Cherry, Banana and Muesli Muffins

I made these muffins yesterday in persuit of a few healthy and delicious lunchbox recipes that are going to frequent my kitchen soon. It involved quite a few good healthy ingredients so I was keen to find out if the recipe worked. More importantly, I hoped the little people for whom this was meant liked it. In our home, fortunately we have had very little issues with picky eating and such. So far so good! I’ve thought about it several times. Are my children any different than others?…maybe they are unable to voice out….maybe they are too sensitive to their Mum’s feelings…or maybe they haven’t yet explored too much outside my cooking…could I be such a versatile cook that my food appeals to two different palates at the same time? Actually, none of this is true. I try, like anybody else. I teach, by not being picky myself. We talk a lot about food and I encourage them to join me in the kitchen doing small chores and they always seem excited at the prospect.

I think the truth is that offset each other well. Could be to do with twin-hood. Children are inclined to do things in a group that they might not do as an individual. Since I have a sweet lover and another savory lover for children, it works in my favour. They probably eat everything because at least one of them would generally like what I put on the table. The other one follows. It will be interesting to see how things change (if they do…hopefully not) this year when they step into a slightly bigger world.

Coming back to the muffins, these are great. They are wholesome, filling, tasty and totally flexible. They are made of part wholemeal flour, part plain flour and part muesli. Then there is banana, yogurt and plenty of fruit inside. I used cherries which can be replaced with blueberries, strawberries, apples, peaches…basically all or any of your favourite fruits. I did not add nuts as the muesli I used had a bit of nuts and seeds in them but there is no harm in adding more. And there is a hint of spice (cinnamon) to elevate the flavours. They are moist inside and crunchy on top due to the addition of extra muesli like a streusel topping. The predominant flavour is of sweet bananas and juicy cherries. This would make a great on-the-go breakfast or snack for adults as well.

 

Cherry, Banana and Muesli Muffins (minimally adapted from here)
Makes 12 regular sized muffins

1 cup self-raising flour
3/4 cup wholemeal self-raising flour
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cups muesli (home made or store bought)
60 g butter, melted
1 large banana, mashed with a fork
1 cup Greek yogurt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup cherries (pitted and roughly chopped)
1/2 cup extra muesli (for topping)
1 tablespoon honey

Preheat oven to 200 degrees C (18 degrees c for fan forced).
Grease or line a muffin pan (12-hole) muffin pan with paper liner.

Combine the flours, sugar, cinnamon muesli in a bowl. Make a well in the centre. Whisk butter, banana, yogurt and eggs together in a jug. Pour into well. Using a large metal spoon, stir until just combined (don’t over-mix). Fold in the cherries.

Spoon mixture into the prepared muffin pan. Combine honey and extra muesli in a bowl. Spread muesli mixture over muffins. Press on lightly to secure. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre of 1 muffin comes out clean. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Serve.