Mini Chocolate Chip Banana Peanut Butter Muffins

I've had a version of something chocolatey / peanut buttery / and banana-ey on my radar for awhile now and finally had the chance to bake something up that fit the bill this week. I saw this recipe on Mom's Test Kitchen and knew this was the one for me! These disappeared in less than 24 hours - and my son ate 90 percent of them. He LOVED them! I thought the flavors blended really nicely as the day went on and they tasted better by the end of the day then they did at the beginning (the one I tried straight from the oven had a really strong peanut butter flavor, but by the afternoon / evening the peanut butter flavor mellowed and you could taste the banana more which was a better balance).

Little bite sized treats are perfect for weekend snacking or lunch box goodies - and I know with how fast these disappeared they will be making another appearance in our home again soon!

Mini Chocolate Chip Banana Peanut Butter Muffins from Mom's Test Kitchen
Yield: about 3 dozen mini muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Generous pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup applesauce
2 ripe bananas, mashed or cut into small slices
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray your mini muffin tin(s) with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and the salt. Set to the side.
3. In another bowl, add the butter and sugar and blend thoroughly until light and fluffy. One at a time, add in the eggs and blend to combine well. Next add in the applesauce, bananas, and peanut butter one at a time, blending well between each item.
4. Slowly add in the flour mixture, a little at a time, making sure to blend well after each addition. 
5. Mix in the chocolate chips by hand.
6. Fill the muffin tins to about 3/4 full and bake for 14-16 minutes, or until muffins are lightly browned on the bottom and top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Allow to cool for a couple minutes in the tins and then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.