Avocado Caramelized Banana Cupcake Recipes

GILBERT GANACHE-FRIED CUPCAKES: CHOCOLATE SELTZER CUPCAKES WITH GANACHE, BANANA FROSTING, AND CARAMELIZED BANANA

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
• Sift the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Set the bowl aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the seltzer water, coffee, oil, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until just incorporated. Add the vinegar and incorporate. Do not over mix the batter.
• Fill the cupcake liners 3/4 full and bake until a toothpick inserted into each cupcake comes out clean, 19 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• For the ganache: Heat the soy creamer in a double boiler over medium heat until steaming. Do not boil. In a separate bowl, pour the hot creamer over the chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds. Whisk the soy creamer and chocolate until the chocolate is melted and the 2 ingredients are completely combined. The ganache should be thick, but still pourable. Set aside.
• For the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the shortening, margarine, and banana compound. Scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure that all ingredients are mixed thoroughly. On low speed, slowly add the sugar a little at a time. Once the sugar is incorporated, mix on medium-high speed until all the ingredients are combined and the frosting is fluffy, about 2 minutes. Drop the whole banana into the frosting and let it mix for an additional 2 minutes, or until the banana is mashed. On low speed, add in the soy milk until incorporated, a little at a time until desired consistency is reached. Put the frosting into a pastry bag and cut 1/2 inch off the tip.
• In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar and margarine on medium heat. When the sugar crystals are completely dissolved in the melted margarine, add the rum and mix. Add the sliced bananas and stir gently. Let it come to a boil and thicken to desired texture. Remove from the heat and let cool.
• To assemble: Dip the tops of each cupcake into the ganache so that the entire cupcake top is covered. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the ganache to set on the cupcake. Pipe a dollop of banana frosting on top of each cupcake and garnish the top with 2 slices caramelized bananas.

BANANA-AVOCADO MOUSSE WITH CARAMELIZED RED ONION PUREE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, roughly mash the bananas, avocados, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, creme fraiche, and 2 teaspoons salt with a fork. Transfer the mixture to a food processor or blender. Puree the mixture until really smooth. Place the mousse in a clean bowl and put in the freezer for at least 1 hour before serving.
• For the red onion puree: Heat the oil in a large saucepan until just smoking, then add the onions and cook until theyre deep brown. Stir constantly so the onions dont burn. When the onions are browned, add the red wine, port wine, and remaining 2 teaspoons salt, and simmer to reduce until the onions have absorbed all the wine. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer to a food processor or blender. Allow to cool for 1 minute. Puree the onions and run through a fine sieve and let cool.
• To serve: In a martini glass, place a scoop of the mousse and top with the red onion puree. Enjoy as an appetizer or funky dessert.

CARAMELIZED BANANAS

Steps:

• chocolate-Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet. Add 2 sliced bananas and 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Cook until golden and syrupy, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the bananas with cinnamon and spoon over rum raisin ice cream.
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BANANA CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.
• Reduce speed to low. Mix mashed bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla in a bowl. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with wet ingredients and ending with dry. Scrape sides of bowl. Stir pecans into batter. Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.
• Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. (Unfrosted cupcakes will keep, covered, for up to 3 days.) Once cupcakes are cool, frost tops with caramel buttercream. Frosted cupcakes will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days. Top with banana slices before serving.