Banana Cream Cupcakes

This cream-filled cupcake recipe is bananas! Bananas are one of the most versatile foods in your culinary arsenal. Banana bread, banana cake, banana pudding, banana cream pie, banana pancakes, banana smoothies. They even work well in a variety of savory applications, such as salsas, chutneys, and curries. We’re going to keep things on the sweet side for now, but before we do, how much do you really know about one of the most popular fruits in the world?

Did you know that bananas are technically berries? Botanically speaking, berries are simple fruits that come from the ovary of a single flower, which typically has a number of seeds. Bananas fit this description, though surprisingly, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries do not. Also contrary to popular belief, bananas don’t grow on trees, but rather on the largest known herbaceous plant. But enough scientific talk. The real reason we care about bananas is that they’re delicious.

Bananas are one of the earliest fruits to have been cultivated by humans, first making their way into our diets between 7,000 and 10,000 years ago. They’ve been a major contributor to cuisine all over the world ever since. Bananas began to gain popularity in the United States just prior to the Civil War, due to advances in shipping that allowed produce to remain fresh during the journey from the Caribbean. The first recipes for banana pie also appeared around this time, though they typically used sliced bananas and did not include a cream or custard. The ever-popular banana cream pie wasn’t introduced until the early 20th century, but it quickly became a quintessential American dessert.

This cream-filled cupcake recipe is made with whipped cream frosting, making it easy to share the subtle sweetness of this most ancient fruit with your friends and family. They’re light and not too rich, making them a great addition to a garden party, or the perfect way to end a spring day. Of course, you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy our banana cream cupcakes. You don’t even have to share them with anyone. We won’t tell.

Banana Cream Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup salted butter, room temperature
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ teaspoon Madagascar Bourbon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup overripe banana, mashed
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • Whipped Cream Frosting

  • 1 teaspoon banana extract
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 3 Tablespoon powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare muffin pan with liners.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and baking soda. Set aside.
Cream together butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each. Add vanilla extract, mashed banana, sour cream and milk. Mix everything until just combined
Add dry ingredients to the wet batter and mix all ingredients until well combined.
Pour the batter into the liners until about ¾ full.
Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.

Add heavy cream and powdered sugar to the bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Mix until medium-to-stiff peaks form, about 1 minute.

Top the cooled cupcakes with whipped cream and a slice of banana.