Banana Muffins with a Greek Yogurt Topping and Toasted Coconut

by Peter G on November 3, 2008

in Recipes

banana muffins with a Greek yogurt topping and toasted coconut

I don’t do much baking.  I sometimes make cakes and sweets and end up usually distributing them to the neighbours and friends!  I think I have more of a “savoury tooth” than a sweet one.  But once in a while I get the urge and off I go.  So with a few left over and very dark bananas I made some muffins the other day.  I know there’s probably a million recipes for muffins floating around the net but what makes these stand out is the thick Greek yogurt topping.  I’ve finally managed to find a decent strained variety and I enhanced it with a little vanilla extract and some icing sugar.  The final little decadent touch was to toast some grated coconut in a hot oven and sprinkle it on top.  Perfect for breakfast or with your morning coffee.

banana muffins

RECIPE FOR BANANA MUFFINS

Dry Ingredients

  • 100g of self raising flour
  • 100g of wholemeal self raising flour
  • 100g of soft brown sugar
  • 1 tsp of baking powder
  • 1 tsp of ground cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

  • 3 very ripe/black bananas mashed thoroughly
  • 1/2 a cup of olive oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup of milk

GREEK YOGURT TOPPING

  • 100 g of good quality strained Greek yogurt
  • a good splash of vanilla extract
  • 1/2 a cup of icing sugar
  1. Mix all the dry ingredients together creating a well in the centre.
  2. Mix all the wet ingredients thoroughly, whisking with a fork.
  3. Add the wet to the dry and MIX UNTIL JUST COMBINED.
  4. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with some paper liners and scoop in the mixture making sure to leave a bit of room on the top for them to rise.
  5. Bake in a pre heated 180 deg C oven for about 20 mins.
  6. Muffins are ready when a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
  7. Remove from oven and let them cool in the tin for 5 mins.  Remove and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
  8. To make the yogurt topping whisk in the icing sugar with the vanilla until it becomes a little thick.  Place in the fridge as it will be easier to spread later.
  9. Once the muffins have cooled spread with topping and top with shredded toasted coconut.

muffins

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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }

FoodJunkie November 3, 2008 at 8:01 am

I love the yoghurt frosting! I think I will make it with my carrot cake…Mmmmm

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Happy Cook November 3, 2008 at 8:15 am

Don’t like sweet, wish i was like you. I love sweets.So i would love to have these muffins.

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Rosa November 3, 2008 at 8:24 am

What delightful muffins! I bet they’d go marvelously well with the cup of Ethiopian coffee I’m drinking right now…

Cheers,

Rosa

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Bellini Valli November 3, 2008 at 9:20 am

These would be such healthy sweets too Peter with the bananas and Greek yogurt:D

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Susan from Food Blogga November 3, 2008 at 12:16 pm

I love your “savory tooth” too, Peter. But after this post, I hope I get to see more of your sweet one. :)

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joan nova November 3, 2008 at 1:04 pm

I’m not one for baking either, but this sure caught my attention!!

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Niki November 3, 2008 at 2:42 pm

I love to bake and I have never ever thought of making an icing out of Greek yogurt! I am very excited to try this recipe this week!

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Peter November 3, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Nice Greek touch to the muffins. I made a similar topping for that pistachio/apricot cake. It’s healthier without sacrificing taste.

I think it’s coffee & muffin time!

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maria v November 3, 2008 at 3:06 pm

hooray for banana cake, my favorite teacake
as for icing them, it gets eaten too quickly!

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Ivy November 3, 2008 at 3:46 pm

I made a banana cake on Saturday and next time I’ll try your frosting. I love the addition of coconut. Have you been using your Polaroid camera? The pictures look a bit weird.

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snookydoodle November 3, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Nice recipe . I like the greek yogurt topping. Great photos too

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Lo! November 3, 2008 at 4:01 pm

Oh, wow. I love the idea of a tangy yogurt “frosting”… these sound absolutely perfect. I’ll bet I could even get away with eating them for breakfast, despite the fact that I usually avoid sweets in the a.m.!

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Veggie Wedgie November 3, 2008 at 4:49 pm

Great idea for a healthier cupcake version. I’m sure you could substitute the icing sugar for some agave nectar to make the sugar free as well!

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maria November 3, 2008 at 4:55 pm

Love muffins. Great portion size, portability etc. Your muffins sound delicious and I honestly have never tried a yogurt frosting but think I will soon have to. So much healthier I am sure.

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Y November 3, 2008 at 6:51 pm

Mmmm…muffins! I guess the great thing about banana cake or muffins is that it doesn’t need to be very sweet, so it’s perfect for non-sweet-tooths like yourself :) I like the sound of that frosting too!

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JennDZ_The LeftoverQueen November 3, 2008 at 10:18 pm

Wow, Peter! Those look just delightful! I love the combination of flavors, although I would probably take pumpkin over bananas at this stage in the game, being that it is autumn and all in this hemisphere!

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Marc @ NoRecipes November 3, 2008 at 11:48 pm

Love your icing and much healthier than buttercream. I will definitely have to give this a go.

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Heather November 4, 2008 at 12:25 am

That’s a really neat effect with the photos, Peter. There’s something very antiqued about them that’s really soothing and lovely.

I love banana muffins, too. :)

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Christie@fig&cherry November 4, 2008 at 6:56 am

Fabulous combo Peter! Tell me, what’s the brand of yoghurt? I need it.

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Laurie Constantino November 4, 2008 at 3:13 pm

A very healthy sounding treat! Like you, my husband doesn’t care for sweets. It took me a couple years before I believed him – and kept trying, unsuccessfully, to lure him with baked goods. Now, I rarely bake and when I do, it’s generally to give away or bring to a potluck. Maybe it’s a Greek male thing??

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MPG November 5, 2008 at 1:40 am

O wow! These looks so great, I could eat one right now…never had a yogurt topping on muffin before.

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Núria November 5, 2008 at 7:25 am

Chico your muffins look delicious!!! I just made another batch yesterday!!! I have became a muffins addict… I’m starting to play with the ingredients and measures… it’s fun ;D. I love your topping here, will definitevely try in my next batch!

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elly November 5, 2008 at 9:47 pm

Ooooh Peter do these ever look great. I’ve never thought of using yogurt as a frosting of sorts, but what a great idea! I will definitely give it a try.

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Liddi December 2, 2008 at 8:01 am

I made these muffins tonight, adding a few chopped dates. Recommended – very yummy, even without the topping…I haven’t added the yoghurt as yet, but am looking forward to that for breakfast tomorrow morning.

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