Banana Chocolate Cupcakes

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup banana puree (ripe bananas mashed)
• 3 1/2 tablespoons milk chocolate shavings
• 3/4 cup tbsps light cream cheese
• 1 tablespoon light cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons banana liqueur
• 2/3 cup milk chocolate shavings
• 1 thinly sliced banana

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 325°f insert liners into medium cupcake pans.
• 2 prepare cupcakes: in a bowl, sift flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg.
• 3 place butter and sugar in mixing bowl, beating with the mixer's flat beater on medium speed until mixture is light and airy.
• 4 reduce speed to low, add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
• 5 add half the flour mixture (prepared in step 2), banana purée and then remaining flour mixture.
• 6 finally, add chocolate shavings and stir.
• 7 fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full.
• 8 bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cupcakes are springy to the touch and a toothpick inserted in cupcake's center comes out clean.
• 9 remove from oven and cool on wire for 10 minutes.
• 10 prepare frosting: in an electric mixer, beat cream cheese for about 2 minutes, untill cheese is soft and smooth. add powdered sugar and banana liqueur. continue beating mixture until frosting is smooth.
• 11 with a spatula, spread frosting on each cooled cupcake, garnish with sliced bananas and chocolate shavings.