Saturday 21 January 2012

Triple Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

These were born out of the desire to use up various bits and pieces that were lurking in the fridge and around the kitchen. Tiny bit of creme fraiche, check... very overripe banana, check... and so we come to the recipe!

Triple chocolate banana cupcakes
Ingredients
90g butter
130g caster sugar
40g creme fraiche
2 eggs
1 medium banana, mashed
125g self raising flour
25g cocoa powder
1/2tsp baking powder
40g each white and dark chocolate, chopped

Chocolate buttercream to decorate
Dried banana chips to decorate

Method
- Preheat the oven to gas 4/180C. Place 12 liners in a muffin tin.
- Cream together the butter and sugar.
- Add the creme fraiche and eggs and beat well.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and mashed banana and fold/beat together until well combined.
- Fold in the chopped chocolate and divide between the paper cases.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until a cocktail stick comes out clean.

When cool make up the chocolate buttercream (I use about 90g butter and 180g icing sugar plus a little cocoa powder for chocolate colour and flavour) and pipe on in a swirly manner.


I have to confess that these are from the archives and I don't remember very clearly what they tasted like, but soft chocolate sponge dotted with little chunks of chocolate and a hint of banana can't possibly be bad can it! I wouldn't hurry to make them again specifically, but it was an excellent use of ingredients that I couldn't find another use for.


I bought the brown cupcake cases from Lakeland and I haven't been very impressed with them at all. Whichever recipe I cook in them, the buns start to pull away from the cases. I had tried the bun cases in a recipe prior to using them for this one, and having remembered this annoying state of affairs I hedged my bets by only baking six in the brown cases, with six in other cases. As you can see the normal cupcakes are fine. I wonder if anyone else has bought and used these cases (they weren't cheap!) and if you've had problems with them or not? I'd love to hear any comments on this! 

Edited to add: These aren't silicon cupcake cases, they're paper ones, but a smooth case rather than the pleated ones I usually use.

My colleagues were very happy, and these went down very well, in spite of my annoyance regarding cake cases!!!

14 comments:

Beth (jamandcream) said...

I always have black bananas to use up! Shame about the cases

Suelle said...

These look very good - the frosting and dried banana finsh them off very well!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Your "using up bits" project made something that looks superb!

Baking Addict said...

Great way to use up 'leftovers' I find I am increasingly creating recipes to do just that. I love the sound and look of your cupcakes which reminds me I have not baked one for ages. I've not tried those cases so can't help you there!

Unknown said...

I think they look lovely! I have those silicone cases but they're slightly larger and for muffins. The only issue for me is that you can't give them out in the cases or you have to wonder around making sure people don't throw them away!! Plus they are a bugger to clean!!

Chele said...

That frosting needs to be smeared all over my face right about now lol

Caroline said...

Beth - black bananas can be so frustrating! But always good for cakes.

Suelle - thanks, I was pleased that I thought of using a banana chip to finish!

Foodycat - thanks!

Baking Addict - yes, I've not made cupcakes for quite a while. I seem to be choosing other cakes at the moment in preference.

Dom - I've edited the post to clarify. They aren't silicon cases, just ordinary paper ones which is why I'm mystified that the cakes always pull away. Agree that silicon cupcake cases are a pain though - too much hassle to make sure they aren't thrown away, and as you say, tricky to clean properly.

Chele - heehee!

The Caked Crusader said...

What a way to use up leftovers! Love the jaunty banana chip as a topper!

Kate@whatkatebaked said...

I do love using up recipes that need to 'use bits up' and these, C look like very, very tasty using-up-cupcakes! I too find the silicone cases a bit of a faff to clean up, plus tricky to give away as gifts.

Anna's kitchen table said...

Can't think of a nicer way to use up leftovers!

Caroline said...

CC - thank you, I was pleased that I remembered I had banana chips to use too!

Kate - they were good user-upper cakes. The cases aren't silicon, but I agree, if they were, it'd be tricky to give them as gifts!

Anna - no, fairly successful!

Maggie said...

Banana and chocolate is always a great flavour combination. Unusual recipe too with creme fraiche in the cupcake list of ingredients. They really do look lovely.

Bronya @ Daisy Cakes said...

Left over baking, never looked so good!

http://daisycakecompany.wordpress.com

Caroline said...

Maggie - it is a good combo isn't it! Yes, the creme fraiche was in there as part of the using up strategy.

Bronya - thanks! And thank you for stopping by to comment :-)

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