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With chunks of sweet banana and lots of fresh clementine zest, these delicious, crumb topped muffins are sure to please!
"How would you like to learn a little trick to wake Papa up - without making a single sound?", I asked my two older granddaughters several years ago. Scott had gone upstairs to take a Sunday afternoon nap and it was getting close to dinner time.
The girls look at me quizzically.
"Can you be quiet as little mice?", I asked. They nodded sincerely. "And do this without making a single peep?". They shook their heads up and down, affirmatively, with wide eyes.
"Okay, this is how it works.", I said as I knelt down to their eye level and pulled two hairs from my head. I placed them carefully between their little fingers. "You have to, completely silently, open the bedroom door. Think you can do that?".
"Oh yes!" was their response; they were hooked.
"Then, you sneak in the bedroom on your very quietest tippy toes and stealthly make your way over to the bed where Papa's sleeping. If he snores a little, don't let that scare you, that's just what Papa's do. Okay, got it so far?".
"Yup, we got it Grammy. But then what?"
"Oh, that's the super simple part. You just take the little hairs and brush them across papa's nose. At first, he'll just swipe at his nose, thinking in his sleepiness, that perhaps there's a fly or a mosquito in the room. But do it a few more times and next thing you know, he'll be awake. And when he sees you two, he'll start laughing. Think you can pull it off?"
They were on their way up the stairs before I even finished my sentence.
They discovered that day how perfectly this little trick works! And these days, whenever anyone's taking a nap at our house the girlies quite frequently ask me "Grammy, could you give us a hair? "
Perhaps your family members might not be as good natured as "Papa" or wouldn't relish a hair on their nose. You probably don't like the thought of pulling out hair either.
The perfect way to get guests out of bed in the morning...
Well, do I have another trick for you! And, to be honest, Scott likes this one much better.
Just put together a batch of these Brown Sugar Banana Clementine Muffins. That's all it takes; whether it's early morning or midday, the heavenly aroma of brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and cloves that will waft through your entire house will be enough to pull even the sleepiest heads out of bed.
I bought a big bag of clementines several weeks ago for my Kale and Clementine Salad. We enjoyed some that were left over for snacking and also on our breakfast yogurt. There only were a few remaining when an idea for muffins with clementines and bananas started rolling around in my head the other day.
The problem was that I tried four times (one recipe was too dry, one too wet, another too flat) before I got the muffins just right, which meant that I had to go back and buy more clementines. Another huge bag.
So now I've got clementines everywhere you look! You know what that means, right? Yup, there just might be another clementine recipe coming up soon...
So don't worry when you see that big bag of clementines at the market (they don't seem to come in small quantities.). Throw one in your cart and check out a few of our clementine recipes, there's cake, salad, salad dressing, marmalade, even soup! And instead of setting an alarm for your family or house guests next weekend, just whip up a batch of these delicious, Brown Sugar Banana-Clementine Muffins. I'm quite certain they'll be happy you didn't use the "other trick" to get them out of bed.
- Ingredients for the topping:
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt if using unsalted butter
- 5 tablespoons butter melted
- Ingredients for the muffins:
- 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons clementine zest
- ½ cup canola or other mild flavored oil
- 1 ⅓ cups packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large banana not overly ripe, diced into ¼ inch pieces
- Ingredients for the glaze:
- 1 ¼ cup confectioners' sugar
- 3 tablespoons clementine juice
-
Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line 18 standard size muffin cups with paper liners or spray with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
-
For the crumb topping, combine sugars, flour, spices and salt in a medium size bowl. Stir well to combine then slowly drizzle in butter while stirring with a fork. Keep stirring after all butter is added till mixture gets crumbly and all dry ingredients are incorporated.
-
For the muffins, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and clementine zest in a medium size bowl. Stir and set aside.
-
Combine oil, brown sugar and egg in another medium size bowl. Stir till combined then add buttermilk and vanilla and stir again.
-
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour buttermilk mixture into the well and stir just until there are no longer any traces of flour. Add the bananas and gently stir.
-
Divide mixture between the 18 prepared muffin cups. Place a heaping tablespoon of the crumbs on top of each, dividing the crumbs equally and mounding them up slightly in the center.
-
Place in oven and immediately reduce temperature to 350˚F. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
-
Remove from oven and allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
-
To make the glaze, combine confectioners’ sugar and clementine juice. Whisk with a fork until smooth. If the glaze is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar as needed. Drizzle muffins with the glaze while warm. Glaze will set within 15-20 minutes.
Beverley Press says
Chris they look absolutley delicious and the photography is excellent at always xoxo
Sandra Garth says
I need to have a few batches of these on standby this weekend. Merry Christmas!
Susan says
ps: Loved the story about Papa and the Hair 🙂
Susan says
I could eat a whole bag of clementines by myself but what a great way to use 1 or 2 to make these beautiful muffins! Love the spoon pic 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
These are definitely a crowd pleaser and wonderful to wake up to!
Chris Scheuer says
They truly are Angie!
ginny Hartzler says
Oh my, I don't think my comment went through. SO, I will begin again! These look amazing! And they must smell just as good as they look. Yes, I can imagine the smell would be better to awaken to then even coffee! what a sweet game to play with the girls! And he just cannot get mad when he wakes up and sees them!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Ginny! They do smell amazing as they bake. And yes he can't get made at them!
ginny Hartzler says
Oh my gosh! Yum, these must smell just as good as they look! What a cute little game to play with your girls. and he cannot get mad when he wakes up to THEM!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
Oh yes these would wake anybody up on a nice cold morning. I bet they are amazing warm from the oven. Worth revisiting for sure!
Chris Scheuer says
thanks Tricia!
Linda @ 2CookinMamas says
Love your story! Might even use it with my grandchildren. This recipe sounds delicious as most of yours do. Merry Christmas!
Jemma says
Chris,
What a gorgeous and tasty combination of flavors and I just bet the scent while they are baking is incredible too!
Pinned!
Merry Christmas,
Jemma
John@Kitchen Riffs says
One can never have too many clementines! My favorite breakfast at this time of the year. Although I'd prefer these muffins -- these looks super. And I love that story! 🙂 Thanks so mluch.
Juliana says
This is such a creative muffins....banana and clementine, what a great idea, especially topped with the clementine glazed...
Hope you are having a great week Chris 🙂
Catherine says
Dear Chris, These muffins look so tempting!!! and waiting for a nice cup of tea. xo Catherine
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
Chris:
These brown sugar muffins with clementine glaze are tempting me beyond my strength. I will have to have these soon. The first pic is a show stopper! Just to look at it, I can feel the glaze in my mouth.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
These muffins look like heaven, Chris! I love the combination of streusel topping and glaze :).
cheri says
Hi Chris, another winner, love these muffins, so full of goodness. Also great trick to wake up someone from a nap is pretty cool too.
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon says
Chris, these look so good. I believe you could put that drizzle on an old tire and I would love it. 🙂
M.
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
I've never seen clementines here unfortunately 🙁 I love the look of the first photo with the drizzle Chris. Beautiful! What cheeky little girls they are.
Leigh says
You should be able to find mandarins instead. Clementines are really just cross-bred to be seedless.
I'm trying everything with blood oranges right now and am very tempted to try substituting them.
Edna Siu says
Chris, you are the most lovely, wonderful, creative, young-at-heart granny, your grandkids must have been enjoying spending time with their "old" folks. They are learning those "old" tracks of fun from you that are so new and so much fun to play with anyone. (in the house, of course) Love to read your post very much, without any age gap. Thanks for sharing your family with us, and reminds us those back "old"days, I do not have grandkid yet, but still can imagine how mush you can enjoy life and sharing your life.
Chris Scheuer says
Thank you Edna, you are so kind. Yes, I think like is too short to not have fun. And those grandchildren grow up so fast we try to appreciate and enjoy every day with them. 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
mmmm..streusel...these muffins look divine! I love the combo of banana and clementine, Chris.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
These muffins would wake me up from the soundest sleep. Pulling my hair out for my grandchildren - I'd have to think about that. 🙂
Ginny Hartzler says
You have got to be the best grandma ever!! I think it may be because you know the secret to mischief! I love clementines and these look so GOOD!
Chris Scheuer says
I'm not sure about being the best grandma ever Ginny but I think you did hit the nail on the head. They say that my middle name is mischief or rascal!
Susie Gall says
Beautiful - truly beautiful and your recipe sounds delicious.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Susie!
Monique says
Aaaatchoo!
Clementine are making thir presence felt..always with chestnuts:)
These look and sound grand.
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
omg Chris I couldn't wait to comment on this, You guys are so creative! --- Pinning and sharing and loving! Thanks!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Sue, that means a lot coming from you! 🙂