Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Fluffy and moist, these banana cupcakes are a delightful handheld alternative to banana bread when you’re looking to use your overripe bananas. The included chocolate cream frosting recipe makes enough to pile them sky high and guarantees that every bite is more indulgent than the last.

• 5 bananas, overripe
• 2 ½ Tbsp lemon juice, divided
• 1 ½ cups milk or milk substitute
• 3 cups AP flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• ½ cup butter, softened
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp salt
• 3 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
• ½ cup cocoa powder, sifted

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line up 24 baking cups.
2. Add 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice to a measuring cup with 1 ½ cups of milk. Stir and set aside.
3. Mash together banana with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and set aside.
4. Using an electric mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and 2 tablespoons of the banana mixture until creamy. Add in eggs one at a time and beat until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and beat to combine.
5. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk mixture to the egg mixture. Stir together each addition by hand, being careful not to overmix. Fold in mashed bananas.
6. Scoop batter into baking cups. Place in the oven and reduce the heat to 300°F. Bake for 18-23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7. Place on cooling racks for 10 minutes and then move the cupcakes to the fridge. This will make them extra moist. Cool completely before frosting.

1. Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla extract and salt and beat to combine.
2. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed after each addition. Add cocoa powder and beat until well combined. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

1. Large mixing bowl
2. Medium mixing bowl
3. Measuring cups
4. Measuring spoons
5. Whisk
6. Rubber spatula
7. Electric mixer
8. Cupcake liners
9. Piping bags
10. #199 Open star piping tip
11. #45 Basketweave piping tip