Banana Cupcakes, light, moist cupcakes topped with THE BEST brown sugar frosting.
These banana cupcakes will become your go-to recipe, guaranteed!
Banana Cupcakes
If you are looking for a knock-out banana cupcake recipe you have come to the right blog!
These seriously are some of the best cupcakes I’ve ever made and tasted.
What frosting goes best with banana cupcakes?
The banana cupcake recipe itself is like an amped up extra light but still seriously moist banana bread. But let’s not forget another winner here is the brown sugar frosting.
It’s one of those weird recipes, you know where you cook flour and milk together… I know, it sounds weird but… but…. wow. It’s the best cupcake frosting I have ever made. EVER.
It might be the only frosting I will ever make again. EVER.
BUT, if you are more on the traditional side, my best buttercream frosting works too!!
I have also made a version of these banana cupcakes with cream cheese frosting if that is more your style. They even have walnuts, yum!
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Things you may need for this recipe:
Admittedly, the frosting can take a bit of work and can be a little tricky. But, once you taste it, you will understand the deliciousness.
How to make homemade banana cupcakes
- Add dry ingredients to a medium-sized bowl, set aside. Add mashed bananas, vanilla, and egg in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients into the wet and stir until just combined, with no dry patches. This is the most important step on how to make moist banana cupcakes.
- Divide batter among 12 cupcake liners, bake at 350-degrees for 17-19 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out mostly clean. A couple crumbs attached is okay, any wet batter needs longer to bake.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely. While cooling, make your desired frosting.
How to make banana cupcakes from scratch
Banana Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting
Ingredients
Banana Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas about 3 medium bananas
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 egg lightly beaten
Brown Sugar Frosting
- 2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
Instructions
Banana Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, line muffin tin with wrappers, set aside. In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the remaining ingredients. Stir to combine, add the wet mixture to the dry and stir until just combined and no dry spots. Divide the batter among the 12 cupcakes wrappers, about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 17-19 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out mostly clean. Place on a wire rack for 5 minutes, take out and place directly on the rack to cool completely.
Brown Sugar Frosting
- In a small saucepan, whisk the flour into the milk and cook over medium heat, whisking continuously until thick. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and let cool to room temp.
- With a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy and there is no graininess left. Add the cooled milk mixture and beat it on high speed until a whipped cream consistency. This can take a while, do not give up! Well worth the effort. Frosting cupcakes and enjoy! Any leftover cupcakes should be refrigerated.
Nutrition
This post was updated on 5/31/2018 with text adjustment and newly edited photos.
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Dana DeVolk
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Michel says
Made This recipe 2 years ago and loved it! Can’t seem to make the frosting whipped though. Not sure where I’ve gone wrong?! I don’t remember it taking this long before.
Christine says
Can they be frozen with frosting?
Dana DeVolk says
I have never tried that and I don’t recommend it. I believe you can freeze the cupcakes by themselves, then when you are ready to serve them just frost then. Thanks for asking!
Jessica says
How long does this frosting take to make? I’ve been missing for thirty minutes and it’s still runny.
Dana DeVolk says
It is probably too warm now to come together. I would suggest placing everything in the fridge for an hour and try whipping again.
Jean says
Is it light or dark brown sugar
Dana DeVolk says
Light
Sofia says
I came upon this recipe when I was wondering what to do with my ripe bananas. I’m not much of a baker but the first time I tried this it turned out beautiful. I have made these a few times since then and it always came out perfect. Family and friends love it. Thank you.
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks so much, Sofia, it means a lot to me you would take the time out to comment!
Paul says
Can people please weigh the ingredients they use? Cups are so imprecise, and people outside the US that would like to bake accurately are left out in the cold.
Wanda says
I was worried because I have never
made frosting without powdered sugar and having to mix flour and milk and cook it did seem different! But the frosting is just wonderful. I have made it twice already!
I noticed the cupcake recipe doesn’t have any oil or butter in it so I again questioned that but decided that all the bananas in it probably made up for that lack. It does taste good but has a different texture than I am used to. Thank you for the great recipe.
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks so much!!
Cristy says
Recipe doesn’t have oil.
Dana DeVolk says
Correct, it is not needed in this recipe.
Martha Reynoso says
Thats what i said! I dont get how people hd a successful cupcake without butter or oil?!
Kathy Schele says
I made the cupcakes exactly as written and they were wonderful. Thank you for the great recipe!
Lois Markowitz says
Good morning 🙂
I made these yesterday, and they’re delicious – BUT one problem – the cupcakes stick to the paper liners, and much of the cake comes off with the liners – any suggestions? I wanted to make another batch for a party this weekend.
Martha Reynoso says
Hi! I used your recipe to make cupcakes, but noticed it calls for no oil or butter or extra liquid. The batter came out very thick and hard to stir as is. I added a splash of milk and stick of butter and ot was amazing! I cant imagine it be the same or better otherwise. The frosting was amazing! So easy to make and light! One of my favorite frostings for sure!! Thanks!
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks for the tip. The recipe is correct though, they are still light and yummy as-is, every time I have made them.
heather says
Omg!!! just made this as I am typing this… All I have to say is AMAZING! soooooooo good. And I almost gave up on the frosting until I read not to give up lol sure enough it did start to get thick. thank you so much.
Dana DeVolk says
You’re so welcome, I’m glad you loved them!!
megan says
Would dark brown sugar work for the frosting or is it too heavy? Thanks!
Dana DeVolk says
I haven’t tried, but it should work too 🙂
Mary says
What would the change in baking time and temp be if I am using a mini cupcake pan? I am making these for preschoolers and the teacher requested the smaller ones:) Thanks in advance!
Dana DeVolk says
I have never tried making these into minis, but going off of basic guidelines, mini cupcakes bake for 9-14 minutes normally. Same temperature, please let me know how they come out, thanks!
Tina says
I made these banana cutting mini. Turned out absolutely awesome. And the frosting……amazing. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Sara says
Hi, I LOVE this recipe! Hands down the best frosting I’ve ever had. I really want to make this for my birthday but want to make it as a cake instead of cupcakes. Do you have any recommendations for how to convert the cupcake recipe into and 3-layer cake recipe?
Thank you!
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks so much Sara! I’ve never made this recipe into a tiered cake, so I don’t want to say for sure. But, I looked it up and this article seems to show exactly what to do. I hope this helps! https://hummingbirdbakery.com/blogs/hummingbird-bakery-blog/how-to-convert-cupcake-and-cake-recipes
Sarah says
Does this frosting work with non-dairy milks? We are dairy free and usually used unsweetened almond milk.
Dana DeVolk says
Yes! I have made it with soy milk before.
Lesley says
Just made your brown sugar frosting. It made up beautifully and is more than delicious. After step 1 in your recipe for the frosting, I used my thermomix and it took around 3 minutes. Magic recipe, thank you.
Rowena says
Can I use the whip attachment when making the frosting