Monday 22 August 2011

Banana White Chocolate Muffins

Vegan Banana White Chocolate Muffins

These were so good! I always used to make a banana white chocolate muffin in the vegetarian days and based this recipe on that one. It does of course require a specific ingredient - vegan white chocolate buttons, which I have used before, they taste so much like white chocolate and always turn out great in baking. Some vegan white chocolate melts to a watery liquid in baking and doesn't reset when the product cools - I learned the hard way. These buttons are perfect though, for those in Cork I get mine at the Quay Co-op, sometimes at Tesco and Holland & Barratt.

To veganize the original recipe I swapped the butter for vegan margarine, the white chocolate for vegan white chocolate and the eggs for my favourite egg replacer, a mixture of cornstarch, baking powder, xanthan gum, oil and water. I know a lot of vegan sites put banana alone down as an egg replacer and yes, it is very good at binding, but eggs do a lot more than binding. I have had quite a lot of banana flavoured baked goods that can only be described as moist bricks. Texture matters. These have a great texture, really light and still moist but not dense at all. Very happy with them :-)

Vegan Banana White Chocolate Muffins
Makes 12 - 14 muffins, depending on size of tin - I got 14 using silicone muffin cases but they are a little smaller than a traditional muffin tin.

Banana White Chocolate Muffins:

245g plain flour
100g caster sugar
50 grams light muscovado sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
75g vegan white chocolate buttons - 3 bags
100g vegan margarine, melted and cooled slightly
about 400g very ripe bananas, mashed well - about 3 large
1 tsp vanilla extract
~egg mixture~
2 Tbsp cornflour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp xanthan gum
2 tsp vegetable oil
100ml water

about 50g extra white chocolate buttons for garnish - optional

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F and grease a muffin tin or individual silicon muffin moulds, I used a spray as it's so much easier.

First make up your 'eggs' by adding the cornflour, baking powder and xanthan gum in a medium size bowl, slowly whisk in the vegetable oil and water. When all added give it a really good whisk till thickened and smoothish.

In a large bowl whisk the flour, sugars, baking powder, soda and salt. Set aside.

Melt the margarine then transfer to a pyrex measuring jug and stir in the vanilla. Give the egg mixture another whisk then slowly start whisking the margarine into it until it is all incorporated. You should now have a smooth, thickish custardy like concoction.

Now fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just blended, do not overmix, it should not be smooth. If you overmix the muffins will be tough and rubbery. Fold in the chocolate. (I like to break the buttons in half, then half again.)

Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin about 3/4 full and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of one comes out clean. Place tin on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes then remove the muffins. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Vegan Banana White Chocolate Muffins

If you would like the drizzle extra white chocolate on top (which I highly recommend!) melt 50g (2 packages) white chocolate buttons in the microwave, should only take 20 - 30 seconds. At this stage it is still a bit too thick to drizzle so stir in about 1/2 tsp vegetable oil, or more until it is drizzling down when you dip a spoon in it. When the muffins are fully cool drizzle the mixture back and forth, let the chocolate cool then serve. :-)


Nutritional Information - based on 12 large muffins, with drizzle on top
Calories: 241
Fat: 7.7g
Sat Fat: 2.3g
Fibre: 1.8g
Carbs: 41g
Sugars: 19.8g
Protein: 2.6g
Sodium: 162mg


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10 comments:

  1. Isn't it a great coincidence that I just bought a 600g bag of vegan white chocolate chips? I think it is. These muffins look so good!

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  2. Thanks! and...600g?!? So jealous!!! :-D I can only get these as little 25g bags and have to buy so many for baking.

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  3. Cool, I'm bookmarking this for future bake sales, think they would be very popular. Also thanks for posting the egg replacer recipe, I never realised it was possible to make your own!

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  4. Cool, they should go down well alright!
    I actually got the egg replacer recipe originally from here:

    http://www.baking911.com/pantry/subs_eggs.htm

    it's the "starch based egg replacer" recipe. I've been using it for years now and always seem to get great results from it. :-)

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  5. Hi Debbie,
    Its been a little while since I've commented, but i have been coming by and enjoying your reads and vegan eats!. By the way its mangocheeks, I now go under my real name.

    I love banana muffins in all its forms, esp. good for a working breakasfast. I've come across the 25g packets of vegan white choc. button chocolates so will be sure to give these a go. I hope you have settled in well in your new home. Wishing you warmth and kindness.

    PS You know I am not vegan, but a vegetarian, but I am so tempted to try out your 'feta cheese' recipes.

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  6. So nice to hear from you!! I too pop by your site now and again - always fantastic stuff going on there! We've settled in very well here, absolutely love it :-) Hope you do try that almond feta, it's soooo good!!

    Many thanks and take care!
    -Deb

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  7. This recipe looks great and I would love to try but unfortunately I grew up in the states. Can you convert the ingredients into cups for me. I would appreciate it.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Georgina! Yes, sorry for not posting the cups as well as weights here. I do try and do that with my recipes now but hadn't for this one and the berry muffins. I would really need to make them again to get the most accurate conversions but for now:
      100g = 1/2 cup
      50g = 1/4 cup
      245g = 1 3/4 cups
      75g = 1/3 cup
      the 100ml of water for the "egg" needs to be accurate and would be 6 Tbsp + 2 tsp.

      Now I can't guarantee the results will be the same as you get much more accurate and consistent results using weights but hope that works out for you :-)

      -Deb

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  8. I love you. Going to convince someone to bake these for me and will report back :)

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