Banana Split Cupcakes

Banana Split Cupcakes (makes 30+ cupcakes)
Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
12 Tbs unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 cup plus 2 Tbs buttermilk
1 1/3 cups mashed ripe banana (from about 3 bananas)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line 2 muffin pans with cupcake liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a separate, larger bowl cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, two at a time, until all are incorporated. Mix in the mashed banana until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients and buttermilk, working in two batches until just incorporated.

Fill cupcake papers 2/3 full with cupcake batter. Bake for 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. I started checking mine around 16 minutes and they were ready to go. Remove from oven and let cool in pans for 5 minutes. Move to a cooling rack and repeat process if you have more batter (which you will!)

For the filling:
1 pint strawberries, washed, hulled and diced
3 Tbs powdered sugar
1 12-ounce can of crushed pineapple, drained (you could use fresh, but after cutting up a fresh pineapple, I thought it would be more authentic to use crushed)

In a small bowl, stir together strawberries and powdered sugar. Let the mixture macerate for at least 30 minutes, tossing a few times. After they have sit for 30 minutes, mash them with a fork against the side of the bowl.

To fill the cupcakes, use a paring knife to cone out the center of the cupcake. Fill each cupcake with a tsp or two of strawberries then top with a tsp or two of pineapple.

For the frosting:
1 1/2 cups heavy cream, chilled
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

In a large bowl, whip heavy cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add in powdered sugar and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Cafefully fold in vanilla extract.

Place whipped cream frosting in a large pastry bag fit with a plain, large, round tip. Pipe a swirl on each cupcake, covering the filling. Place cupcakes in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to chill.

For the ganache:
8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1 Tbs light corn syrup

For the garnish:
Maraschino cherries, with stems
Multi-colored sprinkles

Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Gently heat cream in a small saucepan until simmering and immediately pour over chocolate. Let stand for 1-2 minutes. Stir cream and chocolate until smooth and then stir in the corn syrup. Let stand for 10-15 minutes until it has cooled but is still a pourable consistency.

Pour a spoonful or two of ganache over each cupcake. Top with sprinkles and a cherry. Immediately return the cupcakes to the fridge and let set for an additional 30 minutes before serving. If you aren’t serving them immediately, they will keep in the fridge for several days.

Recipe from Annie’s Eats http://www.cakeandallie.com