Maple and Banana Cupcakes

For a change, let's have some Maple and Banana Cupcakes.

Recently, I bought the new Mini Cakes recipe book by Joanna Farrow from MPH. I bought it at a great deal like probably like S$6.00. I love her recipes so far as it was a "just-nice" proportion for the mini cakes. These minis were so adorable and they were bite-sizes.. yummy..^^

In fact, this is my 1st attempt trying her recipes. :-p

How would these cupcakes taste like??

Well, they were simply soft and fluffy..

I love them with much, plus with the Maple Frosting, they were absolutely fantastic.

Recipe as adapted from Mini Cakes by Joanna Farrow

Ingredients:

(Makes 12 minis)

1 small banana

2 tbsp maple syrup

2 tbsp milk

60g lightly salted butter, softened

70g caster sugar

1 egg, beaten

100g self raising flour

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 12-section mini muffin tin with 3cm mini paper cases.

2. In a small mixing bowl, mash the banana to a puree with a fork. Stir in the maple syrup and milk. Set aside.

3. Put the butter and sugar in a separate bowl and beat together with an electric whisk until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the egg, a little at a time, adding a teaspoon of flour if the mixture starts to separate.

4. Sift half the flour in the butter mixture, the add half the banana. Gently fold the ingredients together until only just mixed. Sift in the remaining flour, add the remaining banana mixture and fold in.

5. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until risen and just firm to the touch. Leave in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Maple Frosting

150g lightly salted butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla essence

6 tbsp icing sugar

 7 tbsp maple syrup

8 pecan or walnuts, roughly chopped to decorate

Put the butter, vanilla essence, icing sugar and maple syrup in a bowl and beat with an electric beater until smooth and creamy.