These Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream are moist and flavorful and the perfect recipe for your overripe bananas!
I’ve heard a nasty little rumor that today may be the start of the new school year for some kiddos.
Say it isn’t so!
Is it just me, or does every year school seem to start even earlier. What happened to enjoying the summer? The WHOLE summer.
Growing up, we started school AFTER Labor Day, not a day before.
So it seemed appropriate to start this Monday with something sweet and chocolatey. Who’s in?
These Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream are just the ticket to help ease the pain of the first day of school blues for kids AND parents alike.
Moist and super banana flavored these cupcakes are perfect for those leftover, overripe bananas on the old kitchen counter.
Truth be told, some weeks I purposely buy extra so I’ll NEED to make some of these yummy cupcakes or a loaf of my Easy Brown Butter Banana Bread or my Coconut Chocolate Chip Skillet Banana Bread.
And this chocolate buttercream is going to knock your socks off. (Do people still say that? Or is it just cause I’m old?) It’s ultra smooth and creamy and the perfect complement to the banana cake. I know you’re really going to enjoy these guys!
And since bananas happen to be a fruit, which in my book is considered a breakfast food, I’m thinking these cupcakes may need to be enjoyed not only for dessert, but dare I say breakfast?
Enjoy!
A Few Cook’s Notes for Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Recipe:
Make sure the bananas you use are overripe. Nice and dark on the outside.
I topped my buttercream frosting with some finely chopped walnuts. This is totally optional.
Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
Banana Cupcakes
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups overripe bananas, mashed
Chocolate Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- 3 Tbsp. whole milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- finely chopped walnuts, for sprinkling, if desired
Instructions
Banana Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Whisk together until well combined.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating until well blended. Add vanilla and continue to beat for an additional 3 minutes at medium speed, scraping down the bowl as needed. Stir in half the flour and mix until combined, then stir in the buttermilk and then the remaining flour mixture. Do not over mix. Gently fold in the bananas.
- Spoon the batter into the liners, filling 2/3 full. Bake for 18 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Repeat until all batter is done. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- Frost cupcakes with chocolate buttercream. I used a Wilton 2D tip to pipe the rose. Sprinkle with finely chopped walnuts, if desired. Cupcakes will keep in airtight container in refrigerator for 3 days.
Chocolate Buttercream
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the sifted confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, milk, salt and vanilla and continue to beat on low speed for 1 minute and then increase the speed to high and continue to beat for 2 minutes. If frosting is too thick, add more milk. If it's too thin, add more confectioners' sugar.
Wow Mare, I could have used a couple of these cupcakes on my way to the airport this morning. You holding out on me??
Lol!
Banana and chocolate = a match made in heaven! And that buttercream just looks SO good!
It’s so creamy Alex! I could slather anything with it!
For us, school starts after Labor Day. My nieces started last week. There doesn’t seem to be any one set date any longer. We start later, but we don’t get out of school until mid June so I guess it all works out. These banana cupcakes sound super yummy. I always seem to have a few over ripe bananas on my counter. I need to put them to good use in these cupcakes!
I’ve always got a few on my counter too Kathy! These are the perfect easy to make treat! Keep enjoying summer!
My school always started after Labor Day too, so I can’t get used to seeing kids head back to school in August! It makes me anxious just thinking about first days of school and new teachers and different classrooms. . .I definitely need a few of these delicious cupcakes to get me through back-to-school time!
August is just so early Kelsie. Hope you have an awesome week!
I am a huge fan of banana with chocolate, so I’m loving these :) And cupcakes are always a great, portable treat!
I love banana with chocolate too Jennifer! These cupcakes are such a treat!
Not fake news (lol)! My nephew and niece started school today (my nephew started high school!!!) and I wish I could bring these over as an after school treat for them! Since we live in different states that isn’t really a possibility, so I’m going to have to send the link to this recipe to my sister ;) These cupcakes look absolutely delicious, Mare! The perfect way to cure those Monday (or back to school) blues!!!! Pinned!
Awwww! High school! Boy do I remember those days. Good luck to him. Keep on enjoying summer Chey!
Some kids have gone back to school, but the neighborhood school done the street from me hasn’t started yet – so one more week of quiet before all the cars start arriving! This is a great treat for everyone – I love bananas in desserts and love the chocolate icing!
Hope you give them a try Geraldine! Happy Monday!
Mary Ann! I’m all for dessert for breakfast. You know, since usually it includes all four food groups – grains, protein, dairy, and fruit (of which, chocolate counts, since it grows on a plant!) I’m totally on board with this – school day or not!
Lol! I’m glad you’re in Laura!
LOL – I just said “knock your socks off” to someone last week! LOL! We’ll be old together, Mare! These little cakes knock my socks off… totally! And it’s that hint of cinnamon and a touch of chocolate that has my attention! Brilliant recipe and I’m drooling!
Haha! I’m always saying “out of date” things and my son Casey looks at me like I’ve got three heads! He gives me the “Mom, really? Who says that?” Ugh! I’m old. So happy you’re loving these Traci! Hope you have a wonderful week!
I just want to sink my teeth into one of these, Mary Ann! I’m not ready for Oscar to start kindergarten – I’m going to have to ease my sorrow with one of these!!
Kindergarten for Oscar? How exciting Katherine! You’ll need a few of these. Take it from me!
Almost missed this one ! Absolutely our favourite ingredients Mary Ann. Keeper for cooler days :-)
Hope you and your son enjoy them Davorka!
Consider my socks knocked off! These are just perfect for those back to school blues….
Woohoo! Thanks Annie!
Tom’s comment is the best, lol!
These cupcakes look amazing, Mary Ann. That frosting looks SO creamy and you can’t go wrong with bananas and chocolate!
Haha! Thanks so much Marissa! Unfortunately, he’s been traveling quite a bit lately, so sometimes he misses things!
Oh yum, Mary Ann! So irresistible! Banana and chocolate are a match made in heaven! I could just lose myself in that frosting!
Yes they are Kelly! That frosting is so creamy. You’d love it!
These look just delightful, Mary Ann!! I’m loving that chocolate buttercream…pretty sure I could eat that by the spoonful! LOL! Also, we always started school waaay before Labor Day sadly….
That’s too early! Yo’d LOVE that chocolate buttercream Haylie!
That buttercream is something I could dive right into! Perfect pairing of chocolate and banana!
You’d really enjoy it Kevin!
I could stare at those buttercream swirls all day! The chocolate frosting looks irresistible Mary Ann!
Thanks Leanne!
WOW! The pictures of these banana cupcakes are so enticing! I’ve never even thought of making such treats. I like that the cupcakes are super moist and flavorful. And chocolate buttercream is such a great accompaniment. Perfect for breakfast or as dessert for afternoon tea. My kiddos would go crazy for these. Now I’m thinking of making these together with them and share with their friends. It’d be so much fun!
Mary Ann, thank you so much for inspiring me and all of your helpful recommendations. I should definitely try your other similar recipes for desserts. Look forward to your new ideas.
p.s. I like the photos you take. Can’t stop looking at them. Great job!
You’re so sweet Ann! Thank you for the compliments on my photos! I really enjoy the photography part of the job. These cupcakes are always a hit with friends and family, and the chocolate buttercream is so smooth and creamy! Everyone LOVES it!
Seeing from the comments, doesn’t look like many of these people have made this recipe. Just the ones that knew the blogger. I would want an option from someone that actually made this recipe and give a good option on it? Anyone ??