Strawberry Banana Trifle

This year when all the guys went deer hunting I got together with my sister-in-law and her kids for a fun family night! We had dinner, dessert, chatted, watched a movie, and enjoyed the kids laughing and playing together.
She made homemade chicken nuggets, and a tasty treat called "Pizza Snowballs" and I brought some fruit and a dessert.

I feel like I'm ALWAYS making cupcakes, so I opted for something simpler, and something that did not require any baking. I made a trifle. I mean, you can't really go wrong with a trifle. Layer together a bunch of things that taste good, and all combined, it'll taste great!

Strawberry Banana Trifle

1 small package of banana cream instant pudding
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
5 cups milk
1 large package of instant vanilla pudding
1lb of sliced, fresh, strawberries
4 slices bananas
1 package of Golden Oreos

1. Mix together banana pudding with 2 cups milk and set aside.

2. Whip together the whipping cream, and powdered sugar.

3. Fold together the whipped cream and pudding mixture.

4. In another bowl, combine remaining milk with vanilla pudding. Whisk together and set aside.

5. Layer your dessert. I started with Oroes, and did a layer of Oreos, pudding, strawberries, whipped cream, more cookies, pudding, bananas, etc. Be creative. Layer however you'd like!

Banana Split Cupcakes

I LOVE banana cake. You just can't go wrong. It's good with everything. Throw some chocolate buttercream on top and it's perfect. Not a chocolate fan? That's fine, goes amazingly well with Cream Cheese Buttercream too. Don't like that either? Give this a try!!! It's a Banana Split Cupcake!

We got invited to a friends house for a get together after church one Sunday this summer, and these cupcakes had everyone "oohing and aaahhhing."

Banana Split Cupcakes

BANANA CUPCAKES:
2 1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup mashed super-ripe banana
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1. In a mixing bowl, beat together flour, sugar, powder, soda, and salt.
2. Add to that mixture the banana, buttermilk, shortening, and vanilla.

3. Add eggs in and mix until combined.

4. Scoop into muffin tins about 2/3 full and bake at 350 for about 20 to 25 minutes.

5. Cool cupcakes and dip tops in chocolate ganache. Let the ganache set until stiff.

6. Pipe strawberry buttercream on top of ganache, and drizzle with remaining ganache.


CHOCOLATE GANACHE:

16 oz. bittersweet (or semi-sweet) chocolate (we used chocolate chips)
2 cups heavy whipping cream

1. Place the chopped chocolate into a medium-sized bowl.

2. Heat the heavy cream in a microwavable container and microwave for 3 to 4 minutes on high, or until it just begins to simmer; be careful not to allow cream to boil over.

3. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let stand for 30 seconds or so.

4. Stir until mixture is smooth.

5. Use as is for glazing.

FRESH STRAWBERRY BUTTERCREAM:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
6 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup fresh strawberry puree

1. Beat together butter and shortening.

2. Add in about half of the powdered sugar.

3. Mix in strawberry puree. (I just blend fresh strawberries with 1 tsp of lemon juice until liquified.)

4. Add in the rest of the powdered sugar.

5. Beat buttercream to desired consistency. At this point you can add more sugar or puree if too thick or thin.

6. Frost cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Banana Cupcakes

Well. . .here's another recipe that started with a favorite flavor combo. Made Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches for lunch. I like to add a drizzle of honey to my sandwich so it's just messy and tasty! My kids like it too, but due to the "no peanuts" rule at school, I can't pack it in their lunch. Instead they enjoy it as a treat at home.

I have a pile of 9 bananas, ripe as can be, setting on the counter and need to use them. So here we are, Peanut Butter Banana Caramel Cupcakes! I've never made them before, but think they turned out fantastic!

Peanut Butter Banana Cupcakes

CUPCAKES:
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, very soft
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs
1 cup ripe banana, mashed (2 large)

1. Cream together butter, peanut butter, and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add in eggs one at a time.

3. Mix in mashed bananas.

4. Sift in flour, baking powder, and salt.

5. Stir until combined.

6. Scoop into paper lined cupcake pan.

7. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes.


PEANUT BUTTER BUTTERCREAM:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 or 3 Tbsp milk

1. Prepare cupcakes and let cool completely.

2. Mix together butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla.

3. Stir in milk.

4. Whip frosting till it's light and fluffy.

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins

1 1/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup softened butter

2 eggs

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

4 mashed, super ripe bananas

4 Tbsp milk

3 1/2 cups flour

1 cup chocolate chips

1. Cream together sugar, and butter. Add eggs in one at a time beating well after each addition.

2. Mix in baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add in mashed bananas, and milk.

4. Mix in the flour. The mixture will be super thick.

5. Stir in the chocolate chips.

6. Line muffin pan with papers, and scoop batter evenly among 24 cups.

7. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Banana Pudding Parfaits

Banana Pudding Parfaits

1 large package of Jello Vanilla Cook and Serve Pudding
2 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
24 vanilla wafers
2 large bananas, sliced
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3 Tbsp powdered sugar
1 more tsp vanailla extract

1. In a saucepan, combine pudding and milk.

2. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla. Cool Slightly.

3. Layer 1/4 cup pudding in 4 dessert glasses.

4. Top each pudding cup with 3 broken vanilla wafers.

5. Top vanilla wafers with several slices of banana.

6. Repeat layers with pudding, wafers, and banana.

7. Add one more layer of pudding to each cup.

8. Whip together cream, sugar, and vanilla, and top each parfait with whipped cream.

Shortcut Banana Cake

Shortcut Banana Cake

1 white cake mix
1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
3 eggs
2 or 3 mashed ripe bananas

1. Mix together cake mix, water, and oil.

2. Add in eggs one at a time.

3. Stir in bananas, and mix until well incorporated.

4. Pour into a 9 x 13 (sprayed with baking spray) and bake at 350 for about 25 to 30 minutes.

5. Top with your favorite flavor frosting. . .we, of course, used chocolate.

NOTE: I made this recipe using 5 bananas. . .which was a bit much. It had a very dense texture. If you stick to 3 or less, you'll get a much lighter texture.

Cinnamon Sugar Banana Bread

So, I just posted my recipe for Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. . .which my family loves. But this is the recipe I prefer. No Chocolate, all banana. The best part? The cinnamon sugar topping.

Cinnamon Sugar Banana Bread

1 1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup softened butter
2 eggs
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 mashed, super ripe bananas
4 Tbsp milk
3 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon


1. Cream together sugar, and butter. Add eggs in one at a time beating well after each addition.

2. Mix in baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add in mashed bananas, and milk.

4. Mix in the flour. The mixture will be super thick.

5. Pour into two loaf pans, sprayed with a nonstick baking spray.

6. Mix together cinnamon, and sugar. Sprinkle evenly over both loaves.

7. Bake at 350 for just shy of an hour.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I love banana bread. My kids love chocolate. In this recipe, we combine both for what is the most perfect combination. . .chocolate chip banana bread. Make it as bread, make it as muffins, just make it. You'll love it. Dave loves it warm, slathered in butter. I prefer it cold. Sounds weird, I know. But it's how I like it.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1 1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup softened butter
2 eggs
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
6 mashed, super ripe bananas
4 Tbsp milk
3 1/2 cups flour
1 cup chocolate chips

1. Cream together sugar, and butter. Add eggs in one at a time beating well after each addition.

2. Mix in baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. Add in mashed bananas, and milk.

4. Mix in the flour. The mixture will be super thick.

5. Stir in the chocolate chips.

6. Pour into two loaf pans, sprayed with a nonstick baking spray.

7. Bake at 350 for just shy of an hour.