Preparation time: 20min  |  Cooking time: 25min   |  Servings: 12 (mini muffins)

My daughter's birthday is approaching! This weekend I made a trial with these cute, colorful butterfly muffins. If you read my previous posts, then you know that we are having a butterfly birthday party this year! We've already done butterfly birthday party invitations and now I am working out the butterfly sweet treats to serve for our little guests:)

I found a base for muffins recipe a long time ago, don't even remember where, and I always use it with some variations. It is always delicious and my daughter loves it, especially when I add bananas and chocolate chips! Normally, we just have muffins with no decoration, but this time, there needed to be some - butterflies! I prepared some homemade whipped cream, so these fruit butterflies could hold on top. I used strawberries, kiwi and raspberries to combine different colors, you may also try with other fruits if you like.

Did you know that several species of butterflies need more sodium than provided by nectar from flowers? That is why they sometimes land on people, attracted by the salt in human sweat.

Step1 Preheat your oven to 360F/180°C. Melt butter in a small saucepan or heat-proof bowl in the microwave. Mash bananas in a bowl. Beat eggs with sugar using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Then add butter, vanilla extract and mashed bananas. Stir gently.

Step2 In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add it to the mixture from step1 and stir gently with a spoon. Add chocolate chips and stir again, until all ingredients are well combined.

Step3 Spray muffin cups (I used mini muffin cups ) with oil or line with paper liners. Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin cups. Bake muffins for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Step4 While muffins cook, prepare the whipped cream. It is very easy to make and so yummy when homemade! Just remember to use a very well chilled cream that has 36 to 40 percent milk-fat content (heavy cream) or 30 to 36 percent (light whipping cream). Add whipping cream and sugar to a bowl and whip it using a mixer on medium speed. It is ready when soft peaks form - don't over-whipe the cream as it turns to butter! You can taste it and adjust the amount of sugar. Personally, I don't like it too sweet.

Step5 Cut strawberries and kiwi into slices. Cut each slice in half. Use a piping bag to spread whipped cream on each muffin. Decorate with fruits and chocolate biscuit sticks to make cute and colorful butterflies. Enjoy!

Butterfly banana muffins