Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins!

This recipe is a huge hit with my older children, and "normals" seem to like it as well!  I don't eat things like this everyday.  I have actually found that after my initial transition to Paleo eating and all of the gorging on trail mix that I did in the early days, too many nut-based treats upset my stomach.  My children, however, don't seem to have that issue and Paleo treats are welcome in our household, in moderation.  I will still eat these - but I do intentionally limit my own consumption.

I like to have something like this made when we either host or attend a playdate, or when the kids are going to some event that has muffins (i.e., my daughter's Sparks sleepover a few weeks back).  They can bring their own muffin(s) and not feel left out when the other kids have a treat, and they don't have to worry about the inevitable upset digestion that comes from gluten exposure.   We are not rabid, 100% Paleo in our diets - but me and the kids avoid gluten like the plague!


Here's how I made these:

Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 1 overripe banana (as this is the major source of sweetness in this recipe, the riper the better!), mashed
• 1 cup of almond butter
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup of unsulphured ribbon coconut (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, beat or vigorously mix the eggs and mashed bananas together.  Once combined, add the almond butter, salt, vanilla and cinnamon, stirring to combine.  Fold in the chocolate chips and coconut (if using).  I tend to crumple the coconut up with my hands as I add it to the bowl, but if you are really ambitious, you could use a knife or food process to make it smaller.  (Or, if you are less ambitious, buy the already shredded coconut.)

Bake in muffin tins lined with parchment cups for 13 to 15 minutes.  These will store in your refrigerator for at least a week, if they last that long!

A Note on Chocolate Chips...

For this batch, I used the "Enjoy Life" mini chips, that are totally dairy free.  These do, however, seem to have more sugar in them than other chocolate chips available.  As I have a dairy allergy, I have prioritized 100% dairy free over having less sugar in them.  That might not be a choice other people would make - there are plenty of dark chocolate chips that have less sugar in them, but "may" contain dairy.  (Likely, they are just made in a facility that also uses milk products.)  So the decision-making process will be different based on what your own family's needs are with respect to your diets.  I will say that I did try the 100% cocoa nibs and I do not recommend them, for anything really.  If you like them, more power to you, but I did not like them at all!