Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

I love peanut butter. Like love love I'll smear it on anything love it. (Are you accusing me of sticking a spoon into the jar and just eating the gooey yummy creamy peanut butter straight out of the jar? How could you?!? You know me so well...) And, for the past 3 years or so, I've been giving up peanut butter for Lent. This means that I only have a few more weeks to enjoy as much PB as possible before I have to give it up for 40 days and nights. Bad timing too because I just began a love affair with Peanut Butter & Co's Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Peanut Butter. That's right. You heard me. Cinnamon Raisins IN Peanut Butter. I've been a big fan of Peanut Butter & Co's products but didn't stumble upon its Cinnamon Raisin variety until recently. WOW. Died. Went to heaven. (Philosophical Question: Once you reach Heaven, do you have to observe Lent?)

Speaking of heavenly- aahhha some cinnamon raisin peanut butter banana muffins. I had some very very ripe (a few more days and they were going to be rotten) bananas that were just perfect for baking purposes. I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to use my new peanut butter BFF in a recipe. 

This muffin recipe is pretty standard as far as muffin recipes are concerned but it does call for four bananas (maybe more banana then most recipes require). I added in some chia seeds because (1) they are so "in" right now and (2) the real reason: we all need a little more fiber in our diets. Warning: These are not low-fat diet friendly muffins (read 1 stick butter PLUS more peanut butter). But- enjoy in limited quantities and you won't feel quite as guilty. I mean the peanut butter makes it so worth it. 

Cinnamon Raisin Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

(Yields: About 18 muffins) 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter (room temp)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk (I use skim)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup chia seeds 
• 1 tsp cinnamon 

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper liners. 
• Mix sugar and butter together. Stir in eggs until blended.
• Add bananas, milk, and vanilla to mixture.
• Add in peanut butter. Mix well.
• Stir in flour, chia seeds, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
• Spoon batter into muffin cups, about 2/3 full. 
• Bake about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of a muffin comes out clean. 
  

Do you love peanut butter as much as I do? What is your favorite "go-to" recipe that uses peanut butter?