Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  That is the only word I could come up with to describe how these cupcakes taste, and I still don't think it's enough!  The cupcake itself is not like your typical banana bread, it is actually very cake-like.  I added mini chocolate chips to half of the batter because I thought the combination of banana, peanut butter and chocolate sounded great.  After trying the cupcakes both ways, I decided I liked the ones without chocolate chips better.  However, they were both delicious!  I'm just not a huge fan of chocolate.  But for all you chocolate lovers, they are a great addition!

Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
Source: Cupcakes - allrecipes, frosting - my own creation

Yields: 18 cupcakes

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting:

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

1 cup confectioners sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar.  Add the eggs, vanilla, bananas, and buttermilk.  Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to banana mixture.  Fill paper-lined muffin tins two-thirds full.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (the cupcakes will be lightly browned).  Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

For the frosting, cream the peanut butter, butter and vanilla.  Add the heavy whipping cream and confectioners sugar alternately.  Frost cupcakes.