Banana Crunch Muffins

Banana Crunch Muffins Copyright, 1999, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, All Rights Reserved Show: *Barefoot Contessa Breakfast 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 pound unsalted butter, melted and cooled 2 extra-large eggs 3/4 cup whole milk 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 bananas) 1 cup medium-diced ripe bananas (1 banana) 1 cup small-diced walnuts 1 cup granola 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut Dried banana chips, granola, or shredded coconut, optionalPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
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Line 18 large muffin cups with paper liners. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the melted butter and blend. Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas, and add them to the flour-and-butter mixture. Scrape the bowl and blend well. Don't overmix.

Fold the diced bananas, walnuts, granola, and coconut into the batter. Spoon the batter into the paper liners, filling each 1 to the top. Top each muffin with dried banana chips, granola, or coconut, if desired. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly, remove from the pan, and serve.

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