Banana Split Cupcakes

Instructions

Banana Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.
3. In another bowl, mash bananas and buttermilk.
4. In another bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla.
5. (Make sure the bowl you use for this mix is the largest- If you’re using a Kitchen Aid mixer, beat the butter, sugar and eggs in there and add the other bowls ingredients to it)
6. Once the butter, sugar and eggs are beat, add the flour mixture alternatively with the banana mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
7. Spoon batter into paper lined muffin tin and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool for at least an hour before assembling.

Hot Fudge Sauce

1. In a large sauce pan bring cream, whole milk, corn syrup, sugar, cocoa powder and salt to a boil. Whisk in a little more than half the chopped chocolate and vinegar.
2. Reduce heat low-medium and cook for about 12-15 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken and has the elasticity of hot fudge.
3. At this point, remove pan from heat and whisk in remaining chocolate, butter and vanilla.
4. Use immediately or store in fridge until ready to use.

Whipped Cream

1. Pour water into a small saucepan and sprinkle gelatin over top- Mix until gelatin starts to dissolve.
2. Place saucepan over low heat and bring to a slight boil.
3. Remove from heat and set aside to cool/stabilize.
4. Whip cream with hand mixer until it starts to thicken.
5. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until incorporated.
6. Pour gelatin into whipped cream and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
7. Place in fridge for at least 15 minutes before using, however you can keep in the fridge for a few days (covered).

Assembly

1. Take your cooled cupcakes and using the cone method to cut out small holes from the top of your cupcakes. This will give your hot fudge sauce somewhere to stay. (Feel free to eat your little cut out pieces of cupcake)
2. Pour hot fudge sauce in centers of cupcakes
3. Whipped cream topping- I piped mine on top using a zip lock bag, but you could just as easily drop the whipped cream in dollops on the cupcakes with a spoon or spatula.
4. For those interested in the ziplock bag idea: Place whipped cream in a large zip lock bag and secure top. Cut the tip off one end (about half an inch) and pipe onto cupcake just as you would with a pastry or icing bag.
5. Garnish with sprinkles, chopped peanuts, or whatever else you might like! And no Banana Split is complete without a cherry on top 🙂