Although the temperatures are still in the 80’s in Charlotte, I couldn’t wait to switch over to fall flavors. I was craving the warmth of either pumpkin or spice cake. I was scouring the kitchen to see what other ingredients I had lying around and noticed some bananas that were jumping out of the fruit bowl to be used. They had this look about them that said, “Please don’t place me in the freezer. I would be much better as something sweet and delicious.” And that is where this wonderful concoction was created.
First off the spice cake. This was probably the best spice cake I have ever had! It was so flavorful, light, and moist. Take that wonderful cake and top it with some fluffy banana frosting, pure bliss. It was the perfect light dessert to transition into fall.
Spice Cupcakes with Banana Buttercream Frosting
Spice Cake Cupcake Ingredients
Adapted from allrecipes.com
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups applesauce
- 2 eggs, room temperature
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray and place cupcake liners in pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, soda, salt, baking powder, and spices. Whisk until combined. Add butter, buttermilk, and applesauce to dry ingredients. Beat for 2 minutes on medium speed, until well combined. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
3. Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 16-19 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Allow cupcakes to cool in pan for 5-10 minutes. Remove from pan and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Banana Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup mashed banana, about 1 large banana
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- dash of salt
- 3 cups powdered sugar
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy. Add salt and beat until combined Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine mashed banana and lemon juice.
2. Slowly add powdered sugar to butter alternating with banana mixture. Beating until combined after each addition.
3. Beat until light and fluffy. Place into piping bag and pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
Notes
- Make sure to add the lemon juice to the mashed banana to keep it from browning.
- Instead of doing 2 batches of cupcakes, I made 12 cupcakes and an 8×8 in cake. Bake cake form 23-25 minutes.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Yum!! I love the idea of spice cake with banana.
looks taste..!!
http://rodposse.com/
Ooooo, these look really good! Love the banana buttercream frosting.
🙂
Everything about these cupcakes sounds wondderrfulll 🙂 Gorgeous!
What is sprinkled on top of the frosting? Is that nutmeg or cinnamon?
It was nutmeg but feel free to top with whichever spice you like. 🙂
These cupcakes sound delicious, I am going to give this recipe a try. Thanks for sharing!
You won’t be disappointed. This recipe is a keeper for sure. Stop back if you do try them. Love to get feedback.
[…] topping. Mmm, I thought, and checked out the recipe. It’s at a very nice site called Baking with Basil. And I discovered that I had most of the ingredients in, provided I got some more butter or its […]
These look fantastic! I am a sucker for any type of banana dessert, but throw in cream cheese and I guarantee I’ll eat five servings. It was so great meeting you at FBF Nashville and I look forward to staying in touch!
Thanks so much Kelly! These definitely didn’t last long in our house either. It was a pleasure meeting you too!! I have a feeling I’m going to be scouring your blog for some new recipes. Top of the list…Falafels and Baked Apples!! Yum!!
mmm banana cream frosting (or anything for that matter) love!
Hi Brooke! I found your blog on the Charloote Food Blogger Page. I am going to have to try this recipe. Nothing says fall like the smell of allspice and cloves in the kitchen. I would have never thought to put mashed banana in a frosting. Love the polka dot cupcake liners.
Christin
[…] Spice Cupcakes with Banana Buttercream Frosting adapted from Baking With Basil […]
I made these this morning and they’re amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. Looks like you have a few more I need to make!
[…] these looked so nice and I’ll bet my neighbors would like some! So I sent Brooke a note at Baking With Basil and let her know I was going to give them a try. I planned to make them, not EAT them. I had a […]
[…] office party! Cassidy emailed me mid-day while I was at work with the recipe for these bad boys: http://bakingwithbasil.com/2011/09/12/spice-cupcakes-with-banana-buttercream-frosting/. Fucking. Amazing. Oh mylanta, it’s like one of those things where your roommate or […]
I made these tonight for a Memorial Day lunch I’m going to tomorrow. I tried one after they were done, and I can honestly say that this is the best cupcake recipe (after my favorite chocolate cupcake recipe) that I have ever tried. The spice cake and banana buttercream go together PERFECTLY. I cannot thank you enough for this recipe.
Thanks so much Jennifer!! I’m so glad you enjoyed them and stopped back to let me know!! Love hearing comments like this! Happy holiday weekend!!
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Is the applesauce unsweetened or sweetened? I am planning on making these for a baby shower. Thanks!
Michelle
I used unsweetened. I hope you like them!!!
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These cupcakes look so good can’t wait to try them :] I’m making some for my boyfriends birthday since he loves spice cake.. Is it alright to use unsalted butter?
Absolutely ok to use unsalted butter. I hope he likes them! Happy Birthday to him!!
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[…] recipe for the cake was originally found at Baking with Basil, and the frosting recipe was found at Savory Sweet […]
I want to make banana buttercream for a cake two days in advance, do you think there will be an issue of spoiling?
This blog was… how do you say it? Relevant!!
Finally I have found something that helped me. Kudos!