Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

One of my all time favorite treats are banana bars, which is kind of ironic because I'm not a big fan of banana, or banana flavoring.  I have to avoid making them very often because it's just too tempting to eat them all.  I decided I try making  a cupcake version of banana bars to serve at a birthday party because they look a little more festive than a bar sitting on a paper plate.  Yum.   As an option, you can add 1 cup of mini semi sweet chocolate chips to the batter.  Super yum.

This is an easy recipe using a cake mix.

2 cupcake pans, with paper liners

preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1 box white cake mix
1 cup sour cream
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs
1/4 cup water


Combine all of the above ingredients in a large mixing bowl and beat on medium low speed for 2 minutes.  Using a 1/4 cup ice cream scoop, fill each of the paper liners with batter, and bake according to package directions -- usually 18 minutes, or until tops are a light golden brown, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

1/2 package (4 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 stick butter, at room temperature
3 cups powedered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
pinch salt

Place all of the ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Using a Kitchen Aid, or an electric mixer, blend on low speed until all of the ingredients are combined.  Increase the speed to medium and whip for 5 minutes, until frosting is light and fluffy.  Add more sugar if the frosting is too runny to pipe onto the cupcakes with a decorators tip.