Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

My dad's birthday was on Memorial Day this year and, although we couldn't be with him to help celebrate, I decided to make banana cupcakes in his honor. Nothing makes him happier than banana cupcakes, banana cake or frankly anything related to the banana family. These banana cupcakes are pretty tasty if I do say so myself. I took Sandy's Banana Bread recipe and did a bit of tweaking to make the cupcakes more fluffy and cake-like rather than dense and bread-like. I think they were a huge success and as always the cream cheese frosting knocks them out of the park. I only wish that my dad could of eaten some of these but at least he was there in spirit!

You Will Need for the Cupcakes:

• 1/2 cup butter softened (1 stick)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 overly ripe bananas, mashed (Note: An easy way to mash is to peel bananas and place on plate. Use potato masher to mash bananas)
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 box banana cream pudding mix

You Will Need for the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 4 cups confectioners sugar
• 1 stick butter, melted
• 8oz cream cheese, softened

Here We Go for the Cupcakes:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt
• Add butter, mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla to dry mixture
• Stir to incorporate flour mixture (be careful not to over mix)
• Dividing evenly, spoon batter into muffin cups
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cupcake comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes
• Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely on a wire rack
• Spread tops with cream cheese frosting

Here We Go for the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Beat sugar, butter and cream cheese with an electric mixer until creamy

Makes 12 Cupcakes
Happy Feasting!