Black Walnut Coco-Banana Muffins

November 26, 2019April 20, 2020 - Brittany Furbee

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Black Walnut Coco-Banana Muffins

Easy breakfast treat for the holidays!

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
• 2 cups All Purpose Flour
• 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 2 ripe bananas mashed
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 teaspoons maple syrup
• 8 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup black walnuts divided
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips for topping

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a standard muffin pan with paper muffin cups.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking powder, espresso powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 cup of walnuts. Set aside.
3. In a large measuring cup or medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, bananas, milk, and maple syrup. Add melted butter and stir.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir by hand.
5. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling to the top with batter.
6. Add remaining walnuts and chocolate chips on top of batter before baking.
7. Bake the muffins for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a tooth pick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
8. Remove the muffins from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing.

This recipe was produced for an article, titled “WV Culinary Team: Going nuts over black walnuts in Appalachia”, in the Charleston Gazette Mail in collaboration with Candace Nelson.

“You may have seen the giant, green balls littering lawns and fields, dropping on top of cars, and maybe bouncing off sidewalks this fall.

The black walnut — a greenish-yellow tennis ball-sized hull that encapsulates a dark, slightly bitter and smoky nut — is an autumn Appalachian signature.

Many rural families take to the woods in search of the meaty treasures before hauling them home to remove the husk and crack the shell. It’s a labor of love to dig out the meat of the nut — which includes soaking, heavy-duty crackers and a pick.

But is it worth it? Some think so.

The walnut itself divides families: Either you love the flavor or you find it too bitter. If you fall into that first category, you may be one of those who are keeping up the tradition of hand harvesting black walnuts. Or, if that sounds like too much work, you can often find them at a local farmer’s market and enjoy the fruits without the effort. If you’re not a fan, you may pay someone to take them off your hands — and yard.

There is an entire town in West Virginia that celebrates this fall delicacy. At the West Virginia Black Walnut Festival, Spencer hosts a bake contest which must include black walnuts, a food court that incorporates the nut and vendors who pay homage to the nut.

Black walnuts are great in baked goods like muffins and cakes. They also pair perfectly with fudge and even ice cream. Local chefs have even incorporated them into savory dishes featuring fish or beef. Just be careful to not let the bitter flavor overpower all the other flavors in a meal.

Securing the black walnut is still a pastime for many families, as black walnuts remain wild and are hand harvested. It’s yet another fruit from the land that has prompted Appalachians to be innovative and creative with their meals to incorporate the local food. The black walnut is just one more example of how Appalachians have made creative use of the sustenance they have available to create delicious meals that are rooted in place.

Whether you prefer black walnuts in your ice cream or not, the role they play in Appalachia’s food culture is clear. Which side are you on? Pro- or anti-black walnut?”

Candace Nelson is a marketing professional living in Charleston. She is the author of “The West Virginia Pepperoni Roll” from WVU Press. In her free time, Nelson blogs about Appalachian food culture at CandaceLately.com. Find her on Twitter at @Candace07 or email CandaceRNelson@gmail.com.