Allrecipes: Mocha Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

I forget how I came across the recipe, but I am certainly glad I did.  I rarely buy bananas because I only like eating them for one short period between green and spotted, but if you manage to wait patiently for just the right amount of sweetness, they are perfect in this muffin.  They are like little individual banana breads, super tender and sweet, with a crunchy top that just works perfectly.

Mocha Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
Adapted from Allrecipes

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1¼ cups granulated sugar
1 large egg
3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
1 tablespoon instant espresso granules, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 21 to 24 muffin cups with paper or foil liners.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, blend butter and sugar until well mixed and fluffy.  Add the egg, bananas, dissolved coffee, and vanilla extract and mix well. Add flour, salt, baking powder, and soda, and blend just until flour disappears. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer, and using a wooden spoon or spatula, add chocolate chips and mix in. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cups, filling about ⅔ full.

Bake for 25 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Makes 21 to 24 muffins