Banana Spice Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

If you like this recipe, please share!

Banana Spice Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting are a classic combination in a tasty package. These may be called cupcakes but you might mistake them for muffins with frosting.

Pin Banana Spice Cupcakes to make later.

Banana spice cupcakes with peanut butter frosting on a blue platter.

What do I need to make Banana Spice Cupcakes?

These banana spice cupcakes are super moist, have a soft crumb, and have lots of banana flavor. The peanut butter frosting takes them over the top. If you already have the over-ripe bananas, you should have everything else on hand. Plus it’s a great way to use up buttermilk too.

For the Banana Spice Cupcakes:

  • Unsalted Butter
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Eggs
  • Ripe Bananas – 2 if they are medium, 3 if they are small.
  • Honey
  • Buttermilk
  • Vanilla Extract – Use pure vanilla bean paste. I used Taylor & Colledge.
  • Flour – Use all-purpose.
  • Baking Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Salt
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg

For the peanut butter frosting:

  • Confectioners’ Sugar
  • Peanut Butter – Use creamy or crunchy. I preferred creamy.
  • Salt
  • Milk – use whole or 2% milk
  • Chopped Peanuts for Garnish – Honey Roasted work nicely here.
Banana cupcakes on a platter with a tube of vanilla bean paste.

What is the best way to cool cupcakes?

Remove the cupcakes from the oven and place them on a cooling rack. Once they have been out of the oven for a few minutes, 4 or 5, tilt them onto the cups in the muffin pan.

Tilted cupcakes on a muffin pan.

How do you store banana cupcakes?

These banana spice cupcakes will keep on the counter for 2 to 3 days. The recipe makes 12 and I doubt they will last that long.

Banana Spice Cupcakes on a blue platter being held.

Do I need paper liners for cupcakes?

While you could use paper liners for these cupcakes I chose not to use them. I find they often don’t peel away properly.

If you want to use paper liners for banana spice cupcakes, spray them with non-stick baking spray with flour for better results.

A cupcake batter that is high in sugar can stick to the paper liner. It essentially caramelizes against the paper or a metal pan for that matter.

Delicate texture cupcakes will also tend to stick as do batters low in fat.

Tips and Suggestions

First, don’t be alarmed when your banana spice cupcakes have spread on the top of the muffin pan. While they don’t look pretty when you remove them from the oven, once you frost them they will look great!

Don’t overfill the muffin tins. There is a lot of cupcake batter and it will be easy to want to do so but resist the temptation.

Six banana spice cupcakes with peanut butter frosting on a blue platter.

Recipes to use up ripe bananas

Sometimes I buy more bananas on purpose so I can make some favorite recipes. Here are some we love:

Banana Spice Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

A moist banana cupcake with delicious peanut butter frosting.
5 from 20 votes
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana, cupcakes, peanut butter frosting
Servings: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 medium ripe bananas
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • 2⅓ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla bean paste
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • teaspoon nutmeg

Peanut Butter Frosting

  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla bean paste
  • ⅓ to ½ cup milk
  • 1⅓ cups honey roasted peanuts, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a standard muffin or cupcake pan.
  • For the cake, in a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until smooth and pale.
  • Add the eggs, and beat well. Stir in the banana, honey, buttermilk, and vanilla. The mixture may look lumpy.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Make sure everything is lump free and well combined.
  • Add half of the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and mix until combined. Scrape the bowl and add the remaining dry ingredients. Mix until the batter is combined, scraping the bowl and mix at medium speed for 30 – 45 seconds.
  • Scoop the batter into the prepared pan, filling the wells ¾ full; an ice cream scoop works well here. Don't overfill or the cupcakes will spread on the top of the muffin pan.
  • Bake for 24 to 27 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs on it.
  • Remove the cupcakes from the oven, and place the pan on a wire cooling rack. As soon as you're able, about 2 – 3 mintues after you take them out, tilt the cupcakes in the wells of the pan; this prevents their bottoms from steaming and falling apart.
  • When the cupcakes are completely cool, make the frosting.

Peanut Butter Frosting Instructions

  • Beat together the confectioners' sugar, peanut butter, vanilla, and salt until crumbly
  • Add 1/3 cup of the milk, beating to combine. If the frosting is too thick to spread easily, add more liquid a tablespoon at a time, beating after each addition.
  • Put the crushed peanuts in a bowl. Frost the cupcakes, using about 1 1/2 ounces of frosting for each. If you have any leftover go back and add more. As you frost each cupcake, sprinkle crushed peanuts, over the frosting.
  • Transfer cupcakes to a rack to set briefly; then cover and store airtight until you're ready to serve them. They'll stay fresh for a day or two.
Monday #SpringSweetsWeek Recipes
  • Blackberry Lavender Cake by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
  • Color Changing Eggless Blood Orange Jello Cake by Magical Ingredients
  • Easy Glazed Lemon Ginger Scones by Blogghetti
  • Easy Mini Cheesecakes by Art of Natural Living
  • Funfetti Conchas by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
  • Gluten Free Lemon Lavender Icebox Cake by Frugal & Fit
  • Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream by Kate’s Recipe Box
  • Key Lime Bars by Jen Around the World
  • Key Lime Coconut Thumbprints by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
  • Lavender Linzer Cookies with Kumquat Marmalade by The Spiffy Cookie
  • Lavender Madeleines by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
  • Lemon Blueberry Upside Down Cake by Cheese Curd In Paradise
  • Lemon Carrot Loaf Cake by Sweet Beginnings
  • Lemon Lime Dessert Crepes by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
  • Lime Pink Peppercorn Cookies by That Recipe
  • One Pan Chocolate Cake by A Day in the Life on the Farm
  • Orange Creamsicle Poke Cake by Cookaholic Wife
  • Pink Peppercorn Cookies by Palatable Pastime
  • Rosemary Pine Nut Cornmeal Shortbread by Shockingly Delicious
  • We share recipes from Spring Sweets Week on Pinterest! Make sure you follow the board to see all the delicious recipes shared this week.

    Similar Posts

    2 Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating