Banana Cupcakes With Cheese Frosting And Salted Caramel

Some people say peanut butter and chocolate is match made in heaven as well as red velvet and cream cheese. How about banana cake and cream caramel or salted caramel? What can I describe….it’s magical.

I love banana cake and let me share with you the most moist banana cake I have ever. For frosting, you can either use normal buttercream or cream cheese with salted caramel.

Banana Cupcake

Ingredients:

3 cups sifted cake flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar

3 large eggs

4 very ripe large bananas, mashed (about 2 cups), plus sliced bananas for garnish

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup chopped walnut

Salted Caramel
1/2 cup caster sugar
1/2 cup water
1 cup thickened cream
1 teaspoon salt
50g chilled unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Salted Cream Cheese Caramel Icing
250g cream cheese, room temperature
50g butter, softened
2 cups icing sugar
4 tablespoons salted caramel

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 180°C. Line a 12-hole muffin pan with cupcake cases. In a medium bowl, sift together flours, salt, cinnamon baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.

Cream butter and brown sugar on high speed using a mixer until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Once combined, add the banana, no need to mash it because the mixer will do it automatically. We do not want the banana too soft and at least still can feel the pieces when eaten. Add vanilla extract. With slow speed add 1/3 of the flour and buttermilk and mix well. Repeat the process until all flour and buttermilk are used.

Divide mixture into cupcake cases approximately 2/3 full. Transfer to oven and bake for 25 minutes or until a blade inserted comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool before decorate with cream cheese frosting.

Salted Caramel

In a saucepan over medium heat, add sugar and water. Whisk until sugar has dissolved. Turn the heat up to high and stop stirring. Allow the mixture to boil for 5-7 minutes, or until the sugar starts to caramelize and turn into toffee. Keep an eye on it as the sugar changes colour rather quickly. Once it is dark golden, pour cream into the mixture; it will bubble and might splatter. Keep stirring using a wooden spoon and bring the caramel back to boil, add salt and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk the butter into caramel, one cube at a time. Pour the caramel into a heatproof container and set aside to cool. Preferably stored in the refrigerator overnight.

Salted caramel icing

Cream butter on high speed until softened. Beat in cream cheese until well combined. Add icing sugar, one tablespoon at a time until all used. Add salted caramel and beat until smooth. Transfer the icing into a piping with any tip you desired and pipe icing on top of cupcakes. Lastly garnish the cupcakes with extra salted caramel.