Bananas Foster Cupcakes

First of all, let me just say, Happy Birthday to me! (and anyone else born on this glorious day)

Okay, now that I got that out of the way...

About a month ago I went to Food Truck Friday in Celebration, Florida.  For those of you who do not know what Food Truck Friday is, it is when select local food trucks come together in one area and you can go up to each food truck and order delicious food off of their menus.  Everything was AMAZING and I can't wait to go again.  Of course my favorite was The Yum Yum Cupcake truck.  They had the most delicious cupcakes I have ever tasted.  We ordered a dozen of all different kinds but, the one that stuck out the most was the banana one.  So, knowing me,  I wanted to try to make my own version of this delicious cupcake.  I don't know if theirs' was necessarily bananas foster but, it's exactly what it reminded me of.

This cupcake is extra special and that's why I am sharing this with you on my birthday.  It consists of a vanilla cupcake filled with a caramelized banana, banana pudding, and a meringue frosting.  However, my banana pudding recipe is top secret :x, but don't worry, your favorite banana pudding recipe or a boxed banana pudding mix will work just as great! Mmmmmm

Bananas Foster Cupcakes
a LindsayRoseDessert Original

Bananas Foster

1  large banana
2 Tablespoons butter
4 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon rum extract

Slice the banana to get about 12-14 slices.

In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the brown sugar and cinnamon.  Once the sugar is dissolved, add in the bananas and rum extract.  Cook until bananas are softened.  Take off the heat and let cool completely.

Vanilla Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 stick of softened butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line the muffin tin with cupcake liners.

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In a mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add in eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.  On low speed, alternate the flour mixture 3 times with the milk mixture 2 times, starting and ending with the flour until all is combined.

Scoop about one tablespoon of the batter into the bottom of each cupcake liner or just enough to cover the bottom.  Place a banana from the bananas foster on top of the batter of each liner.  Use the rest of the batter to fill the liners and cover the banana.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool Completely.



Banana Pudding Recipe of your choice

Once the cupcakes are completely cool, cut out a small circle and dig a hole into each cupcake until just right above the cooked banana.  Spoon in the banana pudding and cover with the circle cut out of the cupcake.


Cinnamon Meringue Frosting

4 egg whites
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Beat the egg whites until soft peaks begin to form.  Slowly beat in sugar.  Beat in vanilla and cinnamon until stiff peaks form from the meringue.

Pipe onto cupcakes.

In a 350 degree oven, place the piped cupcakes back in the oven until the meringue is browned.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

This is my most favorite type of cupcake.  Of course, I love fancy flavors that involve bananas, chocolate chip cookie dough, and creme fillings.  However, when we are talking simple, vanilla cake with chocolate frosting is my favorite.  And no, it can not be the other way around.  I just love the way it tastes, it's not too rich and not too filling so I can have as much or as many as I want.  Many of my friends and family have learned this is my favorite type of cake so on my birthday it's never a problem getting to eat it.  This year, I actually wanted to make it (not just eat it) and share it with you.

Not only are these a simple, basic cupcake but, they are incredibly easy to make!  Also, I bet you have all of the ingredients in your house!  That's how great these cupcakes are.  So, don't just make these in honor of my birthday, make them if you have a chocolate craving or if you just have a need for cupcakes.  As for the frosting, I'm pretty sure you have never tasted anything like it in your life!

And for my friends and family that wanted to make this for me on my birthday... I will still gladly accept :)

Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

adapted from Food Network

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 stick of softened butter

2 tsp vanilla 

1/2 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In a mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add in eggs and vanilla and beat until combined.  On low speed, alternate the flour mixture 3 times with the milk mixture 2 times, starting and ending with the flour.  Once the flour is incorporated, scoop into lined muffin tins.  

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Frosting

3 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar
pinch of salt
2 sticks of butter, softened, cut into pieces (1 cup)
3 oz of milk chocolate chips, melted
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

In a heatproof bowl, whisk the egg whites, sugar, and salt continuously over a pot of simmering water until the sugar is dissolved and the temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Take off the heat, and beat the egg white mixture in a mixer until soft peaks form and they are still shiny.  On medium speed, beat in the butter a few tablespoons at a time.  Once all the butter is added and the mixture is smooth, beat in the melted chocolate and cocoa powder until combined.

Frost onto cooled cupcakes.


*For a richer frosting, use a tablespoon more of cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate chips

Birthday Cake Cookies

For those of you who do not know me personally, I have something to share.  March is absolutely my favorite month of the year.  No doubt about it.  Why?  Well, springtime is great, the air begins to get warmer, and I get to do some spring cleaning to make my house feel all new again.  BUT, the main reason I love March sooo much is because my birthday occurs on March 24th, the best day of the year:)

I decided, since it is my birthday month, I wanted to share all different recipes of things I love!  Two foods that I absolutely love are cake and sprinkles.  However, I wanted to start off my birthday month with something a little more original than birthday cake.  I love this cookie recipe because it tastes just like cake and has lots of sprinkles but, it's actually a cookie.  What could be better than a birthday cake cookie??

Birthday Cake Cookies
adapted by chef in training

1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 (3.4oz) dry vanilla pudding mix
3/4 cup dry vanilla or white cake mix
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sprinkles*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

With a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well.  Add pudding mix and cake mix, blend together.  Beat in vanilla.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Stir together.

Slowly add the flour mixture into the butter mixture until all combined.

Stir in your favorite sprinkles!  Roll dough into 1 to 2 inch balls and bake for about 10-12 mins.

Look at all those delicious sprinkles!!

*Instead of sprinkles, you can try adding chocolate chips or m&ms!