Gina's Banana Cupcakes

I went in the kitchen and came across some really ripe bananas. I didn't want to throw them out. So, I did the next best thing. I made banana cupcakes, but not just any banana cupcakes. I made Gina Neelys Banana Cupcakes, moist, delicious and easy to make. For some of you who do not the Neelys, they are one of Food Network's latest additions to their channel. The Neelys show specializes in southern cuisine along with homemade comfort food. This is one of the best banana cakes I have ever had and my family love it too. With that being said, here is the recipe:

Serves:12 Cupcakes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min

Ingredients
Batter:
1 cup all- purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large ripe bananas, peeled, and mashed
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Molasses Frosting:
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons of butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons molasses
2 to 3 cups powdered sugar

Directions
Batter:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 1 (12-cup) muffin pan with cupcake liners.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the butter and the sugar. Beat with a hand-held mixer until combined. Add the sour cream and the vanilla extract. Slowy beat in the eggs, 1 at a time. Incorporate the dry mixture and wet mixtures together until throughly combined. Add the bananas and walnuts, being careful not to over mix. Using an ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner 3/4 way full. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops turn golden-brown and when a toothpick, inserted in the middle of the cupcake , comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the oven to a wire rack and let cool before frosting.

Frosting:

In a large bowl, add the butter and cream cheese. Beat together until incorporated. Add the molasses and mix well. Stir in the vanilla extract, milk and powdered sugar.

Heavily frost the cupcakes and garnish with walnuts if desired.

And if you want a whole cake instead of cupcakes, simply grease and flour a 6 inch tube pan, place batter in pan and bake for 30 minutes. Once out of the oven let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then flip cake onto wire rack to continue to cool. When the cake is cooled, mix together 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons of water to create a simple glaze. Drizzle glaze over cake. And there you have it!


(Disclaimer: This recipe was taken from FoodNetwork.com)
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/ginas-banana-cupcakes-recipe/index.html