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–+ servings
These Chunky Monkey Cupcakes were made in celebration of the new Disneynature film, Monkey Kingdom. Everyone loves Disney, and Just about everyone loves fruit, right? This cupcake recipe has both apples and bananas in it! It's a moist and delicious dessert, perfect for snacking on before or after seeing Monkey Kingdom.
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5 from 2 votes

Chocolate Banana Cupcakes Recipe

These chocolate and banana cupcakes are easy to make and so delicious. Don't let the pretty frosting intimidate you. You can do this!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Additional Time20 minutes
Total Time58 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18
Calories: 412kcal
Author: Kelly Stilwell

Ingredients

For Cupcakes

  • 2 C flour
  • 1 C cocoa
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 C granulated sugar
  • 1 TBSP vanilla extract
  • 3/4 C vegetable oil
  • 4 eggs room temp
  • 1/2 C milk
  • 1 C sour cream
  • 1 3.4 oz banana cream pudding

For the Cooked Apples

  • 4 apples of your choice
  • 2 C water
  • 1/2 C Sugar

For Frosting

  • 1/2 C unsalted sweet cream butter
  • 2 C powdered sugar
  • 3 tsp of imitation banana extract
  • 2 TBSP heavy whipping cream
  • 2 drops yellow food coloring
  • Caramel for drizzle on top
  • 2 large bananas

Instructions

To Make Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in a cupcake tin.
  • Add dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Sift together.
  • Mix liquid ingredients together. Once the liquid ingredients are fully combined, mix the liquid and dry ingredients together.
  • Add eggs to the mixture, beating until totally combined.
  • Pour batter into lined pan until 3/4 full, and bake at 350° degrees for 15-18 minutes.
  • Let cool for 15-20 minutes. Once completely cool, use a small scooper or spoon and scoop a hole in the center of the cupcake.

For the Apple Filling

  • Peel, core, and chop apples into small pieces. Add water, apples, and sugar to a pot and cook on stove until the apple chunks become tender.
  • Cool apple mixture in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours. Fill the hole made with the cupcake scooper with the chunky cooked apples.

For the Frosting

  • Mix soft butter with sugar in stand up mixer until they look like small rock pebbles. Add whipping cream and continue to beat at medium speed. Add 2 drops yellow food coloring.
  • Add in the imitation banana extract. Continue to mix until frosting stands in stiff peaks.
  • If the peaks aren't stiff enough, add powdered sugar at 1/2 C  at a time until the peaks form and stand.
  • Apply the frosting to cupcakes in a pastry bag with tip.
  • Drizzle with caramel and a thick banana slice on top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 177mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 39g