Banana Bread Muffins

This recipe came from The All New Blue Ribbon Cookbook and it IS a winner!

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 18 muffins

Ingredients

• 2  cups flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cup butter
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1 1⁄2 cups  mashed ripe bananas (3 medium or 2 large)
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 cup buttermilk
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced almonds
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced almonds, for topping (optional)
• 1⁄4 cup raw sugar or 1⁄4 cup  coarse sugar, for topping (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Grease 18 muffin cups or coat with cooking spray.
3. In a small bowl, stir together flour, soda and salt.
4. In a medium bowl, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy.
5. Add eggs, mashed banana and vanilla.
6. Beat 2 minutes, until well blended.
7. Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, stirring after each addition.
8. Fold in 1/2 cup sliced almonds.
9. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling about three-fourths full.
10. If desired, sprinkle tops with a few sliced almonds and raw sugar.
11. Bake 20 minutes or until tops are slightly browned and a wooden pick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.