The Elvis

Look at me, updating semi-regularly. That’s growth! That’s also called "vacation time" where I actually have some time to think about frivolous things such as cupcakes!

Peanut Butter Banana Cupcake
w/caramelized banana on top
"The Elvis"

This cupcake was one of my more “adventurous” endeavors. If we’re going to call peanut butter banana cupcakes adventurous… It’s just that I had never attempted to caramelize bananas before. “How hard can it be,” I said to myself. Well, it turned out to be a bit more difficult than I anticipated -- to say the least. Which I think is silly since I have NO problem with caramel normally. I’m actually really good at working with caramel! The first batch was ridiculous though. I tried looking for a picture of them but I must have deleted it out of anger. I was pretty upset at the time. In retrospect they were hilarious. I left them in the pan way too long and they were little bits of charcoal when I was done with them. I think I actually set off the fire alarm that time…

The second batch turned out…okay. I still wasn’t incredibly pleased with them. I was expecting them to be crunchier on the outside and they were just kinda… sticky. And really mushy on the inside. Is that normal? Maybe I just don’t like caramelized bananas and that was a learning experience? Anyway, I don’t think I’ll be doing that again anytime soon until I consult a professional. Or a Cuban. Cubans do amazing things with bananas and banana like things. Fried plantains anyone? (Cue most of my friends sniggering at an inappropriate joke regarding the term “banana like things.”)

On the bright side, the banana cupcake and the peanut butter buttercream turned out pretty well. My PB buttercream is one of my favorite recipes, and one that I’m rather proud of. I think my only complaint with the banana cupcake was that it wasn’t as moist as I was expecting. I was thinking more along the lines of banana bread. It was just a little more dry than I had anticipated. Overall this wasn’t a bad cupcake at all! It was just a lot of those, “Oh! That’s not what I was expecting…,” moments. Maybe I’ll try a variation off of a banana bread recipe next time.

And no caramelized bananas. Banana chips. …From someone else.

Over and out,

-m