 15 minutes, as ovens can vary.
Cooling and Serving:
- Let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips for the Best Banana Muffins:
- Use ripe bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your muffins will be. Slightly brown bananas are ideal!
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing develops gluten, resulting in tough muffins. Mix until just combined.
- Room temperature ingredients: Using room temperature butter and eggs helps create a smoother batter that blends more easily.
Delicious Variations:
- Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins: Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the batter.
- Spiced Banana Muffins: Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and a pinch of cloves to the dry ingredients.
- Streusel Topping: Sprinkle a streusel topping (made with flour, brown sugar, butter, and oats) over the muffins before baking.
Nutritional Information (per muffin, approximate):
- Calories: Approximately 250
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Sugar: 18g
- Protein: 4g
This delicious recipe is perfect for anyone looking for easy recipes, healthy meals, or simply a delightful treat. These muffins are guaranteed to become a family favorite! Enjoy!