Best Caramel Banana Cupcakes Recipes

BANANA CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.
• Reduce speed to low. Mix mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla in a bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with wet ingredients and ending with dry. Scrape sides of bowl. Stir pecans into batter. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.
• Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. (Unfrosted cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to 3 days.) Once cupcakes are cool, frost tops with caramel buttercream. Frosted cupcakes will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days. Top with banana slices before serving.

CHOCOLATE BANANA CUPCAKES WITH PEANUT BUTTER CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Cupcakes: To make the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk the mashed banana, heavy cream, sugar, oil and vanilla until well combined. The mixture won't be completely smooth, but mix vigorously to get out as many of the large lumps as possible. In a second medium bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt together. (Sift your cocoa into this mixture if it appears clumpy). Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the wet ingredients and gently whisk (or fold with a rubber spatula) until flour just disappears. Distribute the batter evenly among the liners, filling each about 1/2 - 2/3 full (an ice cream scoop works great for this). Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the muffin pan to a wire rack. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes then transfer them to the wire rack to cool completely. Buttercream: In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (I used the paddle because I'm a rebel. Or I don't read the recipe well enough), beat butter and peanut butter at medium-high speed until smooth, about a minute. Add the confectioners' sugar and salt to the bowl and beat at low speed just until the sugar is moistened, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat the mixture on med-high until fully combined. You'll notice it taking on a lighter color and a more uniform texture, this is perfect. Finally, mix in the vanilla and caramel sauce and beat on med-high to incorporate. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again then beat on medium speed until the frosting is light and fluffy. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and garnish with caramel drizzle, melted chocolate or anything your heart desires.

BANANA CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL BUTTER CREAM FROSTING (MARTHA STEWART RECIPE)

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Reduce speed to low. Mix any remaining wet ingredients in a bowl if needed. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with wet ingredients and ending with dry. Scrape sides of bowl. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. Cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to 3 days, unless otherwise noted.
• 2. 1.Make cupcakes as directed in Basic Cupcake How-To, using mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla for wet ingredients. Stir pecans into batter. Once cupcakes are cool, frost tops with caramel buttercream. Frosted cupcakes will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days. Top with banana slices before serving.

CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FOR BANANA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Bring 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Wash sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Cook, undisturbed, until caramel is dark amber. Remove from heat, and slowly add cream, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. Let cool.
• Beat butter with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Place whites and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a heatproof mixer bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture registers 160 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Remove from heat, and attach bowl to a mixer. Whisk on medium speed for 5 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high, and whisk until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 6 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add beaten butter, cup at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in vanilla.
• Switch to paddle attachment. With mixer on low speed, add caramel, and beat until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes.

CARAMEL BANANA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°. Line 18 cups of 2 standard 12-cup muffin pans with baking liners. In a large bowl, beat 1 stick butter with 1 cup granulated sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add 3/4 cup bananas, the baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt and beat until smooth. Stir in 1 cup flour. Mix in 6 tablespoons milk and the remaining 3/4 cup flour until smooth.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually mix in the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar at high speed until stiff and glossy. Fold the egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling each liner three-quarters full. Cut 9 caramels in half, and submerge one piece in each muffin cup of batter. Bake until the cupcakes are springy to the touch, about 25 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, in a small, heavy saucepan, cook the remaining caramels, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup banana and 1/4 teaspoon salt over medium heat, stirring, until the caramels are melted.
• Using the electric mixer, beat the egg yolks and confectioners' sugar until thick, about 3 minutes. Slowly beat in the caramel mixture; transfer the mixture to the saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cool.
• Using the electric mixer, beat the remaining 2 sticks butter at high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cooled caramel mixture, then beat at high speed until fluffy. Spread the frosting onto the cupcakes.

BANANA-COFFEE CARAMEL-FILLED CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 22 regular-size muffin cups. In small bowl, dissolve 2 teaspoons coffee granules in 1 tablespoon boiling water; set aside to cool. In another small bowl, mix flour, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar with electric mixer on high speed about 2 minutes. Beat in mashed bananas and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat 30 seconds. Add eggs; beat on high speed 1 minute, scraping sides of bowl frequently. On low speed, add flour mixture, about one-third at a time, and sour cream, about half at a time, beating just until combined. Stir in cooled coffee mixture.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each with about 3 tablespoons batter or until about two-thirds full.
• Bake 22 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans; place on cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart heavy saucepan, heat 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water over medium heat, swirling saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to high; cover and boil 2 minutes. Uncover; continue boiling until sugar is dark amber in color. Remove from heat. Beat in 1/4 cup butter with whisk until smooth. Beat in 1/4 cup whipping cream. When cream is thoroughly mixed in, beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt with whisk. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave milk on High 40 seconds or just until it begins to boil. Stir in 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon coffee granules until dissolved; set aside to cool. In medium bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Gradually beat in remaining 3 1/4 cups powdered sugar. Add half of the milk mixture; beat on high speed. Add remaining milk mixture, beating until smooth.
• Using melon baller, scoop out center of each cupcake, scooping almost to bottom of cupcake. Spoon 1 generous teaspoon caramel filling into each hole. Reserve remaining caramel filling for garnish.
• Frost cupcakes with coffee frosting. Top with whipped cream; drizzle with reserved caramel filling. Garnish with coffee beans.