Strawberry Banana Bread Muffins

Hello!  Can you believe July is half over? I've personally enjoyed this month thanks to the busier pace over here. It's felt a lot more like summer. For one, I've gotten back to my Fit4mom classes.  For anyone wondering, Fit4mom is a fitness group for mamas and kiddos. And what a godsend! I've always viewed it as that, but especially now.  It feels so "normal" to rush out the door in the mornings. I savor the fresh air, beautiful shaded park, and hearing my kiddos sing along with others.  Socializing can be so hard during this stay at home lifestyle. These mornings are truly special and I'm forever grateful for this community. 

So with early mornings and getting everyone (and everything) out door, I've been relying heavily on grab and go breakfast options.  Today's tasty muffin mix recipe fits right into those mornings.

And the combination of banana and fresh strawberries fit right into the summer season.

These strawberry banana bread muffins are tender, moist and delicious.  Bite into the banana flavor you love and get the nutrition from protein rich yogurt and fresh strawberries. Enjoy the convenience with a touch of homemade.  Best of all, they’re super easy! Open a box of muffin mix for a delicious breakfast or mid afternoon snack. 

Muffin Mix Made Easy

Oh, how I love a good box of muffin mix.  Talk about a tasty time saver with infinite possibilities!  And for someone who doesn’t love baking from scratch (that’s me), these boxes are like gold. They save time, money, and the flavors are endless! If you have specific dietary needs, there's guaranteed to be a box for you.  I’ve seen everything from sugar free and gluten free to wheat free and organic. 

And the best part? Mixes are sold everywhere.  I snagged one the other day at Walgreens while picking up photos!

While I don't have any dietary restrictions, I do pay attention to the sugar content.  I was shocked one day when I flipped over the banana bread box from Trader Joe's to see the nutrition facts.  Basically, a whole day worth of sugar in one serving. The FIRST ingredient was sugar!  My love for TJ's runs deep so it pains me to share this.  But since their products are often high quality, one can easily mistaken that for "healthy." Obviously that wasn't the case here. Sugar is everywhere. Flip over the box before tossing it in the cart. Don't stress over the Ingredients, but if you have a choice, I encourage buying the better option. 

Two brands I suggest are Pillsbury Quick Bread and Krusteaz baking mixes.  Nutritionally, they tend to be a bit more balanced.  But shop around. And remember, what you add to the muffins will also create an better bite.

Strawberry Banana Muffins Made Better

Customizing muffins with your favorite add ins quickly transforms a prepared mix into a homemade masterpiece.  Fruits, yogurt and nuts blend well and add so much good. 

The greek yogurt provides great taste and protein. Starting the day with protein is so important. It fuels the mind and body while helping to maintain our blood sugar. My kids love these muffins and I love the nutrition.  I also love how moist and fluffy they are. If you haven't used greek yogurt in your muffins (or any baked good really), you're missing out.

You're also getting fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants thanks to the chunks of fragrant, juicy fresh strawberries. Mix them into the batter or toss them on top for a beautiful pop of color. Such a sweet way to start the morning. 

And there is one secret ingredient-- powdered peanut butter.  I love PB2! It's another easy way to up the protein.  And since I usually spoon peanut butter on warm muffins anyways, I sprinkled this in for the taste and nutrition.  It's mess free and perfect for on the go.    This ingredient is completely optional but a great example just how you can make a mix any way you want it. 

Strawberry Banana Bread Pancakes

Have you ever made pancakes from muffin mix?  It's the best and so easy! The true definition of sheet pan pancakes-- Pour, bake, and flip right onto your plate.  Or flip into an airtight container for a delicious option all week long. Full of flavor, moist and fun to eat. 

Simply prepare the batter as directed in the recipe, pour batter onto baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 5-8 minutes. 

How to make Strawberry Banana Bread Muffins

Skip the measuring, the mess and cleanup.  All you need is a box of banana flavored bread or muffin mix, greek yogurt and fresh cut strawberries.  Combine the muffin mix and yogurt with water and stir until blended. Pour into pan and top with fresh chopped strawberries.  

Bake until light golden brown and toothpick inserted into the center of muffin comes out clean. 

With this recipe, you don't have to be team muffin or team pancake.  You can do a little bit of both! I can usually get 10-12 muffins and a sheet of pancakes out of this recipe, depending on size.  You can choose how big you want to make muffins and pancakes, just note that baking time and consistency may slightly vary. 

 

Strawberry Banana Bread Muffins

Ingredients:

1 box of banana flavored quick bread mix (or muffin mix)

1 cup greek yogurt

1 cup water

fresh strawberries, sliced

1-2 tablespoon powdered peanut butter, optional

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  

2. Combine all ingredients (except strawberries) in mixing bowl and stir until combined

3. Prepare muffins or pancakes by the following steps:

Muffins

• Grease muffin tin or use liners
• Fill muffins 1/2-3/4 way full
• Top with strawberries
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean

Pancakes

• Line baking sheet with foil and lightly grease
• Pour 1/4 cup batter directly onto pan, allowing for some space between each pancake
• Top with strawberries
• Bake for 5-10 minutes, until lightly brown 

Enjoy warm or allow to cool and store in airtight container in the fridge

Notes:

• For best results, bake muffins directly in greased muffin tin. Liners make for easy cleanup but muffins will stick
• Warm in microwave for 15 seconds prior to serving from fridge 

I hope this recipe brings a better balance to your morning. It sure helps us! After all, an easy morning sets the stage for a great day.  Enjoy!

xo,

Brit