Banana Baby Cakes

Anyone who has ever had a baby knows that bananas are the best baby food ever! I'm always catching my 6-year-old son sneaking bites of the baby's bananas so I couldn't resist experimenting with it in cupcakes. The results were amazing! I hope you enjoy!

Baby Food Banana Mini-Cupcakes 

w/ Banana Buttercream 

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, softened)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup banana baby food 
• 2 eggs (room temperature)
• 1/2 cup whole milk (room temperature)

Banana Buttercream Frosting:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick, softened)
• 1/4 cup banana baby food
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• pinch of salt (about 1/4 tsp)

• Banana Chips (optional)

Recipe:

1. Start with the frosting. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together butter, banana baby food, salt, and powdered sugar until completely smooth (about 2-3 minutes). Set aside someplace cool. 

      **Note: It is ok to put your frosting in the refrigerator, just be sure to bring it back to room temperature     

          before icing the cupcakes.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line mini-cupcake tray with mini-cupcake liners.

3. In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, and banana baby food. Mix until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

4. Slowly add flour mixture in to wet ingredients, mixing in a little at a time and adding a little bit of milk in between each addition. (In other words: a little flour, a little milk, a little flour...and so on until all ingredients are incorporated). Be careful not to over-mix.

5. Fill each cupcake liner about 3/4 full and bake for 10-12 minutes (until a toothpick can be inserted and comes out clean).

6. Let cool completely, and then frost. Add a banana chip to each one for garnish.