Banana Cupcakes with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting

297.  This is a lovely recipe using ripe bananas.  Those unpleasant guests that show up on your kitchen counter, seemingly, unannounced.  The delight is in the frosting which has hints of honey and cinnamon spice.  You will be surprised and satisfied!  Compliments of Martha Stewart's recipes.  

Recipe here:  Banana Cupcakes with Honey-Cinnamon Frosting

Cupcakes

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 ripe bananas), plus 1 whole banana, for garnish (optional)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Honey-Cinnamon Frosting
• 
  
• STEP 1
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• Line cupcake pan with paper liners or silicone cups.
• 
  
• STEP 2
• Make a well in center of flour mixture. In well, mix together butter, mashed bananas, eggs, and vanilla. Stir to incorporate flour mixture (do not overmix causing cake to be tough). Dividing evenly, spoon batter into muffin cups.

1. STEP 3

   Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cupcake comes out clean, 25 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely on a wire rack.  

Frosting

1 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat confectioners' sugar, unsalted butter, honey, and ground cinnamon until smooth, 4 to 5 minutes. 

1. Spread tops with
   Honey-Cinnamon Frosting.  Drizzle honey across top of frosting.
2. OPTIONAL:  Just before serving, peel and slice banana into rounds, and place one on each cupcake, if desired.
3. 

"My biggest thing is banana pudding, but it's the devil!  So no one is allowed to bring it into my house.  Because, I can't control myself.  So why put it in my domain?"
~ Jennifer Hudson