Gone Bananas for Halloween Cupcakes

by Holly

(Portland, Oregon)

1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
2 bananas, overripe, mashed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Dry ingredients, then add wet ingredients, adding mashed bananas last. Don’t overmix… The recipe calls for the halloween printed cupcake liners to be filled 1/3 of the way, then add a few chocolate chips in the center, cover to 2/3 with more batter. Try, instead, a candy corn Hershey’s kiss as an added surprise when the kids get to the center of the cupcake! Bake for 25 – 30 minutes at 350 degrees. When cooled… move onto the fun part -decorations!

Using a giant tip and a piping bag, try this frosting recipe:

1 cup butter (softened to room temperature)
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla

1 Cream butter and peanut butter together.
2 Add half the powdered sugar and blend.
3 Blend in milk and vanilla.
4 Add remaining powdered sugar.
5 Stir until smooth and well blended.
(I added a few tablespoons of cocoa to give the chocolate kick, and make it the brown color for Halloween, then sprinkled orange nonpareils, and topped with different kinds of candy corn/autumn mix.

Sugar, Sugar, Sugar – a surprise inside, and banana peanut butter and chocolate heaven. What child will walk away without a smile and a sugar high?