We often end up with lots of black, over-ripe bananas. They sit looking at me reproachfully until I do something with them.
My favourite way to use them up is to make banana muffins, which the boys love for breakfast or snacks.
My best-ever recipe for banana muffins comes from Susan Reimer’s fantastic book Muffins: Fast and Fantastic. This really is the best muffin book I’ve ever come across and it’s completely foolproof. Most English recipes for muffins come out wrong and end up more like dry, dull cakes. I’m sorry to say that even Nigella’s don’t work. The muffins from this book come out exactly as they should – light, fluffy and moist. Muffins are also lower in fat and sugar than most cakes – what’s not to love? The recipe for banana muffins is here, but I urge you to go and buy this book – you won’t regret it, and it’s only £5.99!
If you fancy some other ideas for black bananas, how about banana bread? Our favourite recipe is this one from River Cottage. I make it time and time again – the crunchy sugar topping is wonderful.
Or how about a seriously naughty banoffee pie?
I like this recipe by Gizzi Erskine – although it’s so sickly it really should come with a health warning!
What are your favourite ways to use up black bananas?
Black bananas are fine in a shake, so I use them up in my Nutripro, along with other fruit. I strongly recommend Lakeland banana storage bags, though. We have two, and keep bananas in the fridge in them for up to a couple of weeks. XXXX
Well I’m adding that muffin book to my cookbook list, I bloomin’ LOVE muffins but agree it’s very hard to fine one that’s just right! Unfortunately I’m not a huge lover of bananas “in things” which is a result of my Mum making me eat mashed banana sandwiches as a child. A bit of banana bread or a tasty muffin passes the test though x
You should definitely try the book – my mum and I have been using it for a very long time and the muffins are so good. I’m not a massive banana fan either – can’t stand the idea of it in a sandwich! x