Whole Wheat Banana Nutella Swirl Muffins

Do you remember about five years ago, when Nutella “hit the scene”? Of course the chocolately hazelnuty spread had been sold for decades, but a shiny new marketing and advertising campaign pushed it to the forefront of our brains, convinced us that it was the most awesome thing ever, and suggested we all go buy industrial sized containers of it. And that we did. Well, at least I did. Then a year later, a handful of angry customers sued the Nutella producer, demanding refunds and retribution for representing the sugary spread as a “healthy part of a balanced breakfast”. Well for me, this was hilarious. Can anyone say “flagrantly frivolous lawsuit”?  

It’s sugary, sweet, nutty and sinfully delicious. No way had people let the smiling mother and happy children on the commercials convince them that it was good for us. But moving on…I have a way to make Nutella healthy! Hear that, angry consumers? Stop being angry, and add bananas! Nutella and bananas go together in the same unexpected way that peanut butter and bananas do, but with chocolate. Win. By adding ripe bananas and whole wheat flour, Nutella can kind of be considered healthy. Or at least a healthy-ish part of a balanced breakfast.

What You’ll Need:

3 or 4 super ripe bananas
1 cup of Nutella
2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of baking powder
½ teaspoon of salt
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

What You’ll Do:

Preheat your oven to 350 and line your muffin pan with liners.

If you have a kitchen TV, turn it to Bravo and cross your fingers for a housewives reunion. There was one on as I made my muffins, and I’m sure it made them taste that much better. While watching, sift your whole wheat flour, baking soda and powder, and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mash your bananas, then whisk in sugars, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stop for a moment to laugh at a Phaedra Parks or Lisa Vanderpump confessional snippet, then gently fold the flour mixture into the banana mixture. Mix gently until it’s all combined and there are only a few lumps.

Grab your muffin tin and fill each cup ¾ way full with the yummy batter. Take a spoonful of Nutella and plop it on top of the batter, using a toothpick or other small object to swirl it into the batter. Place in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes.