Banana cupcakes filled and iced with nutella frosting

Mr X requested these, so here they are. My Dad ate his unfilled and un-iced, and said they were nice and moist, and not too sweet. It is probably good that they are not overly sweet, to balance out the sweetness of the nutella frosting.


Makes 12
Ingredients:
Banana cupcakes

• 1 1/2 cups plain flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups mashed banana (approx 4 ripe bananas)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Nutella frosting

• 1 cup icing sugar, sifted
• 1 cup nutella
• 5 tbs unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

Method:

Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 176 degrees C, grease and line a cupcake pan.

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt an cinnamon in a medium bowl. 

Beter together mashed banana, vanilla and eggs, then gradually mix in the flour mixture, ensuring you scape down the side of the bowl to unsure all combined. Do not over mix.

Measure out mixture into prepared pan, filling each hole about 2/3 full.

Bake for 20-25 minutes, until tops are lightly golden and a skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool. In the mean time, make the frosting.

Nutella frosting

Place all ingredients except the cream in a bowl, and beat on medium speed until creamy. Add cream and beat on high until the frosting is light and smooth.

Mr X said that this is the best frosting I have made - as I am posting this, he is eating it straight out of a bowl.

How to assemble the cupcakes:

• Cut off the top of the cupcake in the shape of a cone using a small paring knife. Cut the pointy part off to make it flat (so the top will fit back into the cupcake nicely once filled with frosting)
• Fill the hole with nutella frosting - I piped it into the hole.
• Replace cupcake top securely
• Pipe icing onto cupcake

Shoeboxgirl