Chocolate Banana Filled Cupcakes

I met my little sister for lunch today with her little one year old! Sweet Ethan turned one yesterday, really a cute age - I love the faces he makes. I decided to make some cute cupcakes, with him in mind of course. What would the little monkey like? Humm...chocolate...bananas of course! Thought I was going to make something quick and easy but...you can choose which way to do yours.

Cake

1 stick Butter, room temperature
1 1/4 C Sugar
2 Eggs, room temperature
3/4 C Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 C Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 C Whole Milk
1 tsp Vanilla

*Or use a box of chocolate cake mix - follow directions on box

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, then turn it down to 350 just prior to baking

Beat the butter with an mixer until it is soft, then add sugar. Beat about 3 minutes.

Add your eggs one at a time, beating until they are well combined.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients and whisk them to incorporate them.
Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar and beat it just to combine. Add 1/2 of the liquids (milk & vanilla), scrape down bowl and beat to combine. Continue adding the dry and wet ingredients alternately making sure you end with the dry.

Fill muffin tins 2/3's of the way and bake for about 20-22 minutes. Allow to cool, then frost.

Filling
1 cup milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour or cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 large banana, mashed
2 tablespoons lemon juice

In a pan, heat milk until very hot but not boiling. In a bowl, mix the sugar, flour, and salt together. Stir in the hot milk, and beat until well blended. Pour back into the pan and continue stirring vigorously over low heat for 4-5 minutes, until very thick and smooth. Add egg yolks and cook for a few more minutes. Cool. Beat mashed bananas until smooth, add lemon juice and stir into the cooled filling. Let cool completely before filling cupcakes.
*Can use Jello Banana pudding mix - follow directions on box (add 1 mashed banana to pudding)
I used canned frosting for tops. I made bananas out of marzipan, just a drop of yellow food coloring. Molded them just like Play-Doh,added lines with a butter knife and brown freckles with a toothpick. You could even top the cupcakes with fresh banana slices for adults (make sure you toss them in lemon juice so they don't brown).

Enjoy! 
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