Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:

• 2 to 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (you can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
• Optional: chopped nuts (such as walnuts or pecans)

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a muffin tin or line it with paper muffin cups.
2. Mash Bananas: In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth. A few small lumps are okay as they’ll add texture to the muffins.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the melted butter to the mashed bananas and mix well. Then, add the sugar, vanilla extract, and mix until the ingredients are combined.
4. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are fine.
5. Add Chocolate Chips and Nuts: Gently fold in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts if you’re using them. This will add extra flavor and texture to your muffins.
6. Fill Muffin Cups: Spoon the muffin batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
7. Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. The baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them.
8. Cool: Once done, remove the muffin tin from the oven and let the muffins cool in the tin for a few minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Enjoy: Once the muffins are completely cooled, you can enjoy them! They’re great as a snack, breakfast treat, or even dessert.