Banana Split Cupcake
Cupcake Hero is BACK! This is one of the first blogging events I ever participated in. After a 9-month or so hiatus, CB has brought it back for all of us cupcake fans out there. This month’s ingredient is banana, which was a shocking selection since CB does NOT like banana. I struggled all month to think of a creative use of banana in a cupcake. Finally, on a restless night, I came up with this idea.
As you know, a classic Banana Split has a split banana, vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, topped with pineapple, strawberry, and chocolate. Then the whole thing is topped with chopped nuts, whipped cream, and of course a cherry.
These cupcakes are so freaking cute! I can’t wait to make them again. They taste just like a banana split with the added bonus of having some cake in it! I opted to leave the nuts and whipped cream out, but you could definitely add those if you wanted to.
First I started with some Martha Stewart yellow buttermilk cupcakes. They are my current go-to white cupcake. Although the recipe makes a TON of cupcakes! Then I used my round cookie cutter to cut out the center of the cupcake.
Next I added a slice of banana.
On top of that I added some mushed up strawberries. You could also use strawberry ice cream topping, but I just took some frozen strawberries, thawed them out, put them in a ziplock bag and mushed them by hand.
Then I topped the strawberry with another banana slice. At this point I realized I wouldn’t need the top of the cupcake that I had cut out. So I ate it. Tasty!
For the frosting, I used the pineapple cream cheese frosting that I’ve made tons of times, except I bumped up the amount of pineapple in it. Then I got it really cold by putting it in the freezer for about an hour so that I could scoop it with my cookie scoop to make it look like ice cream.
Next I drizzled some pourable chocolate ganache over the top of the frosting.
Lastly I topped with a cherry.
I wanted to do a shot of the inside of the cupcake. It’s quite messy in there, but that is definitely the way a banana split looks after you take the first bite.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
A slice of this? Yes please!
Oh my…a slice? I’ll take the whole pan, please. 🙂
I am a firm believer in combining foods that are great. The photos are making me drool!
So amazingly decadent! I love these. So would my boyfriend 🙂
You should simply call these the “Yes, Please” bars.
Those bars look perfect!
Mmmmm, she said trying not to drool.
Yes please is right! I need to make these as soon as possible!
Yours turned out so pretty! I’m so glad you liked them! 🙂
Holy cow! I agree with your husband. I’d beg for those bars, for sure.
Oh, I say “yes please,” too! YUM! Those both sound and look delicious!!! A must make!
xxMK
Delightful Bitefuls
I’ve seen these around and each time I think, MUST bake, soon! This time around is no different except I AM going to make these asap. Thanks for the shove, I mean nudge! 🙂
~ingrid
I’ve made these before and I still think about them. Your pictures are beautiful. I’m adding you to my blog list!
wow! heavenly! –hoteles en veracruzt
I’ll take two! These bars look great. I am saving the recipe!
Wow, these look simply amazing! I think I would say “Yes Please” too!
i just printed this off. SO excited to try it!
My family would go insane for this! Newest follower here!
Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma, What’s For Dinner
http://www.mawhats4dinner.com
These are some of my favorite bars! Yours look great 🙂
Oh wow, these look absolutely delightful! I could probably eat a whole pan 🙂 Happy weekend!
Sues
Yum, yum, yum! I could do some serious damage to those. They look heavenly.
I’ve been browsing your blog and these look delicious! Well, everything looks delicious but I’m a cheesecake girl and my husband is definitely a chocolate chip cookie kind of guy so I can’t wait to try these!
I made these last week. They were amazing!