Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Muffins

I came across this recipe on Pinterest and since my husband loves banana nut bread, I thought I'd give it a go. I've never made banana nut bread before but I'm pleased with how the recipe turned out. I made them in muffin form and added chocolate chips because I love chocolate.  If you're doing them in muffin form like I did, you'll want them in a 350 oven for 25-30 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Muffins

(original recipe: Cream Cheese Banana Nut bread by http://sugarandspice-celeste.blogspot.com)

What you'll need:

3/4 cup butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 4)

1 cup roughly chopped pecans, toasted

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

chocolate chips (optional)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350. Beat butter and cream cheese until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating until just blended.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until just blended. Stir in bananas, pecans, and vanilla. If you want chocolate chips, add them now.

For bread: Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 8x4 loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 1 hour, or until long tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean and sides are pulling away from the pan. Shield with aluminum foil for last 15 minutes to prevent browning, if necessary.

For muffins: Fill greased muffin cups about 3/4 full with batter. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted in center comes out clean. 

Cool on rack and enjoy!