Muffin Monday: Banana Orange Coconut Muffins

With summer right around the corner, my mind slowly drifts into daydreaming about vacationing on a tropical island like Tahiti with a coconut smoothie in my hand. But considering that I’m going to have to start paying back $150,000 worth of student loans in about six months, I don’t think I’ll be able to have that kind of vacation anytime soon. But a girl can still dream, right?

Until that vacation happens, I have these muffins to keep me company. It has a banana muffin base with orange zest and shredded coconut, giving you a nice well-balanced tropical muffin filled with fun, fresh flavors. It’s a tropical paradise right in your kitchen.

Banana Orange Coconut Muffins (adapted from Epicurious):

Yields 9 muffins

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 ripe bananas
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Zest of 1 orange
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes, plus more for topping

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Line a 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners; set aside. (If you don’t want to use paper liners, you could coat a muffin pan with cooking spray instead.)

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.

In a large glass measuring cup or another bowl, mash the bananas.

Add the butter, sugar, egg, vanilla, orange zest, orange juice and coconut; beat until well combined.

Pour mixture over dry ingredients and stir using a rubber spatula just until moist.

Scoop the batter evenly into the muffin tray. Sprinkle with coconut.

I wanted to be more decorative so I topped some of the muffins with a banana chip. A slice of fresh banana also works well.

Place into oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.

Muffin Monday is an initiative by Baker Street. A culinary journey of sharing a wickedly delicious muffin recipe every week. Drop in a quick line to join her on her journey to make the world smile and beat glum Monday mornings week after week.

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