Chubby Hubby Cupcakes (banana, chocolate, caramel)

WOW oh WOW! I LOVE THESE! For the 2nd cupcake for H work birthdays, I had to make these. Caramel, banana, and chocolate? Ummm YES PLEASE…2! These are one of my favorites lately. I love a good banana cake and this was sure to please especially when I took her suggestion and roasted the bananas first. Definitely do that..oh the banana flavor…UMMMM YUM!

ENJOY!

Ingredients:

For the Roasted Bananas:

1 1/2 cups bananas ? sliced into 1/2? pieces ? about 4 bananas plus an extra banana for garnish, if desired

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

2 tbsp butter, cubed small

For the Cupcakes:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

11 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup buttermilk



For the Chocolate Ganache:

4 oz semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 oz milk chocolate, finely chopped

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 Tablespoons butter, at room temperature

Directions:

Roasted Bananas: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  In a shallow baking dish, toss the sliced bananas with brown sugar and bits of butter until bananas are well-coated with sugar.  Roast for 20 minutes, turning the bananas after 10 minutes.  When the bananas have deeply browned and are caramelized, transfer them to a medium-sized bowl.  Be careful, the bananas and sugar will be very hot.  Spray a potato masher with a light coating of baking spray (like Pam) and mash the bananas up. Set aside to cool almost entirely, stirring every so often to keep them from clumping up.

Cupcakes: When the banana have finished roasting, turn the oven down to 325 degrees F.  Line two 12-cup muffin/cupcake pans with paper liners.

Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar and vanilla together on medium speed until fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.  Scrape down the bowl, add the eggs one at a time, and beat until just combined.  Scrape down the bowl again and beat in the roasted bananas just until they are combined with the batter.  Turn the mixer to low.  Add the flour mixture and buttermilk, alternating between the two in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.  Scrape down the bowl again and mix on low for a few seconds to ensure the mixture is well-combined.

Fill the paper liners about 3/4 full.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, rotating the pans 180 degrees after 15 minutes.  Remove the pans to wires rack and cool for 10 minutes.  Remove the cupcakes from the pan and allow them to cool completely on the racks.

Ganache: Place the chocolate in a medium bowl.  Bring the cream to a gentle boil in a small saucepan.  Pour it over the chocolate, and allow to sit for 3-4 minutes.  Add the butter to the bowl, and whisk until smooth.  Allow to sit at room temperature until it reaches a consistency suitable for piping, or refrigerate, being sure to stir every 10 minutes.

Peanut Butter Frosting: Place the confectioners? sugar, butter, peanut butter, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.  Mix on medium-low speed until creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.  Add the cream and beat on high speed until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.

To assemble: Use a small paring knife to cut out a small cone from the top of each cupcake.  Cut the end off a pastry bag fitted (a 1/4? hole is suggested), fill with the ganache, and pipe each cupcake full of ganache.  Frost as desired with peanut butter frosting. Top with fresh bananas and chocolate-dipped pretzels.