Thursday, November 12, 2009

Cupcake Hero - Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Cupcakes

The second round of Cupcake Hero has begun - ding ding! Well actually you can't vote yet - but you can bake if you still want to. The theme for this month is peanut butter, and my first thought was dang, I've already made my awesome peanut butter cup cupcakes. So what to make? Everyone knows that peanut butter and jam go together so I decided against that. But did you know that some people like peanut butter and banana sandwiches? I don't personally, but supposedly it is a done thing. Still peanut butter and banana just seemed to simple so instead I present to you my....

Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Cupcakes


Banana cake filled with peanut butter and dark chocolate ganache, topped with peanut butter swiss meringue buttercream, drizzled with dark chocolate ganache and finished with a choc-dipped banana chip

Before I give you the recipe for these babies can I just say holy moly! These cupcakes were darn good - this flavour combination totally rocks my world. All the folks at Mat's work raved over these cupcakes, in fact I think the only complaint was that it was a bit rich after eating two of them. So if you like peanut butter, bananas and chocolate (and really who doesn't) then I can definitely suggest you make these cupcakes, you won't regret it.


Banana Cupcakes (adapted from The Australian Women's Weekly Classic Cakes)
Makes 24

185g butter, softened
175g caster sugar
3 eggs
335g self-raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 1/4 cups mashed banana (I needed 4 bananas)
1/3 cup milk
  1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 12-hole muffin trays with cupcake cases.
  2. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time.
  3. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients, mashed banana and milk.
  4. Divide mixture into cases and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
  5. Let the cupcakes cool in the tins for 5 minutes and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
  6. Prepare the peanut butter dark chocolate ganache, peanut butter swiss meringue buttercream and choc banana chips while you wait :)


Choc-Dipped Banana Chips

24 banana chips (have extras if you feel the need to snack)
100g dark chocolate
  1. Melt dark chocolate either in the microwave or using a double boiler.
  2. Dip one end of each banana chip into the dark chocolate, then place on a tray lined with baking paper.
  3. Leave to set at room temperature.

Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Ganache (and Dark Chocolate Ganache)

13.5 ounces dark chocolate, in small pieces
1 1/2 cups thickened cream
1 tbsp smooth peanut butter
  1. Place the dark chocolate in a bowl.
  2. In a small saucepan heat the cream over medium heat. Bring it just to a boil - be careful to not let it overflow.
  3. Pour the cream over the dark chocolate and whisk until smooth.
  4. Transfer half of the ganache into a separate bowl and whisk in the peanut butter.

Peanut Butter Swiss Meringue Buttercream

4 egg whites
270g caster sugar
250g unsalted butter, softened
4 tbsp peanut butter
  1. Combine the egg whites and sugar in a heatproof bowl and whisk over a saucepan of simmering water until sugar is dissolved and the mixture is as hot as you can get it without the egg whites cooking. To test rub the mixture between your fingers and if you can't feel any sugar granules then it is ready.
  2. With the whisk attachment on your mixer whisk the egg white and sugar mixture on high speed until a stiff meringue is formed and the mix has cooled down to room temperature. This should take about 10 minutes.
  3. Now put the paddle attachment on your mixer and with the mixer on a low speed add a tablespoon of butter at a time. Once all the butter is incorporated turn the mixer up to medium speed and mix until the mixture is light and fluffy again. This should take about 4-6 minutes.
  4. Add the peanut butter and mix on medium speed until combined.

Now that you have all the components ready and the cupcakes are cooled it is time to finish it all off. First using either an apple corer or a small knife cut a well into each cupcake...


Now it is time to fill each cupcake with the peanut butter dark chocolate ganache, I used a piping bag to do this but you could just use a spoon...


Fill each well right up to the top...


Then replace the top of each cupcake...


Finally pipe a swirl of the peanut butter swiss meringue buttercream, add a choc-dipped banana chip and drizzle with some dark chocolate ganache...


Enjoy your chocolate/peanut butter/banana creation...


Yum!

24 comments:

Chatterbox said...

Wow I liked the idea of a chocolate dipped banana chip.
The chocolate in the cross section looks yum.

I can imagine how much fun your little angel has with his mum cooking yummy goodies everyday.

Keep cooking :)

Cheers!!

Rhianne said...

oh my, this looks amazing!! I'm really beginning to wish I worked with Mat :)

Patricia Scarpin said...

These are magnificent! Bananas and chocolate are one of my favorite combinations, and I bet peanut butter can only make things even better.

Love the decorated banana chips - work of art, Alicia!

Amanda said...

Mmm... delicious! When I was afraid I wasn't going to have almond butter, I was planning to make an Elvis cupcake that heavily featured bananas and peanutbutter. I think I'm still going to do it. :)

Miss Dot said...

Truly your description of this cupcake coupled with the scrumptious pictures made my mouth actually water. These look amazing! Best of luck to you :) Let us know when voting opens!!

Paris Pastry said...

I read 'peanut butter', 'chocolate' and 'bananas' in the title, and I went like "Yeah!!!"

I actually eat peanut butter and banana-sandwiches! When I was a child, I got a course of healthy eating at my elementary school, and one of the things I learned there was making a whole-wheat peanut butter and banana-sandwich. Apparently it's quite healthy!

I wish I could have one of your cupcakes! They look and sound so delicious. I'm hungry now.

Julia @ Mélanger said...

So good. Love the surprise of chocolate hidden in the cupcake! :)

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Very nice! I'd love to be biting into one and see how banana, PB, and chocolate tasted together. Good luck!
~ingrid

Lulu froufrou said...

wow - they look awesome. Hubby wanted to lick the laptop screen :) It certainly has his 3 favourite ingredients.

the shoppe owner said...

In a dream world I have moved to Australia and become your neighbor, and you allow me to sample your baked treats every day.

Hi. I just posted about you on my blog. Please check it out and see if I messed anything up - as well as let me know if you are okay with it!

Blessings, Susan

rocknwrap said...

Oh, I've GOT to try these! I read your post yesterday and they were all I could think about all night.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! I soooo have to make these. The flavour combination is definitely my thing!

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

These are really stellar, Alicia! I used the same flavors for the banana contest already so I know just how amazing (and yes, rich) they are together. I'm really playing it close to the deadline this time O:).

rocknwrap said...

Best......cupcakes......ever!!

Stomach....broken....after...two...dying....happy....

Do I need to put them in the fridge?

Anonymous said...

rocknwrap - these should be fine at room temp for 2 days - enjoy!

Miss Claire said...

Why hello there Mrs McCarthy!

What an absolutely gorgeous blog you have :)

I'm not generally a huge cake fan but I think your delectable photos and recipes may just convert me.

I do love a good banana and peanut butter sandwich so maybe this is a good place to start.

Hope you guys are well.

Miss Claire xx

Anonymous said...

Well hello Miss Claire :) - thanks for visiting my little blog - I hope I can bring you to the dark side (cake side). We are all well here - just trying to survive the heat. Hope you are well too :)

Sugar Daze said...

I am licking my screen as I read this. Wow, Alicia, those look awesome! You have my vote!

alissa said...

these look AMAZING. i love peanut butter and banana sandwiches. and i love making chocolate dipped bananas - this is the perfect recipe

Elissa said...

To be honest, it is a combination I would not have thought of or even tried, however after seeing these cupcakes and the fact that I do love peanut butter, banana and chocolate (although never all at once) I am going to have to give these a go. Thanks for the inspiration!

Art and Appetite said...

You totally make me jealous of your creations. This is just soo good. Oh my gosh, can I borrow your creative mind? Hehehe, you are my hero!

Anonymous said...

Art and Appetite - sure you can borrow my mind - anytime :P

♥Sugar♥Plum♥Fairy♥ said...

wowoowiee,this is an awesome creation with a dang cute choco dipped banana-oh the best have come across so far.....u have a winner on hand Alicia-lovely blog too!!!!

Chantel said...

OOooh yes, YUM indeed! Great job! You know, these remind me of a desert pizza I had not long ago and a pizza place. It had nutella and banana on a pizza (sound weird but OH SO GOOD!!)

:)