The Baker Chick

Baking up a delicious life.

Banana Cupcakes with Swirled Frosting Two Ways

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Since I’ve been blogging for a whole year, I made a list of baking goals I’d like to tackle in year #2. The list includes: mastering a layer cake with smooth perfect frosting, figuring out macarons (which I may have done already last night…) chocolate soufflés and bakery-style swirled on frosting.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of using piping bags to make frosting look beautiful on cupcakes, but I just adore that swirled rustic look that I see in bakery windows. (I have tried and failed to do it at home many times.)

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When I saw that a wonderful cupcake shop called Butter Lane was offering a Groupon for a cupcake frosting class, I signed up right away with my baking buddy Melissa. The class promised to give 6 easy frosting recipes as well as a tutorial in swirling the frosting. I have to say it was a blast! (They teach this class regularly so if you live in the NYC area or are ever planning a visit- I highly recommend it!) The frosting we made was amazing and the class ends with a fun little contest to see who was the best swirler and I won! :) My prize was a gift card for more cupcakes which I don’t think I’ll have a hard time using.

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At the end of the class, we were sent home with leftover frosting and I couldn’t wait to practice “swirling.” But first of course I needed something to practice on so I whipped up my favorite Banana cupcakes and  paired them with the Cinnamon and Chocolate Peanut Butter frosting flavors. The fluffy cake and the creamy frosting paired perfectly together, and these classic flavors were just right for the simple swirl. As much as I like fancy piped frosting on special cupcakes- I think I found my new go-to design!

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ps- I want to share the technique for “swirling” with you all- but I’m not sure how to do it in photos. Would a video tutorial be of intrest? If so- I’ll plan to make that happen soon!

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Banana Cupcakes
Yield: 18 cupcakes
 
Ingredients
  • ½ cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, bananas and buttermilk and beat with and electric mixer until light and fluffy. (batter may have some lumps.)
  2. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to banana mixture and mix until just combined. (Don't over mix.)
  3. Fill 18 paper-lined muffin cups about ⅔ of the way full.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Frosting
Yield: 18 cupcakes
 
Ingredients
  • 3 sticks of butter
  • 2 oz cream cheese
  • 2 cups confectioners sugar 1 splash of vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup peanut butter
  • 6 oz. melted bittersweet chocolate
Instructions
  1. Combine butter and cream cheese in mixing bowl and mix on a medium speed for 5 min. Add melted chocolate and mix for one more minute. While mixing in at low speed add sugar. Once combined, add a splash of vanilla extract and mix on a medium to high speed for 3 min, or until smooth and fully combined. Fold in the peanut butter until it's incorporated.

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Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
 
Ingredients
  • 2 sticks of butter
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 4 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1 splash of vanilla extract
  • ¼-1/2 tsp of cinnamon (depending on how strong you want it.)
Instructions
  1. Combine butter and cream cheese in mixing bowl and mix on a medium speed for 5 min. While mixing in at low speed add sugar. Once combined, add a splash of vanilla extract and the cinnamon, and mix on a medium to high speed for 3 min, or until smooth and fully combined.

cupcake recipe adapted from: AllRecipes, frosting recipes from: Butter Lane

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Comments

  13. Total coincidence that I was searching for an awesome banana cupcake recipe last night! I can’t wait to try these! They look and sound delicious!

    Reply

  17. I think I would appreciate a video tutorial because I have tried & tried the bakery swirl and it always looks like crap haha. Yours are beautiful and look so yummy. I’m totally trying that chocolate peanut butter frosting :)

    Reply

  24. Hi! So excited to have stumbled on your blog. I was getting ready to make these cupcakes, but didn’t see the measurement for the melted chocolate in the chocolate peanut butter frosting. Any chance you could update it? Thanks so much! I’ve bookmarked a number of your recipes already and have added you to my feed as well. Thanks!

    Reply

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