Banana Breakfast Muffins

(pardon the yellow hue to my photo)
I'm NOT a banana fan. So when I have bananas turning the corner to yuck street, I usually throw them in a baggie and put them in the freezer for smoothies. This morning, however, I made muffins. And I was short on time. So I grabbed me a yellow cake mix, and when they were done, I wondered WHY? it took me so long to think of this?!

These babies are moist and delicious, and not so heavy (one of the reasons I don't make banana breads so often).

Gather:
one box classic yellow cake mix (I used Pillsbury)
1/2 cup applesauce
over-ripe bananas (I used five (!) small ones)
three eggs
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Peel bananas and throw in the kitchen-aid mixer.
Add applesauce, eggs and water.
Pour in cake mix, and mix until there are no lumps.
Pour by 1/3 cup measures into paper-lined muffin tins.
Sprinkle 1 TBSP streudel topping over batter in tins. (see below)

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Tops should look slightly browned.

Streudel topping:
1/2 stick margerine or butter
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar

cut butter into dry ingredients until mixed together.

It's the frosting that got me...

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Moist Pumpkin Spice Muffins (W/Cream Cheese Frosting)
(Courtesy of the Pioneer Woman)

Muffins:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1 heaping cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup golden raisins (optional!)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Generously grease 12 muffin tins.
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until all incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla. Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Add raisins. Fold gently until mixture is just combined. Pour into greased muffin pan—batter hardly ever fills all twelve unless you keep it down to 1/2 full. Sprinkle generous amounts of cinnamon-sugar over the top of each unbaked muffin.
Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and allow to cool.
Ice with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup softened butter
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 pound powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients on high until soft and whipped. Spread onto completely cooled muffins, or place into a large pastry bag with a large star tip and go crazy!
Store in fridge, as icing will soften at room temperature.

Apple Walnut Muffins.

INGREDIENTS:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
dash ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large apple, finely chopped, about 1 cup
1 large egg
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (about 1 6-ounce container)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup applesauce
6 tablespoons butter, melted
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Topping Mixture:
3 to 4 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts or pecans
3 to 4 tablespoons packed brown sugar

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly grease muffin cups or line with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder and soda, spices, and salt. Stir in chopped apple.
Whisk together egg, vanilla yogurt, vanilla, applesauce, and melted butter. Stir into dry ingredients until just combined.
Do not over mix.

Fill prepared muffin cups about 2/3 full.
Mix topping ingredients together.

Sprinkle a small amount of the topping mixture over each muffin.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned.

Makes 10 to 12 muffins.

Truly Scrumptious