Banana espresso breakfast muffins (+ a giveaway)

Banana espresso breakfast muffins: a healthy, easy recipe reminiscent of banana bread but with a shot of espresso for a delicious morning pick-me-up.

 You know what's better (and a wee bit healthier) than coffee for breakfast? Coffee in your breakfast. In the form of banana espresso breakfast muffins.

Yeah, I'd call that stealthy. Here's how they happened:

I was excited when Staples asked me if I'd like to try out the Verismo home brewer from Starbucks. One of the biggest pluses is that the brewer comes with a recipe booklet for making many of your favorite Starbucks drinks at home. I mean, how cool is it to just whip up a chai latte or an iced Americano or a caramel latte whenever you want?

It's very cool. And handy.

And easy to use: just pop a coffee pod into the sleek brewer and press a button. There are also milk pods (made of real milk, not "creamer" chemicals) for making the specialty drinks, so there's no separate heating or frothing necessary. And the used pods are collected in a little built-in container which makes clean-up a snap.

 

In addition to its ability to serve up coffee drinks lickety-split, the Verismo makes a great cooking tool as well. I have often come across a recipe that only called for a small amount of coffee, so I wouldn't bother to make it because it seemed wasteful to make a pot (or even a half pot) of coffee just for one recipe. That little problem is solved with the Verismo.

Case in point: this recipe for banana espresso breakfast muffins. This is what happens when you have a machine capable of making an espresso in less than a minute, coupled with a couple of past-their-prime bananas lurking around the kitchen.

This recipe has quickly become one of my favorites for breakfast: the muffins are reminiscent of banana bread but you can really taste that strong shot of espresso. And they are barely sweet, which makes them an ideal accompaniment to your morning coffee. Although I have been known to snack on them later in the day, as well.

And did I mention how easy they are to make? One bowl, no fuss: my favorite kind of recipe!

Now today's your lucky day: I liked the Verismo so much that I'm giving one away -- in your choice of color: black, burgundy or champagne -- courtesy of Staples. For a chance to win, enter the giveaway using the widget located below the banana espresso breakfast muffin recipe (U.S. residents only, please).

Enjoy!

Banana Espresso Breakfast Muffins

Ingredients:
3 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (or substitute unsalted butter, melted)
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 cup (1 shot) espresso, at room temperature
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups flour (I used white whole wheat)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork or potato masher. Add the melted coconut oil, sugar, egg, vanilla and espresso and stir until well blended. Add the baking soda, salt and flour and mix until just combined. Spoon the batter into muffin tins and bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into one muffin comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

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www.yankeekitchenninja.com
-- print recipe --

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway details: The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Must be 18 or older to enter. Prize to be provided by Staples to randomly selected winner. Once notified, winner must respond within one week or new winner will be selected. Giveaway is open until midnight (eastern) on Sunday, April 6, 2014.

Disclaimer: While Staples furnished me with a Verismo brewer for review, I was in no way compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.