Every week I buy a bunch of bananas intending to eat them fresh, blend them into smoothies with peanut butter, and serve them as dessert (who could resist this banana pudding or this sky-high banana pudding pie?). Without fail, there are always several aggressively speckled, aromatic bananas left over. When that happens, there’s only one course of action: Bake them into breakfast!

Banana muffins make use of an ingredient that’s beyond its prime for eating out of hand, but is now perfect for giving muffins a naturally sweet fruit flavor. I love a thick slice of banana bread, but my kids are partial to banana muffins, which come together quickly and are perfect for busy mornings. I always have the ingredients, and the muffins are a cinch to make — that’s why I’m pulling them from the oven every single week. Here’s how to make the absolute easiest banana muffins — no mixer or fancy ingredients required.

Why you’ll love it

Key ingredients in banana muffins

Helpful swaps and add-ins

Storage and make-ahead tips

Banana muffins are great to keep on hand for a week for breakfast. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. You can also freeze the muffins for up to three months, then thaw at room temperature.

Banana Muffins

Makes 12

Cooking spray or paper muffin liners

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter

4 very ripe large bananas

2 large eggs

3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350 F. Coat the wells of a standard 12-well muffin pan with cooking spray or line with paper liners.

2. Cut one stick unsalted butter into eight pieces and place in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 20-second bursts until mostly melted, 40 to 60 seconds total. Set aside to let the butter finish melting and cool slightly. (Alternatively, melt the butter on the stovetop, then pour into a large bowl.)

3. Peel and place four large bananas in the bowl of butter and use a fork or potato masher to mash into a purée. A few small lumps of banana are OK. Add two large eggs, 3/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Whisk until combined.

4. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon baking soda evenly over the banana mixture. Add 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and stir with a flexible spatula until just incorporated and no dry spots remain.

5. Divide the batter among the prepared muffin wells, filling each about three-quarters full (scant 1/3 cup per well).

6. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through baking, until the muffins are golden, the tops bounce back when pressed, and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes total. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

(Patty Catalano is a food editor for TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)

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