Banana bread doesn’t make an entrance often in my household because there are only two of us to eat it. Now and then, I have an excuse to whip something like the Banana Pecan Bread with Dark Chocolate Chips, but not often enough to soothe the cravings.
You know what I’m going to say, right? Yes. Banana Nut Muffin in a Mug, or Muggin to the rescue.

nuts throughout

add cacoa nibs

cacoa nibs throughout

I started playing around with ingredients a few weeks ago and came up with several varieties. You may recall the Gluten free, Dairy free Banana Nut Cinnamon Muggin recently created.

It was delicious, but I wanted to offer another Banana Nut Muggin for those who like the convenience of using the Muggin Mix – which is not gluten free, but is very handy.

The banana makes this so moist and the nuts add a great texture.
One version added toasted pecans, and mixed them into the batter. YUM.
Another day I put honey roasted slivered almonds in the bottom of the mug and mixed the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and then poured them over the almonds.
When I turned it out onto a plate, it had that wonderful “upside down” effect and was also delicious.

But I’m also in a baker’s quandary: what to do with cacao nibs. These are little bits of the cacao bean, so are unsweetened, but are supposed to add real chocolate flavor. So far, I’m not sold on that. But I roasted some and added a few to another banana nut muggin. My hubby liked the flavor better than I did.
I still think the nibs need some sugar. If you have suggestions about what to do with them, please leave a note.
Cacoa nibs will likely have a blog post of their own in the near future.
In the meantime, I found another blog that has lots of helpful cooking advice. Please visit Mom to Chef, written by Jolie Angie: http://www.momtochef.com/

You’ll enjoy her site and I’m hoping she (or a reader) can help me with the pound of cacoa nibs sitting in my cupboard unused.

But back to Banana Nut Muggins: get out a large mug and your muggin mix and let’s whip up breakfast!

First, if you are new to muggins, you will want to visit (and make) the blog about the Muggin mix. http://www.nanaclareskitchen.com/2012/03/07/make-a-mix-for-blueberry-almond-muffin-in-a-mug-and-more/
Ingredients for the Muggin mix
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or white flour – your choice)
1 cup oats – quick or old fashioned
½ cup ground flax meal
½ cup wheat germ
3 TBS baking powder

make in a separate bowl

Ingredients for the Banana Nut Muggin – three options
1 egg
1/2 small banana
1 TBS honey
3 TBS muggin mix (see above)
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 TBS nuts
2 TBS cacao nibs or chocolate chips

almonds on top

Directions
If you want the nuts on top, put them in the bottom of the cup or mug.
Next mix the ingredients in a bowl and pour the batter over the nuts.
Microwave as usual and when you turn it out onto a plate – voila!

Regular directions
Crack the egg in the cup and add the other ingredients.
Blend well with a fork.
Microwave 1 1/2 – 3 minutes depending on your microwave oven.

Enjoy.
Other Single Serving items you may enjoy from Nana Clare’s Kitchen:
Chocolate cake in a cup
http://www.nanaclareskitchen.com/2012/02/03/chocolate-cake-in-a-cup/
Caramel apple cake in a cup
http://www.nanaclareskitchen.com/2012/03/03/caramel-apple-cake-in-a-cup/

Cinnamon muggin
http://www.nanaclareskitchen.com/2012/02/24/cinnamon-muffin-in-a-mug/