PEANUT BUTTER BANANA CUPCAKES

Banana Cupcake Base:

» 1 1/2 cup cake flour

» 1/2 cup brown sugar

» 1/4 cup granulated sugar

» 2 tsp. baking powder

» 1/2 tsp. baking soda

» 1/4 tsp. salt

» 1/2 cup butter

» 3 large ripe bananas, mashed

» 3 large eggs, separated

» 1/2 tsp. vanilla

» dash of cinnamon

» dash of nutmeg

Instructions:

Cream together butter and sugars in a large bowl. Add bananas, egg yolks and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add flour mixture into the creamed mixture, and mix until just combined. Place egg whites in a standard mixer, and beat until medium peaks form. Fold egg whites into the mixture gradually, one-third at a time. Scoop batter into prepared cupcake liners. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 15–17 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Peanut Butter Italian Meringue

Buttercream Frosting:

» 3 cups sugar

» 1 cup water

» 1/2 cup light corn syrup

» 9 egg whites (270 grams)

» 2 lbs. butter, softened at room temperature

» 1 tsp. vanilla extract

» pinch of salt

» peanut butter to taste (about 3 Tbsp.)

Instructions:

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Bring syrup to 420 degrees F using a candy thermometer. While syrup is still cooking, start whipping egg whites into soft peaks. Once the syrup comes to 420 degrees F, slowly pour the syrup in a stream over whipped egg whites, and keep whipping (on a high setting) until the mixture reaches room temp. Add butter slowly, and whip until combined. (The buttercream may resemble cottage cheese once all the butter is added. Just keep whipping.) Pipe frosting onto cupcakes using a piping bag with a star tip. Drizzle chocolate ganache on top.

Note: Don’t add the butter when the egg whites and syrup are too hot. The mixture will melt the butter and turn soupy.

Recipe makes about 20 cupcakes.

Baking With Suoja

What’s your favorite thing to bake?

I love baking, but my favorite thing is to frost cakes.

What’s your least favorite thing to bake?

French macarons. I used to be so good at them, and they’d always come out perfect. Then, I got a new oven. I haven’t figured it out since.

What’s your favorite flavor combo?

I have two, depending on the mood I’m in. I love lemon and lavender. I make my own lavender syrup and lemon curd for my cupcakes, and it’s so good. For my chocolate-y side, I love chocolate, banana and peanut butter.

What’s your most popular baked good?

Kids really love the classics, like peanut butter cups and Oreos. People also love orange creamsicles and strawberry Champagne.