(Note: this post was originally published on March 11, 2019 and the photos were updated on January 7, 2021. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)
Really, could anything be better than muffins made with peanut butter? What if those muffins also contained sweet banana, gooey chocolate, and a jolt of espresso?? Yes! Now we're talking. And to make these even more appealing, these beauties are made just by blasting everything in the blender. Life is good!
Oddly, these muffins are an homage to a smoothie. Is that a weird thing to say? One of our favorite coffee shops in the world, Java Kai on Kaua'i, has a "Wired Monkey" smoothie that's our absolute most favorite post-hike treat. It has coffee and bananas (hence the name), and we usually beg them to add a big blob of peanut butter into the mix.
There are numerous things that I love about these muffins from a nutritional standpoint. First, they're made with oat flour, which I absolutely adore. Second, they get all their fat and moisture from bananas and nuts (in the form of peanut butter), so they're free of added oil. And finally, they're minimally sweetened with just a bit of maple syrup. If you're trying to avoid refined sugars entirely, you could omit the chocolate chips and add some walnuts instead. They're vegan and flourless in the traditional sense, if you like labels.
These muffins are also absurdly easy. Just put all the ingredients in a blender and blast them. There's no fussing with multiple bowls, and this approach allows you to use whole oats rather than having to buy or pre-make oat flour.
We've really been loving these muffins as an easy on-the-go snack. Because they're protein-rich, have some complex carbs (thanks, oats!), and are non-sugary, they don't digest like a normal muffin. Rather, they're a really great and nourishing pick-me-up and the absolute best post-workout snack.
At the risk of stating the obvious, coffee very clearly belongs in baked goods. I like to use espresso powder, but instant coffee would work too, if you can't get your hands on espresso powder. It's actually what gives these muffins their deep, rich color; there's no chocolate in the batter! The flavor is amazing and it wakes up all the other flavors (and wakes YOU up too!).
Looking for other coffee baked good inspiration? These Flourless Coffee Macadamia Blondies have espresso powder in them too! It's a truly delightful flavor, it pairs perfectly with chocolate, and it seems so fitting for a morning treat.
Of course, you can also pair one of these muffins with a cup of coffee. You know, just to be sure the day is off to the right sort of start...
Here's what you'll need for this recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Pro tip: these make for an excellent dessert as well, especially if you warm them up first. We like them most with a big drizzle of chocolate-Kahlua sauce on top. But in the name of scientific research, we also experimented with a drizzle of peanut butter sauce. And regular chocolate sauce. And chocolate peanut butter sauce. Answer: all are divine. Oh, and if you cut them open to make a peanut butter sandwich, all of the above options are even better.
Seriously, how gorgeous are these? I hope you'll make them again and again and again. They're the best mixture of delicious, nutritious, and easy.
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
Muffins and espresso together?? Sign me up! These nourishing muffins get their structure from oat flour and their moisture from peanut butter, plus they pack a caffeine punch to get you going.
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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