And…and…a surprise chocolate peanut butter center. I love surprises, don’t you?
I have always put peanut butter on a banana. Always. Some people may find that odd, but it’s just the way that bananas are meant to be eaten. Sort of like how chocolate tastes better with peanut butter. Which leads us to an almost perfect trilogy of banana, chocolate and peanut butter from Sweet Twist of Blogging. Doesn’t get much better than this!
Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Peanut Butter Icing
Cupcake
- 1 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp, unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (about 2-3 bananas) mashed very ripe banana
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 12 peanut butter Lindt balls
Icing
- 1/2 unsalted butter softened
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 lb confectioners sugar
- 1-/4 – 1/2 cup cocoa powder – Start with 1/4 cup and add if you want it stronger.
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 12 cupcake pan with liners.
2) In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3) In a large bowl/mixer bowl beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat until combined and fluffy. Add the eggs and scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4) Add the bananas and beat until just combined.
5) Add the flour and buttermilk – alternating three flours-two buttermilk. Scrape down the bowl to ensure all incorporated.
6) Using a 1/4 cup scoop fill the liners about 2-3 full. Add a Lindt ball to the center of each cupcake, pressing it into the cupcake. Using a small spoon or spatula, spread some cupcake batter over the chocolate.
7) Bake for 20 minutes, rotating the pans half way through. A toothpick will come out clean when done. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes in pan and remove to cool on wire rack.
8) Make the icing : In a large bowl/mixer bowl beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add peanut butter beating until just combined. Add vanilla, confectioners sugar and cocoa powder in 2 parts, beating until combined. Icing will be fluffy and smooth.
9) Add icing to piping bag and swirl on to cupcakes.
