Another Cupcake craving

Since a despedida party will be held for another dear friend at my place, I thought I'd serve the cupcakes I have been craving for, for the last few days. And it ain't easy I tell yah, coz it comes with the baggages that stays on the belly!!! So I think it would be nice to share them with Paloma's (and my - ) friends. ööö)

And if I can't share these Banana Cupcakes to you,  (Nanette P.), then I'll share the recipe instead and hope that you like it.

First up, turn the oven to 175 degs C and prepare 16 to 18 cupcake liners. Depends how big the liners are, you can yield just 12 if you have the American sized papers.

In a bowl, sift together 260 gms. of cake flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 3/4 tsp. baking soda and a pinch of salt. Set this aside.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, weigh about 113 grams of butter at room temperature. Use medium speed of the mixer and slowly add 200 gms. of caster sugar (the most refined one), until its creamy and sugar has dissolved, about 2 mins. To this, add 2 large eggs or 3 small ones, one at a time, add 1 tsp. of very good vanilla extract. Once incorporated, add 3 large bananas that has been mashed up. (I used the bananas that has been sitting in my freezer-thawed. I usually keep the ones that are over riped in the freezer for times like this. If you see your bananas in the fruit basket with blotches of brown spots, its time to chuck them in a bag and freeze them). Mix this in high speed for about 1 min. then turn it back to medium speed and add 1/4 cup of plain youghurt.

Tablespoon by tablespoon, gradually add the flour to the mixture. Once incorporated, spoon up to 2/3 full to the cupcake liners. Bake from 15 to 20 mins. or until its springy to the touch. Or you know, when you insert that toothpick and it comes out clean?   ;P

Let it cool in a wire rack. I suggest you take the cupcakes out of the pan so it will not become soggy. Meanwhile, make your frosting.

Mix 50 grams of butter, room temp with 150 grms of icing sugar (sifted). Add 1 tsp. of vanilla extract or better yet, if you can find banana flavoring. Mc Cormick sells them in small bottles. If you think its not spreadable, you can adjust this by adding drops of hot milk or icing sugar. For more yellow effect, you can add a tinge of yellow food coloring. Enjoy!!!!