banana & peanut butter cupcakes

cupcakes are so good. i have become a little obsessed lately because there is a delicious little cupcake bakery right by LSE... so it has become a tradition to get cupcakes every friday between classes. what better way is there to start off the weekend? well, i discovered a recipe for cupcakes on sunday in a magazine and figured what better way to start off the week than with cupcakes? so... it is monday, and i have made cupcakes. ah... they are heaven. the recipe said they were based off a recipe from butter lane cupcakes in new york city.

Ingredients:

For batter:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flower

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup buttermilk (i didn't have buttermilk so got a substitute recipe here)

1 1/4 cups ripe banana, mashed (i only had just under 1 cup and it is fine - so don't worry too much about exact measurements on this one)

For icing:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 stick softened unsalted butter

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 tbsp. milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F

2. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy

3. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix until batter is smooth

4. Combine all dry ingredients and mix into batter in 3 parts, alternating with buttermilk. Reduce speed to low and mix for 2 more minutes.

5. Line cupcake pan with wrappers. Using a spatula gently fold mashed bananas into batter. Scoop into cups until 2/3 full.

6. Bake for 25minutes and let cool.

7. For frosting, combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 stick softened unsalted butter and 1tsp vanilla extract. Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter and 3tbsp milk. Makes 18.

my cupcakes cooling on top of our ghetto (or you could say retro...?) 1980s stove.

the finished product. i haven't actually had a completed one yet... fred was just finishing up dinner as i was frosting them and i thought it would be wrong to spoil my apetite. but i am definitely going to gobble one up as soon as we eat (once i finish typing this). i did try one without frosting though... and they were delicious. i have only ever known frosting to make things to make things better... so i am sure they are going to be divine!

xx