Friday, May 9, 2014

Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

I feel like there is a new craze with Greek yogurt.  It's super healthy and everyone is eating it.  I feel like it's dominating the yogurt aisle.  However, there is just something about Greek yogurt that I don't like.  It's just too tangy for me.  With that said, I do love cooking with Greek yogurt and substituting it instead of sour cream. 


I tend to buy Fage Greet yogurt the most.  I am not sure why.  Maybe it's because Bobby Flay sponsors it.  I dunno.  The power of advertising. 


Now if you are anything like El Husbee and me, there is never a shortage of bananas in the house.  I mean, bananas are the perfect snack food.  They are healthy, filling, and super easy.  I like to buy lots of bananas in hopes of leftover to make treats such as these cupcakes. 


Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, large room temperature
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 rip bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)

Peanut Butter Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup peanut butter, creamy
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pan with liners.
2.  Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.
3.  Cream together butter and sugar until creamy and smooth.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Stir in the Greet yogurt and vanilla extract.  Mix in the mashed bananas.
4.  Add the dry ingredients and mix until flour disappears.  Do not over mix!
5.  Use a ice cream scoop and scoop batter in cupcake liners.
6.  Bake for about 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
7.  While cupcakes are cooling make the peanut butter frosting.  Cream butter and peanut butter on high until smooth.  (make sure to use a spatula to scrap down the bowl to make sure butter and peanut butter is fully incorporated)  Slowly add the powdered sugar.  Add milk and vanilla extract.  Beat until frosting is smooth.
8.  Frost the cooled cupcakes. 

I made these cupcakes for my grandmother's birthday.   The cupcakes are super moist and full of banana flavor.  If you can resist waiting they taste even better the second day.  There is just something about baked banana goods that get better the next day. 

Keeping making yummy food for your family.

XOXO

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Snickerdoodle Blondies

Who doesn't like ... love a snicker doodle cookie?  Snicker doodle cookies are like soul food.  There is just something so yummy about them.  The best kind are the ones that melt in your mouth.  When I saw this recipe for snicker doodle brownies I knew I had to make them. 
 






Not only is this recipe super easy but your kitchen/house will smell amazing when you make these.  


Snickerdoodle Blondies
Recipe from Piarecipes.com

Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups all purposes flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups brown sugar, packed
1 cup butter, unsalted room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoon sugar, granulated
2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 9/13 baking pan with parchment and spray with oil.
2.  Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.
3.  Cream butter, brown sugar until creamy (about 3 minutes).  Add eggs and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
4.  Add the flour mixture 1/4 cup at a time until fully incorporated.  Do not over mix!
5.  Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.  Batter will be thick.
6.  Combine sugar and cinnamon.  Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the batter.
7.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.
8.  Cut and enjoy!

The hardest part about these snicker doodle brownies is waiting for them to cool to cut.  After that is resisting to eat the whole pan. I shared these with my friend Jamie for her birthday. 

Keep making homemade food!

XOXO