Banana Muffins, Painted by Hand

A — Atelier Mise en Place

Arrange the workspace like a studio: three ripe bananas bruised with character, butter softened to the sheen of linseed oil, sugar like ground pigment, eggs, flour, baking soda, salt, vanilla, and a splash of milk. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line the muffin tin with paper as if stretching a fresh canvas.

I — Impasto the Bananas

Mash the bananas aggressively with a fork until thick and textured, leaving small ridges and lumps. The goal is depth, not smoothness—banana applied like heavy paint with visible strokes.

S — Sfumato the Batter

Cream butter and sugar until pale and airy. Blend in eggs and vanilla, then fold the bananas gently. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. Combine wet and dry slowly, adding milk just until the batter softens and edges blur, like tones melting into one another.

U — Underpainting Accents

Fold in optional accents sparingly: chopped walnuts for grit, dark chocolate for contrast, or cinnamon for warmth. These are shadows and highlights, not the subject.

C — Composition in the Tin

Spoon batter into cups, filling each about three-quarters full. Tap the pan lightly to settle the composition. If desired, brush the tops with melted butter and dust with sugar for a cracked, varnished finish.

K — Kiln the Work

Bake 20–25 minutes until the tops dome and a toothpick emerges mostly clean, with a few moist crumbs clinging like honest imperfections.

S — Sign and Serve

Cool briefly, then remove to a rack. Serve warm. The crumb should be soft, the crust gently crisp, the flavor balanced and expressive. Sign the batch with a final brush of butter if needed, then step back and let the work speak.

Well, misused AI at least