Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Frosting

Katie
Life can stink sometimes. Those times when you smile at that Cute Boy in the hallway and he looks right through you, or when you think you aced a really hard math test and get it back only to find you somehow didn't see three questions, or when you actually make your bed to impress your parents and your cat pees all over your comforter. Yep. Life sure can stink.

But then there are those times that follow the stinky parts that make everything better, at least for a while. Like when the Cute Boy talks to you in class the next day or you get an A+ on the following math test or you still manage to impress your parents, only this time by doing a whole load of cat pee soaked laundry. I guess it's true - life gives you lemons and we all had better learn how to make lemonade.

And sometimes life gives you bananas. The other day, for example. There were three really, really, really old bananas sitting on my butcher block so pathetically that I had to do something. Bananas this ripe are like those teachers that stay at school until they are 80 years old and borderline senile.

They aren't good at their job anymore but obviously still want to serve a purpose to humanity, so the only thing they can really do is retire and become a substitute. These bananas didn't want to be thrown away, but no one was ever going to eat them. So I gave them one last chance at life and made them muffins.

A good muffin (which these are, of course,) is three things: moist, flavorful, and humble. It should not be dry and tasteless like so many store-bought ones are, and above all it should not try to be a cupcake. Cupcakes are allowed to have sprinkles and colored frosting and cute little shapes.

Muffins, on the other hand, are supposed to be quiet and unassuming and boring and therefore so much better when they're delicious. Retired teachers are not also pop stars, and that is perfectly fine.

So life stunk for these bananas. They were lonely and no good at their job, which was to be eaten. But then life (or I guess I did) gave them a happy ending, and the rest is history.

P.S. I've heard rumors that Cute Boys like muffins.

Banana Muffins with Cinnamon Frosting
Adapted From Parragon's Muffins and Bakes Book

For the Batter:

• generous 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• pinch of salt
• generous 3/4 cup superfine sugar
• 6 tbsp milk
• 5 1/2 oz/150 g butter, melted
• 2 small bananas, mashed

For the Frosting:

• scant 1/4 cup cream cheese
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• scant 1 cup confectioner's sugar

1. Place 12 large paper cases in a deep muffin pan. Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together into a mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar.
2. Whisk the milk, eggs, and butter together in a separate bowl until combined. Slowly stir into the flour misture without beating. Fold in the mashed bananas.
3. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases and bake in a preheated oven, 400°F for 20 minutes until risen and golden. Turn out onto a wire rack and let cool.
4. To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter together in a bowl, then beat in the cinnamon and confectioners' sugar until smooth and creamy. Chill the frosting in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to firm up, then top each muffin with a spoonful.