Decadent Banana Caramel Cupcakes

Savor the delightful blend of banana and caramel in these moist cupcakes, topped with tangy cream cheese frosting—a vegan-friendly and eggless treat!

Banana Cupcake Base: (For 8 Cupcakes) 🧁

• 125g All-Purpose Flour
• 50g Light Brown Sugar
• 50g Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
• 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon Powder
• 60g Milk (Dairy or Vegan Alternative)
• 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
• 150g Ripe Bananas (mashed, about 2 medium bananas)
• 30g Oil (vegetable or any neutral-flavored oil)
• 65g Chocolate Chips

Preparation Steps:

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 355°F (180°C) and line a cupcake tray with paper liners for easy removal after baking.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, lemon juice, mashed bananas, oil, and both sugars until well combined.
3. In another bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon powder.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet banana mixture. Stir until just combined, ensuring not to overmix.
5. Gently fold in the chocolate chips into the batter until evenly distributed.
6. Fill each cupcake liner with the batter, aiming for nearly full to ensure a good-sized cupcake.
7. Place the tray into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
8. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely to room temperature before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 113g Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
• 112g Cream Cheese (room temperature)
• 300g Icing Sugar (sifted)
• 30g Lemon Juice

Frosting Method:

1. In a large bowl, beat the butter until it’s pale and fluffy, which will create a light base for the frosting.
2. Add the cream cheese to the butter and continue to beat until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated.
3. Slowly mix in the icing sugar in small batches to prevent clumping, beating at a low speed initially and then increasing to combine thoroughly.
4. Drizzle in the lemon juice and beat the frosting until it reaches a creamy and spreadable consistency.

Assembling the Cupcakes: Once your cupcakes are cool, apply a generous swirl of the cream cheese frosting on top of each one. If desired, drizzle with caramel sauce for an extra touch of indulgence. Enjoy these creamy, tangy, and sweet banana caramel cupcakes as a delicious twist on the classic banana bread. 🧁✨