Monday, September 3, 2012

I'm Back!!! with Ganache Filled Banana Cupcakes and Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

























I know I've been MIA for a long 2 months, but I can now officially call myself a bona fide Paralegal!  (I have the badge and certificate to prove it ; ) I've spent most of the long hot summer in Montgomery Alabama, studying and pouring over legal books to finish my retraining in the Air Force.  Though it was nice to go back to the states for a little bit I'am finally back in Japan and happy to be cooking and baking in my kitchen once again.


Chocolate Ganche filled Banana Cupcakes with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted and inspired by Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publication 2012

Banana Cupcake

Ingredients
3/4 cup Butter
3 Eggs
3 cups All purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder
3/4 teaspoons Salt
1/4 teaspoons Baking Soda
3/4 cup Mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium)
1/3 cup Almond Milk
1/4 cup Sour Cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 cup Sugar

Directions

- Preheat your oven for 350 degrees and line two cupcake pans with paper liners
- Allow butter and eggs to at room temperature for 30 minutes
- In a medium bowl combine your flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda together in a medium bowl and set aside
- In a small bowl combine the mashed bananas, almond milk, sour cream and vanilla
- In a large mixing bowl beat the butter for 30 seconds, gradually add the sugar about 1/4 at a time, beating on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Alternately add your flour mixture and banana mixture to the mixing bowl, beating on low speed until just combined.
- Fill your paper liners till 3/4 full and bake for 17 minutes, immediately remove from oven and place on a cooling rack.



Chocolate Ganache

Ingredients
1 cup Whipping Cream
12 ounces bittersweet Dark Chocolate

Directions

- In a medium sauce pan bring whipping cream just to a boil over medium high heat. Remove from heat and add chocolate (no not stir) let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth, cool for 15 minutes in the fridge
- Make a hole in the middle of your cupcakes (I used a 1/2 teaspoon to scoop out the inside of the cake)
- Fill a pipping bag with your ganche and fill your cupcakes


Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients
1/2 cup Butter (1 stick)
6 oz Cream Cheese
5 cups Powder Sugar
1/4 teaspoons Coconut Extract
3/4 Tablespoon Coconut Milk

Directions

- In a electric mixer beat the butter and cream cheese together
- Add in the coconut milk and extract beat until combined
- Add the powder sugar 1/2 cup at a time until combined, scraping the side of the bowl when need.
- Fill a pipping bag and frost your cupcakes.


32 comments:

  1. These cupcakes look simply gorgeous! Coconut cheese frosting sounds really amazing.

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  2. Hi thanks so much!! I love anything and everything coconut! :)

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  3. welcome back! perfect celebratory cupcake :)

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  4. Yay ... Welcome back ... We missed you! By the way, your cupcakes are picture perfect :)

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  5. Welcome back, your banana cupcakes looks delicious. Love that toasted coconut. in there.

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  6. Congratulations on your certificate and welcome back! Looking forward to following your kitchen adventures again, and those cupcakes look delicious! really like that bouncy cupcake holder thing :)

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    Replies
    1. secret the bouncy cupcake holder, is actually a egg holder in disguise lol

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  7. Congratulations on becoming a Paralegal!! These cupcakes look delicious...

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  8. I love the force life. My father was in Air force. I married to a man who served as a veterinarian in paramilitary force for 5 before coming to Canada. Now he is only a veterinarian and miss his uniform.

    Anyways, congratulations for being certified paralegal. These cup cakes look gorgeous I like the ingredients you have used plus the coconut cream cheese frosting.

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    1. Hi Balvinder, thanks for stopping by, I hope you got a chance to move around with your dad in the air force.

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  9. I love these pictures! Congrats on becoming a paralegal, that's awesome! what a recipe to come back on too, yum!

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    1. Hey Emma, thanks for saying hi, can't wait to post more!

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  10. Welcome back, I've missed you ;) These cupcakes look absolutely decadent, and what gorgeous photographs - Kudos!!

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    1. Hi Sandra, thanks so much for the lovely comment, I totally missed being away from the blogging world and happy to be back again. hope you have a great day!

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  11. Congratulations! and so glad you are back :) we missed you! These look so tasty!

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    Replies
    1. I missed everyone as well :) thanks for the well wishes back.

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  12. First of all congratulations (both for the promotion and for beeing an awesome cook!).

    By reading your profile I find that your story is really interesting.

    I'm Italian and last year I was an exchange student in Alaska. Or stories are different but somehow similar because I think through our experiences abroad we both got the chance to discover a new cuisine :)

    I'm used to eating Italian every day but now that I've learned a bit about American cuisine I often prepare American dishes as well, mainly desserts, because they're my favorites!
    These cupcakes look scrumptious! I'll copy the recipe!

    Your newest follower,
    Michela ;)

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    1. Hi Michela, i can't thank u enough for your support. I totally agree with you there's nothing better than being able to travel and trying all the different cuisine from other countries; is what I love most. How did you like Alaska? what city did you go to school in, Anchorage?
      baking desserts are my favorite as well, thank goodness I have plenty of co-workers that will help me finish off most of the cupcakes and etc :)
      Italy is on my list for my next duty station, maybe in the next two years I will have the privilege of being stationed in there and trying my hand at some italian dishes :)

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  13. Congratulations! So glad you're back! I've missed your posts!
    These cupcakes are a perfect way to celebrate!

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  14. Welcome back!! And what a sweet come back it is :) The ganache - divine! Congratulations on your promotion! We've missed you! xoxo

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    1. Hi Anna, thanks so much the ganache and frosting was my favorite part ;)

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  15. Welcome back Neshanne!!! Congratulation!!!!!!!!!!!!! We missed you:)
    Yummy cupcakes:))))

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  16. wow that would be wonderful. :) I'm glad u like my cupcakes

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  17. Welcome back Neshanne! Great to have you back & with such a delicious treat too. My hubby is a huge fan of coconut! I'm sure he will surely love a dozen of these yummy cupcakes! LOVELY! :)

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    Replies
    1. Hi kit! so great to see u again. Coconut is pretty awesome your husband has good taste. :)

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