Caramel Banana Cupcakes

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 18
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup mashed ripe banana
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup whole milk, plus
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 1 (5 1/2 ounce) bag soft caramels, such as werther's original chewy
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 350°. line 18 cups of 2 standard 12-cup muffin pans with baking liners. in a large bowl, beat 1 stick butter with 1 cup granulated sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. add 3/4 cup bananas, the baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt and beat until smooth. stir in 1 cup flour. mix in 6 tablespoons milk and the remaining 3/4 cup flour until smooth.
• 2 using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites at medium speed until soft peaks form. gradually mix in the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar at high speed until stiff and glossy. fold the egg whites into the batter until no streaks remain.
• 3 spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling each liner three-quarters full. cut 9 caramels in half, and submerge one piece in each muffin cup of batter. bake until the cupcakes are springy to the touch, about 25 minutes. let cool.
• 4 meanwhile, in a small, heavy saucepan, cook the remaining caramels, 1/4 cup milk, 1/4 cup banana and 1/4 teaspoon salt over medium heat, stirring, until the caramels are melted.
• 5 using the electric mixer, beat the egg yolks and confectioners' sugar until thick, about 3 minutes. slowly beat in the caramel mixture; transfer the mixture to the saucepan. cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for about 1 minute. transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cool.
• 6 using the electric mixer, beat the remaining 2 sticks butter at high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. with the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cooled caramel mixture, then beat at high speed until fluffy. spread the frosting onto the cupcakes.