BANANA & STRAWBERRY BUTTERFLY CUPCAKES

Prep 30 mins | Cook 20 mins | Makes 12

Ingredients

125g butter, softened
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 free range eggs
1 cup mashed very ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
1½ cups self-raising flour
½ tsp bi-carbonate of soda
1/3 cup milk

Topping:
250g spreadable cream cheese
1 cup icing sugar mixture + extra for dusting
12 plump strawberries, hulled and halved lengthways

Method

STEP 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Line a 12 hole x 1/2 cup capacity muffin pan with paper patty cases.

STEP 2 Using electric beaters, beat butter, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add mashed banana and beat until well combined.

STEP 3 Sift flour and bi-carbonate of soda over the banana mixture. Add milk. Using a large metal spoon, gently stir until combined. Spoon evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden and cooked through when tested with a skewer. Cool in pans for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

STEP 4 To make the topping, combine cream cheese and icing sugar in a bowl and beat until well combined. Top each cake with a dollop of cream cheese mixture. Decorate with strawberries and serve.

Recipe courtesy of Sydney Markets