Name: Chocolate banana cupcakes recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: Makes: 12
Cuisine: Baking, British
Ingredients: 100g softened unsalted butter; 150g light brown sugar; 2 large eggs, beaten; 1 large ripe banana, mashed; 100ml milk; 175g plain flour; 30g cocoa powder; 2tsp baking powder; ½tsp salt; 150g chocolate chips

By Jessica Ransom

last updated 22 August 2023

in Recipes

Our chocolate banana cupcakes are the perfect way to use up an overripe banana.

Although this cupcake recipe includes chocolate chips and a little cocoa powder, we think you could enjoy one of the cakes as a breakfast treat, if you liked. After all, they do contain a banana! For the best flavour you should use a very ripe banana, the browner the skin the better.

Ingredients

100g softened unsalted butter
150g light brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 large ripe banana, mashed
100ml milk
175g plain flour
30g cocoa powder
2tsp baking powder
½tsp salt
150g chocolate chips

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Method

Heat the oven to 180C (160C fan, Gas 4) and line a cupcake tin with 12 paper cases.
Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs a little at a time, then add in the banana and the milk and continue to beat until combined.
Sift in the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt then fold in. Stir through the chocolate chips.
Divide the mixture evenly between the paper cases then bake in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes until firm on top and a skewer comes out clean.
Leave in the tin to cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Top tips for making chocolate banana cupcakes

Bananas are at their sweetest and most flavoursome when the skins are brown all over. Don’t worry if they feel super squishy, you are mashing them into the cupcake batter and it will only make this task easier!

You can also add a small pinch of clove to the cupcake batter to intensify the banana flavour. Cinnamon is another classic pairing. For more tips, continue reading below.

How long does it take to cool cupcakes?

It will take around 30 minutes to an hour for cupcakes to cool completely but the temperature of your kitchen will also affect this. After 20 minutes the cupcakes should be cool enough to eat if you want to enjoy them warm. You could serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delicious but easy dessert.

Should you put cupcakes in the fridge to cool?

It is better to cool the cakes at room temperature as putting them in the fridge can make the cupcakes dry out and lose the delicious moist texture.

How to decorate chocolate banana cupcakes?

The cupcakes are delicious on their own but you could add a buttercream icing for a more indulgent treat. Vanilla, chocolate or even peanut butter frosting would all be great options. For something simpler, consider drizzling with a little melted chocolate instead.

The quickest way to cream the butter and sugar together is by using an electric hand mixer. If you don’t have one, this Kenwood mixer is a good affordable option.

You might also like our chocolate cupcakes recipe. For something simpler, these mini cupcakes are easy to make and these rainbow cupcakes are perfect for parties.

Jessica is a freelance food writer, stylist and recipe tester. She previously worked as Senior Food Writer at Future. While at Future Jessica wrote food and drink-related news stories and features, curated product pages, reviewed equipment, and developed recipes that she then styled on food shoots. She is an enthusiastic, self-taught cook who adores eating out and sharing great food and drink with friends and family. She has completed the Level 1 Associate course at the Academy of Cheese and is continually building on her knowledge of beers, wines, and spirits.