My Famous Vegan Mini Muffins

​A basic banana muffin gets a surprise of tangy berries. You can substitute other fruit for the berries, such as chopped peaches, apples, or dried apricots. Experiment with your favourite flavour combinations.
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Ingredients:

• 2 cups unbleached white flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium bananas)
• ½ c maple syrup, honey, or barley malt
• 6 Tbs vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 tsp lemon extract (optional)
• ½ cup water 
• ½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries, or cranberries

Directions:
​Heat oven to 375 F. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine remaining ingredients, except berries. Pour this into flour mixture and stir until just combined. (Do not stir any longer, or muffins might be tough.)
Add berries and stir to distribute them throughout the batter. Spoon the batter into greased MINI muffin tins to 2/3 full. (You can line the muffin tin with paper or foil liners instead of greasing.)
Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until muffins are risen, firm and slightly golden on top. Makes approx. 24-28 muffins.

Now this is where the fun begins. Let your imagination go wild. Once you’ve made a few batches following this recipe and know what consistency your looking for and so on, try switching it up a little.
Add some spices, cinnamon, nutmeg or apple pie spice with chopped apples. Sometimes I decrease the flour content and add a package of quick cooking oatmeal and raisons. 
Substitute apple sauce for the mashed bananas. I’ve even switched it up and used pureed pumpkin with a hint of pumpkin pie spice and mini chocolate chips. Or mashed sweet potato and mini dark chocolate chips. (the grand babies love this version). 
I’ve made ones with ½ flour, ¼ whole-wheat flour and ¼ ground flaxseed/wheatgerm mixture. If the batter is too stiff then add some more liquid. (Frozen mashed bananas usually have a lot of extra liquid anyways.)
Add some nuts and seeds with a few chocolate chips for a trail mix muffin. 
Add a few tablespoons for cocoa, and some almond slivers for a chocolately muffin that won’t stay around the house very long.
Oh the possibilities are endless.