chocolate banana cupcakes with buttercream frosting

October 14, 2010
banana chocolate with buttercream frosting
Next in my little tea-series are mini cupcakes!

While I think that tea, sandwiches and scones are the most essential part of a tea party, mini bite-sized cupcakes are a great thing to have if you have extra time to make them. They're a great compliment to the savory sandwiches and are a nice sweet treat to enjoy with your tea. They're also adorable and another lovely way to decorate the table. I chose banana chocolate cupcakes because subtle banana flavors really compliment rich chocolate, but you can use whichever mini cupcake is your favorite to add to your menu.

itty bitty
with the cupcakes and cake stand that i made

banana chocolate cupcakes

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 - 3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2-3 bananas, mashed
1 cup warm water
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup butter
1/2 shortening
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk
your favorite food coloring color

In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. In another bowl, combine wet ingredients until well mixed. Add wet to dry ingredients until combined. The batter will be very thin, so I recommend using a deep spoon or muffin scoop when putting the batter in the tins. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes (this is for mini muffins) or until a cake-tester comes out clean. Cool cupcakes completely.

In a cold mixing bowl, cream butter and gradually add the shortening. Once combined, add the sugar slowly, one 1/2 cup at a time. If the frosting is really think, add a tablespoon of milk to thin it out a little bit. Once combined, add 2-3 drops of your favorite food coloring color to give the frosting a fun spin. Pipe/spread the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and serve!

22 comments:

  1. ok i would take these cupcakes over tea,sandwiches and scones any day!

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  2. Aaaawwwww, looks so delicious!!!

    I've never made some cupcakes myself. But with this recipe, I'll try it next weekend...<3

    xo, Mel

    http://mel-lifesalabyrinth.blogspot.com/

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  3. I should probably not open a post with cupcakes so early in the morning. They look so delicious!

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  4. I love your dress from the tea party! Where's it from?

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  5. These sound so amazing! And you look amazing with them! ;) So happy you stopped by LBD so I could find you, happy to be your newest follower! XX!

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  6. cupcakes go great with ANY meal or drink, any time of day. it's a proven fact.

    thanks for stopping by my blog - I remember reading yours long ago, and now I have been able to find you again. :)

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  7. Oh yummmm, thanks for sharing the deliciousness (lovely pics too :))

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  8. Hi Lauren- I got my dress at the Buffalo Exchange on Haight Street in SF, but I think its brand is BCBG Max Azria. It's my new favorite!

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  9. Mmmmmmm, this looks so yummy!

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  10. ohhhh. i am so wanting one right now. yummy. thanks for sharing! :D

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  11. Hi there! These cupcakes look fabulous. And by the way... I LOVE your blog! I cannot wait to find some time to dig through your travel photos... the photos look amazing.

    And thanks for stopping by over at Ten June and giving me some insight... I love having the opinions of so many talented ladies!! :) So glad to have found a new friend!

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  12. Ohhh yumminess! That looks delicious.
    And I just looked at your recent posts now (i'm so behind in everything right now haha) and saw the tea party photos! SO much fun, love it!!! :o)

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  13. Alright I have a stupid question but how in the world do you cream butter?? Does that just mean mix it with a blender?

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  14. Amber that's not a stupid question at all! Yeah, you pretty much just mix it with either a hand mixer or a stand mixer (you could also try by hand.. but that would be tiring).. and just mix and mix and mix until it's creamy and not longer stiff. It's easiest to cream butter when it's room temperature, so let it sit out for an hour or so before you start baking :)

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  15. Umm...these look amazing. Seriously. Love.

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  16. i love your blog so much! keep writing :)

    http://aisaicha.blogspot.com/

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  17. Yummy! Those look delicious!

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  18. Yum! Those looks so good!


    BTW, Love your blog! thanks for stopping by mine ;)

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  19. that photo of you is so cute! those cupcakes look yum!

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  20. WOW! I am a sucker for anything chocolate/banana so this sounds amazing!

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