“Tuesday night” Easy like Sunday Morning Banana Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1/4 – 1/2  cup buttermilk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Method

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream Butter and sugar on high speed until fluffy (about 3 minutes) add eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla, and banana goo.  Mix together dry ingredients, add half of dry to the wet mixture, add 1/4 cup buttermilk, and the second half of dry mix and mix to incorporate.  Add up to another 1/4 cup of buttermilk if mix looks too dry (you want it about the consistency of a thick pancake batter).  Scoop into lined cupcake pans and bake for about 20 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into cupcake.

Nutella Cream Cheese Buttermilk Frosting

• 2 packages of cream cheese (room temp)
• 1 container (about a 1-1/4 cups) Nutella
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 3-4 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tablespoons buttermilk

Method

Mix Cream cheese, Nutella, vanilla, and milk on high with the paddle attachment in your mixer. Add sugar slowly and beat again until light and fluffy like a magical bunny.

(cooks note:  i just licked some of the frosting off the paddle… all i have to say is HAPPY BIRTHDAY ME, and here is to 27+ more years of baking!)