Indulge in Pure Bliss: The Ultimate Recipe for Decadent Nutella Stuffed Banana Muffins
Prepare to be amazed by these incredibly soft, moist, and utterly irresistible banana muffins, each generously stuffed with a creamy dollop of Nutella. They are the epitome of comfort food, making for the perfect breakfast treat, a delightful afternoon snack, or a decadent dessert on those chilly mornings or cozy evenings. Bursting with the natural sweetness of ripe bananas, a hint of warm cinnamon, rich butter, and, of course, the beloved hazelnut spread, Nutella, these muffins are a true game-changer.
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, signaling the approach of autumn and winter, there’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of freshly baked goods wafting from your kitchen. This particular recipe for Nutella stuffed banana muffins isn’t just a seasonal favorite; it’s a timeless classic that promises to be fail-proof and impress everyone who takes a bite. The harmonious pairing of bananas and Nutella is legendary – much like peanut butter and jelly, they’re simply meant to be together. It’s this perfect marriage of flavors that inspired these glorious muffins, and I can confidently say, they are hands down the best muffins I’ve ever had the pleasure of baking!
Imagine biting into a golden-brown muffin, its tender crumb giving way to a warm, gooey center of rich, chocolatey hazelnut goodness. The natural sweetness of the banana complements the Nutella beautifully, creating a balanced and utterly satisfying treat. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, this recipe is designed for success, delivering consistently delicious results every time. Let’s dive into the simple steps to create these masterpieces.
Key Ingredients for Your Perfect Nutella Stuffed Banana Muffins
Crafting exceptional muffins starts with quality ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and why each component is crucial:
- Bananas – This is where the magic begins! For the absolute best flavor and natural sweetness, you *must* use very ripe bananas. Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots and even some black patches on the peel. These bananas are sweeter, softer, and much easier to mash, imparting a deep, rich banana flavor to your muffins.
- Nutella – The star of the show! While we specifically call for Nutella, any good quality hazelnut spread will work wonderfully. The rich, creamy chocolate-hazelnut flavor provides that incredible surprise center, elevating these from ordinary banana muffins to something truly extraordinary. Don’t skimp on this!
- All-purpose flour – The structural base for our muffins. Make sure to measure it correctly, ideally by weight or using the spoon-and-level method, to avoid dense muffins.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda – Our leavening agents! Baking powder gives the muffins their rise and light texture, while baking soda reacts with the acids in the ripe bananas and brown sugar to further aid in lift and tenderness, ensuring a beautifully soft crumb.
- Salt – A pinch of salt is vital for balancing the sweetness and enhancing all the other flavors, making them pop.
- Cinnamon – This warm spice pairs incredibly well with bananas and chocolate, adding a comforting depth of flavor that’s perfect for a cozy treat.
- Vanilla Extract – A touch of pure vanilla extract enhances the overall sweetness and provides a lovely aromatic note.
- Granulated Sugar & Brown Sugar – A combination of sugars provides both sweetness and moisture. Granulated sugar offers a clean sweetness, while brown sugar adds depth, a slight caramel note, and helps keep the muffins wonderfully moist.
- Unsalted Butter – Melted unsalted butter contributes to the rich flavor and tender texture of the muffins. Using unsalted butter gives you control over the overall saltiness of the recipe.
- Vegetable Oil – Adding vegetable oil alongside butter ensures maximum moisture and a softer crumb that stays fresh longer. It’s a secret weapon for super moist muffins!
- Egg – A single large egg binds all the ingredients together, adds richness, and helps with the structure of the muffins. Ensure it’s at room temperature for better incorporation into the batter.
Step-by-Step Guide: Crafting Your Decadent Nutella Stuffed Banana Muffins
Baking these delightful muffins is a straightforward process, even for beginners. Follow these simple steps to ensure perfect results every time:
- Prepare Your Workspace: The first thing you want to do is preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190°C). This ensures your oven is at the correct temperature when the muffins are ready to bake, which is crucial for a good rise. While the oven preheats, line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. Using liners makes for easy cleanup and ensures the muffins don’t stick.
- Mash the Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, take your three very ripe bananas and mash them thoroughly with a fork. You want them to be mostly smooth, but a few small lumps are perfectly fine and will add a nice texture to the finished muffins.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: To the mashed bananas, add all of your other wet ingredients: the vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, room temperature egg, vanilla extract, and the melted butter. Mix these ingredients until they are just well combined. Avoid overmixing at this stage.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Then, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix just until the flour streaks disappear. The key here is to not overmix. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in tough, dry muffins. A few small lumps in the batter are acceptable.
- Fill and Stuff: Now for the fun part – the Nutella! Fill each prepared cupcake liner approximately halfway up with the muffin batter. Then, using a spoon, add about 1 to 2 tablespoons of Nutella directly into the center of the batter in each liner. The amount can be adjusted to your preference, but 1-2 tablespoons typically creates a perfect molten core. After adding the Nutella, top each liner with the remaining muffin batter until each is about three-quarters of the way full. This ensures there’s enough batter to fully encase the Nutella and allow for a beautiful muffin top.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the muffin tin in your preheated oven and bake for exactly 17 minutes. Baking times can vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them. The muffins should be golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted into the banana muffin (not the Nutella core!) should come out clean or with moist crumbs.
- Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the muffins from the oven and let them cool in the muffin tin for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. While they are delightful warm (especially with that melted Nutella!), allowing them to cool slightly helps them set and prevents them from becoming sticky.
Customization & Variations: Elevate Your Muffins
These Nutella stuffed banana muffins are fantastic as is, but they also serve as a wonderful canvas for customization. Feel free to experiment with additions to make them uniquely yours!
- Adding Walnuts: Yes, absolutely! Even though Nutella already brings a delightful hazelnut flavor, adding some nuts can introduce a lovely textural contrast. For a satisfying crunch, I recommend adding about 1/2 cup of finely chopped walnuts to the batter along with the dry ingredients. Pecans would also be a fantastic choice.
- Chocolate Chips: For an extra layer of chocolatey goodness, mix in 1/2 to 1 cup of chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark) into the batter before filling the muffin liners.
- Other Spices: A pinch of nutmeg or a dash of allspice could further enhance the warm, comforting flavors of these muffins.
- Gluten-Free Option: If you’re looking to make these gluten-free, you can try substituting the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Make sure the blend contains xanthan gum for best results.
- Nutella Swirl Top: For an even more visually appealing muffin, you can drizzle a little extra Nutella on top of the batter in the liners just before baking, then swirl it lightly with a toothpick.
Storage Solutions for Freshness
To keep your Nutella stuffed banana muffins fresh and delicious for as long as possible, proper storage is key:
First and foremost, it’s crucial to let the muffins cool completely before storing them. This step is vital because if you store warm muffins, condensation will form inside the container, making the tops sticky and potentially soggy, and speeding up spoilage. Once cooled, place them in an airtight container or a large freezer bag.
- Room Temperature: These muffins will last for about 3 days when stored covered at room temperature. For best quality, keep them out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place.
- Freezer: For longer storage, these muffins freeze beautifully. To freeze, individually wrap each cooled muffin tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in an airtight freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy one, simply remove it from the freezer, unwrap, and let it thaw at room temperature, or warm it gently in the microwave or oven for a few minutes for that freshly baked taste.
If you enjoyed these Nutella stuffed banana muffins, then you will also enjoy these blueberry muffins! For more delicious recipes and cooking tutorial videos, be sure to visit Youtube and Facebook. Happy baking!
Nutella Stuffed Banana Muffins
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Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsalted melted butter
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3 bananas mashed , very ripe
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/8 tsp salt , or a pinch
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1 cup Nutella
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
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In a large bowl, mash three ripe bananas using a fork. Make sure they are very ripe.
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Add the vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and melted butter. Mix until well incorporated.
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Add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
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Fill each cupcake liner with the batter halfway up. Add 1-2 tbsp of Nutella to each cupcake liner and then fill each cupcake liner about 3/4’s of the way.
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Bake for 17 minutes. Let the muffins cool for about 5 minutes before enjoying.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter.
- Use room temperature eggs.
- Do not over bake the muffins.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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