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.

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20 Responses to “Pina Colada Cupcakes”

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    1
    Molly — March 31, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    These are so adorable! A friend once made me margarita cupcakes for a birthday, but I love the sound of all the coconut.

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    Flavia — March 31, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    I love this cupcakes week!!!!! And even Pina-colada cupcakes…..ciao, Flavia

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    Daisy — March 31, 2011 at 4:41 pm

    these look incredible! I am LOVING cupcake week!

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    Allisonpence — March 31, 2011 at 4:42 pm

    These make me crave a warm summer day.

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    Megan — March 31, 2011 at 4:51 pm

    This sounds like a fun, summery cupcake recipe! Love it!

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    Rachel Marcisin — March 31, 2011 at 5:32 pm

    Mmm these look awesome! But where’s the rum?

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    beantownbaker — March 31, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    Tell me about it! I’m not excited about the rain/snow we’re supposed to get tonight and tomorrow.

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    beantownbaker — March 31, 2011 at 5:44 pm

    Good point! They have the flavors of a pina colada without the alcohol. If you wanted to add some rum, I’d throw it into the filling.

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    FunandFearlessinBeantown — March 31, 2011 at 6:23 pm

    I’d like one of these cupcakes along with a pina colada on the beach!

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    Hezzi-D — March 31, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    I’ve really been into “booze” cupcake lately and yours looks fantastic! Perfect for a luau or a summer pool party!

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    Ann — March 31, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    Those are truly beautiful cupcakes! I love Pina Coladas and I love cupcakes so…

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    Nutmeg Nanny — March 31, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    These are so beautiful! Eating one of these would bring me back to Hawaii 🙂

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    beantownbaker — March 31, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    Ooohhh Hawaii sounds awesome right about now. I’ve never been.

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    Shannon — March 31, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    oh my gosh, those look adorable, and i love the flavor combo, too!!

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    Mary — April 1, 2011 at 7:53 am

    Very nice! May I ask how you set the background for your cupcake pics? The solid colors really bring attention to the cupcakes themselves.

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    beantownbaker — April 1, 2011 at 3:47 pm

    For the majority of my cupcakes, I use a piece 12×12 scrap-booking paper for my backgrounds. I have a big stack of a variety of colors and patterns.

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    Mary — April 1, 2011 at 4:13 pm

    Thank you 🙂 .

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    Audrey — April 2, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    I love the garnishes on the top, they looke exactly like little poolside drinks. I have been wanting to try a cocktail-like cake since I went to “cupcake happy hour” at Kickass Cupcakes in Davis Square. Have you ever been there? Because if you haven’t you must go and try their mojito!

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    beantownbaker — April 2, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    I have been to Kickass before during the Cupcake Crawl I hosted a couple years ago. In fact, we even tasted the mojito cupcake while we were there.

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    Paula Kelly-Bourque — April 3, 2011 at 2:50 pm

    Such creative finishing touches to a perfectly delightful cupcake.

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