Banana-Caramel Cupcakes!

Banana-Caramel Cupcakes!

So you know when you wake up in the morning and the warming smell of oatmeal cooking with brown sugar and butter and bananas fills the air making your stomach grumble? Oh.... well maybe that's just me.... But THESE cupcakes are the ones you wanna go for when you feel like a sugar fix first thing in the AM... I mean... they have bananas... so its almost like breakfast.... right?.... RIGHT!

Ingredients:

3 cups                    Cake flour (sifted)
1 and 1/2 tsp          Baking soda
3/4 tsp                   Baking powder 
3/4 tsp                   Salt
1 tsp                      Ground cinnamon
4                           Bananas (very ripe, mashed)
3/4 cup                 Buttermilk
1/2 tsp                  Pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup                 Unsalted butter, room temp
1 and 1/2 cup       Light brown sugar
3                           Eggs (large, room temp)

 Method

Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners and pre-heat oven to 350. Whisk together cake flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla. In a mixer, cream butter until its light and fluffy. Add brown sugar and mix until its incorporated (make sure to scrape down the sides on bowl to make sure it all gets in there and you are not left with clumps). Add eggs one at a time until completely incorporated. Scrape down sides of bowl and turn mixer to medium speed. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the banana mixture. Pour evenly into tins and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean). Cool completely.

Caramel Buttercream

1/2 cup                      Brown sugar
1/4 cup                      Heavy cream
2 tbls                         Unsalted butter
1 tsp                          Pure vanilla extract
                                 Pinch of sea salt
1 cup                        Unsalted butter
3 cups                       Powdered sugar
1/2 tsp                      Salt
1 tbls                        Pure vanilla extract

In medium saucepan mix together brown sugar, heavy cream, and butter. Bring to a boil and then stir continuously for 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and add vanilla and salt. Beat until smooth and let cool to room temperature. Meanwhile in a mixer, cream butter until light. Add powdered sugar slowly (will look crumbly at first but keep mixing). Add salt and vanilla and beat on high until completely incorporated and frosting is smooth.