Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins with Glaze

 INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
2 large egg whites
3 1/2 ripe medium bananas, mashed
1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup chocolate chips

2 tbsp confectioners sugar (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Preheat oven to 325°. Line a muffin tin with 12 liners.
2.  In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer.
3.  Add egg whites, bananas, apple sauce, vanilla, and beat at medium speed until thick. Scrape down sides of the bowl.
4.  In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt with a wire whisk.
5.  Add flour mixture to bananas, then blend at low speed until combined; do not over mix.
6.  Fold in chocolate chips and pour batter into muffin tins.
7.  Bake on the center rack for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8.  If making the glaze, combine confectioner’s sugar and 1/4 to 1/2 tsp water to make a glaze. Drizzle over each muffin.

Rachel shared this recipe from skinnytaste.com.  I'm always on the look out for good banana recipes because here in Belize bananas are plentiful and inexpensive.  I don't have muffin tins so I cooked it in a 7 x 11 pan.  I used 1 egg instead of 2 egg whites.  I also used 4 bananas.   After I opened the applesauce jar, I measured out 1/4 cup of applesauce in small disposable containers and put them in the freezer for the next time I make the recipe.

This is definitely a thumbs-up recipe!