Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/banana-cupcakes-with-peanut-butter-frosting-recipe
Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
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Hands-on time: 20 mins. to 30 mins.
Baking time: 24 mins. to 27 mins.
Total time: 1 hrs 14 mins. to 1 hrs 57 mins.
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Published: 02/14/2012

Ingredients

Cupcakes

1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
3 small or 2 medium very ripe bananas, peeled and cut into chunks
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup yogurt or buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon banana flavor, optional
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional
2 1/3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
2 tablespoons Cake Enhancer, optional, for moist texture

Frosting

2 cups confectioners' sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter, creamy or chunky
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt, optional, to taste
1/3 to 1/2 cup milk or half & half
1 1/3 cups crushed honey roasted peanuts, to garnish

Tips from our bakers

Use any peanuts — regular or dry roasted, salted or unsalted — in place of the honey roasted peanuts, if desired. Or leave the nuts out altogether. Or crush just 1/2 cup, and garnish sparingly. It's all up to you.
Bake this into two 8" layer cakes, if desired; or a thin 9" x 13" cake. The baking time will be about 25 minutes for the round layers, or 30 to 35 minutes for the sheet cake. Test by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake; when it comes out dry, or with a few moist crumbs clinging to it, the cake is done. You'll need to make a double batch of the icing to fill and frost the cake.

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a standard muffin or cupcake pan; or line with papers, and grease the papers.

2) Beat the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until well combined.

3) Add the eggs, and beat thoroughly. The mixture may look a bit lumpy; that's OK.

4) Add the banana, honey, and yogurt or buttermilk, beating until well combined. Again, the mixture may look lumpy or curdled; that's OK.

5) Add the vanilla or banana flavor, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices, flour, and Cake Enhancer. Beat until thoroughly combined.

6) Scoop the batter into the prepared pan, filling the wells almost full; a muffin scoop works well here.

7) Bake the cupcakes for 24 to 27 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs clinging to it.

Remove the cupcakes from the oven, and place the pan on a heatproof surface. As soon as you're able, tilt the cupcakes in the wells of the pan; this prevents their bottoms from steaming.

9) When the cupcakes are completely cool, make the frosting. Beat together the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, vanilla, and salt until crumbly.

10) Add 1/3 cup of the milk or half & half, beating to combine. If the frosting isn't soft enough to spread easily, add more liquid a tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition.

11) Put the crushed peanuts in a bowl. Frost the cupcakes, using about 42g (1 1/2 ounces) frosting for each. As you frost each cake, dip it into the crushed peanuts, turning it to cover the frosting completely.

12) Transfer cupcakes to a rack to set briefly; then cover and store airtight until you're ready to serve them. They'll stay fresh for a day or two; longer, if you've used Cake Enhancer.

Yield: 12 cupcakes.