Bananas + Peanut Butter = Heaven. I'm not sure why I held off making these for so long. Well, yeah, I do. I'm not a baker and the idea of
making frosting scares me. I fear no more. Incredibly easy and super yummy (did I mention that it's
bananas and
peanut butter?) these cupcakes rock. Also check out my awesome attempt at frosting "fancy".
Banana Cupcakes:
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
1-1/4 cups ripe banana mashed
Preheat oven to 350 degs F.
Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and vanila and mix until batter is smooth.
Combine all dry ingredients and mix into batter in 3 parts, alternating with buttermilk. Reduce speed to low and mix for 2 more minutes.
Line cupcake pan with wrappers. Using a spatula, gently fold mashed bananas into batter. Scoop into cups until 2/3 full.
Bake for 25 minutes and let cool.
For Frosting, combine:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 stick softened unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla
Add:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
3 tbsp milk
Mix until spreadable.
Makes 18. (or 24)
[
click here for printable version]
I'm sure I've mentioned that baking is not my thing. I'm getting better at it, learning to be more patient with things and so I've been baking more often than in the past. For Joe's 3rd birthday I attempted to make a fire truck cake (which turned out pink and definitely NOT very fire truckish looking) and that was my last attempt at cake art. This year, knowing that I really wanted to make up for not making a cake for his birthday last year, I did tons of research. Found the the best ways to do things and then committed myself to cake for an entire weekend.
Joe and I agreed on a vertical layer cake. I followed I Am Baker's tutorial [click here]. I made mistakes. I was impatient. The results are less than perfect but the grin on The Spawn's face would have fooled ya. He thought the cake was awesomeness wrapped in a burrito. [Please don't ask why, but everything cool at our house has to be wrapped in a burrito. We're weird.] I'm kind of looking forward to the next birthday cake adventure, which will be The Diva's in October, so lots of time to practice! [I've already been told she wants Tinkerbell. God help me.]
