Recipes and Cooking Mocha-Filled Banana Cupcakes These cupcakes provide a double dose of banana flavor, both in the cake and frosting. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on April 16, 2021 Print Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Scott Little Prep Time: 40 mins Cool Time: 5 mins Bake Time: 18 mins Total Time: 40 mins Yield: 24 to 30 (2-1/2-inch) cupcakes Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened 3 eggs Nonstick spray for baking 2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 ½ cup sugar 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup sugar 1 ½ teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder Dash salt 2 ounce semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3) ¾ cup buttermilk or sour milk* ½ cup shortening 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 recipe Banana Butter Frosting Banana slices or banana chips Unsweetened cocoa powder Banana Butter Frosting ½ cup butter ½ cup mashed ripe banana 6 ½ cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon milk 2 teaspoon vanilla Directions Allow cream cheese and eggs to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Lightly coat twenty-four to thirty 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, the 1-1/2 cups sugar, the baking powder, baking soda, and the 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium mixing bowl beat cream cheese and the 1/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until combined. Beat in one of the eggs, the espresso powder, and the dash salt. Stir in melted chocolate. Set aside. Add mashed bananas, buttermilk, shortening, and vanilla to flour mixture; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Add the remaining two eggs; beat on medium speed until combined (batter may climb beaters). Spoon a rounded tablespoon of the batter into each prepared muffin cup. Drop a rounded teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into each muffin cup. Spoon the remaining batter over cream cheese mixture in muffin cups, filling each two-thirds to three-fourths full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire racks. Pipe a swirl of Banana Butter Frosting on top of each cupcake. If desired, top each cupcake with a banana slice. Dust with cocoa powder. Makes 24 to 30 (2-1/2-inch) Banana Butter Frosting Allow butter to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a medium mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in banana. Gradually add 3 cups of the powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in the remaining powdered sugar until frosting reaches piping consistency. Mini Cupcakes: Lightly coat seventy-two 1-3/4-inch muffin cups with cooking spray. Spoon a rounded teaspoon of the batter into each prepared muffin cup. Drop 1 level teaspoon of the cream cheese mixture into each muffin cup. Spoon a dollop of the batter over the cream cheese mixture in each muffin cup (cream cheese mixture will not be completely covered). Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire racks. Frost as directed above. Makes 72 cupcakes. Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 364 Calories 13g Fat 61g Carbs 3g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Calories 364 % Daily Value * Total Fat 13g 17% Saturated Fat 6g 30% Cholesterol 47mg 16% Sodium 205mg 9% Total Carbohydrate 61g 22% Total Sugars 50g Protein 3g Vitamin C 0.6mg 3% Calcium 50.5mg 4% Iron 0.9mg 5% Potassium 102mg 2% Fatty acids, total trans 1g Folate, total 28.2mcg Vitamin B-12 0.1mcg Vitamin B-6 0.1mg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.