Chocolate Dipped Banana Cupcakes With Banana Buttercream Recipes

CHOCOLATE BANANA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cupcake or muffin pan with 24 regular-size cupcake liners.
• Measure all the ingredients accurately. Bring all the ingredients to room temperature. Place the butter in the mixing bowl. With the paddle attachment, beat the butter slowly until it is smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar; cream the mixture at moderate speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the eggs one at a time. After each addition, beat until the eggs are incorporated before adding more. After the eggs are fully incorporated, mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sift the cake flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and nutmeg together. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure even mixing. Then add one-quarter of the sifted dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix just until blended. Mix the milk and banana puree. Add approximately one-third of the liquids. Mix just until blended in. Repeat until all ingredients are incorporated.
• Fill the cupcake liners half full with batter and bake until golden and baked through, about 35 minutes. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• To assemble: Cut the center out of each cupcake and fill with the French Banana Buttercream. Dip the top of the cupcake in the Chocolate Ganache. Generously frost the top of each cupcake with the Italian Meringue Buttercream Frosting.
• Combine the sugar and 1/4 cup water in a saucepan. Dissolve the sugar. Boil until it reaches 240 degrees F.
• While the syrup is boiling, bet the yolks with an electric mixer with a wire whip until thick and light.
• When the syrup reaches temperature, pour it very slowly into the beaten yolks while whipping constantly. Continue to beat until the mixture is completely cool and the yolks are very thick and light.
• Whip in the butter a little at a time, adding it just as fast as it's absorbed by the mixture.
• Beat in the vanilla and banana puree. If the icing is too soft, refrigerate until it is firm enough to spread.
• Put the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl. In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream to a simmer. Once a simmer is reached, pour over the chocolate chips. Using a whisk, whip until smooth and creamy.
• Combine 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan. Boil to reach 230 degrees F. Leave it alone. Cook over medium heat.
• While the syrup is boiling, using a whip attachment, start beating the egg whites and cream of tartar in a mixing bowl. Once peaks begin to form, add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar to make the peaks stiff.
• When the syrup reaches temperature, slowly pour it into the beaten egg whites while whipping constantly with the mixer on the lowest speed. Beat on high until cool, about 5 minutes.
• Turn down to medium-low speed and add the butter on the sides and scrape. Turn to high and beat until you have a smooth texture. Add the vanilla and chocolate ganache.

CHOCOLATE DIPPED BANANA CUPCAKES WITH BANANA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners (for a total of 44 cupcakes).
• For the banana cake batter: In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, butter, vanilla and eggs. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Add the bananas and buttermilk and beat together well.
• For the dark chocolate cake batter: Put the cocoa in a medium heatproof bowl, pour 2 cups boiling water over it and whisk until smooth. Let the mixture cool.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at time, and then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture.
• Fill the cupcake liners one-third full with the banana cake batter. Add the dark chocolate cake batter on top, filling the liners about two-thirds full. Bake until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 16 to 19 minutes. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
• For the ganache: Melt the chocolate chips and heavy cream in a double boiler, stirring the entire time. (Be careful not to get steam or water into your chocolate mixture, as it will seize.) Stir until completely melted and smooth. Add additional cream as needed a tablespoon at a time.
• For the buttercream: In a large bowl, whip the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, banana bakery emulsion and bananas. Whip until smooth and creamy.
• Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. Drizzle with the chocolate ganache using a squeeze bottle or spoon.