Fluffy Banana Cream Cheese Cupcakes Recipe

Dreamy Fluffy Banana Cream Cheese Cupcakes Recipe for Beginners

Soft and decadent banana cream cheese cupcakes bring pure comfort to your dessert table.

These moist treats blend ripe bananas with a creamy tangy filling that melts in your mouth.

Every baker dreams of creating a perfect cupcake that sparks joy and satisfaction.

Perfectly balanced flavors dance between sweet banana and rich cream cheese frosting.

The delicate crumb and smooth texture make these cupcakes an irresistible afternoon indulgence.

Each bite promises a delightful experience that elevates simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Gather your mixing bowl and prepare to bake a batch of happiness that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Calories: 280 kcal

Servings: 12

What You’ll Need for Banana Cream Cheese Cupcakes

For Dry Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and helps bind the cupcake ingredients together, choose unbleached flour for better texture.
  • Baking Soda: Helps cupcakes rise and creates a soft, tender crumb, ensure it's fresh for maximum leavening power.
  • Baking Powder: Adds additional lift and lightness to the cupcakes, check expiration date for best results.
  • Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine table salt for even distribution.
For Wet Ingredients:
  • Ripe Bananas: Adds natural sweetness and moisture, select bananas with brown spots for maximum flavor intensity.
  • Granulated Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender texture, use pure cane sugar for best results.
  • Brown Sugar: Provides depth of flavor and moisture, look for soft, clump-free brown sugar.
  • Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and helps create a tender crumb, use room temperature butter for smooth mixing.
  • Eggs: Bind ingredients and provide structure, use large, fresh eggs at room temperature.
  • Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and enhances banana flavor, choose pure vanilla extract for best taste.
  • Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth batter, whole milk works best for richness.
For Frosting Ingredients:
  • Cream Cheese: Creates smooth, tangy frosting, use full-fat cream cheese at room temperature.
  • Butter: Adds richness and helps create creamy texture, ensure it's softened but not melted.
  • Powdered Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create stable frosting, sift to remove lumps.

Tools That Make Banana Cream Cheese Cupcakes

  • Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: Essential for beating cream cheese, butter, and creating smooth frosting.
  • Large Mixing Bowls: Needed for combining dry and wet ingredients separately.
  • Whisk: Perfect for mixing dry ingredients and blending wet ingredients smoothly.
  • Muffin Tin: Holds cupcake liners and shapes cupcakes during baking.
  • Cupcake Liners: Prevents sticking and makes serving easier.
  • Piping Bag: Great for decorating cupcakes with frosting.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.
  • Toothpick: Helps check cupcake doneness by testing center.
  • Spatula: Useful for scraping batter and folding ingredients.

Step-by-Step to Bake Banana Cupcakes with Tops

  • Warm Up the Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 350F and grab your muffin tin, lining it with cute cupcake wrappers.

  • Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl, creating a powdery blend that’ll make your cupcakes light and fluffy.

  • Combine Wet Ingredients

Mash those ripe bananas and blend them with sugars, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until everything looks smooth and dreamy.

  • Create the Batter

Slowly fold dry ingredients into the banana mixture, splashing in some milk to create a silky-smooth batter that’ll make your taste buds dance.

  • Fill and Bake

Scoop the batter into cupcake liners, leaving a little room at the top, and pop them in the oven for about 20 minutes until they’re golden and perfect.

  • Whip Up the Frosting

Beat cream cheese and butter until they’re creamy, then fold in powdered sugar and vanilla for a dreamy topping that’ll make these cupcakes irresistible.

  • Decorate and Enjoy

Once cupcakes are cool, pipe on that luscious frosting and get ready to bite into banana bliss!

Tips to Elevate Banana Cream Cheese Cupcakes

  • Ripeness Matters: Choose overripe bananas with dark spots for maximum sweetness and deeper banana flavor in your cupcakes.
  • Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow eggs, butter, and cream cheese to sit at room temperature for smoother mixing and better texture.
  • Gentle Mixing Technique: Avoid overmixing the batter to prevent tough, dense cupcakes; stop stirring once ingredients are just combined.
  • Frosting Chill Trick: Refrigerate cream cheese frosting for 15 minutes before piping for cleaner, more defined swirls.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Swap all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum for similar texture.
  • Dairy-Free Adaptation: Replace butter with coconut oil and use dairy-free cream cheese alternative for lactose-intolerant friends.
  • Nutty Twist: Fold chopped walnuts or pecans into batter for added crunch and depth of flavor.
  • Make-Ahead Friendly: Unfrosted cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days, frost just before serving.

How to Serve Banana Cupcakes with Style

  • Cupcake Companion Delights: Elevate your banana cream cheese cupcakes with these mouthwatering suggestions.
  • Nutty Crunch Topper: Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans over the cream cheese frosting for a delightful texture contrast and extra flavor punch.
  • Caramel Drizzle Dream: Warm some caramel sauce and gently drizzle it over the frosted cupcakes to create a luxurious, golden swirl that complements the banana's sweetness.
  • Fresh Fruit Finale: Garnish each cupcake with a thin slice of fresh banana or a few fresh berries to add a vibrant, colorful touch and enhance the fruity profile of the dessert.

Store Banana Cream Cheese Cupcakes

  • Smart Cooling Strategy: Let cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack to prevent soggy bottoms and ensure perfect frosting adhesion.
  • Refrigeration Haven: Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, keeping them fresh and delectable.
  • Freezing Magic: Wrap unfrosted cupcakes individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature and add frosting before serving.
  • Serving Sweet Spot: Remove cupcakes from the refrigerator 30 minutes before enjoying to let them reach room temperature, enhancing their soft texture and rich flavor profile.
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Fluffy Banana Cream Cheese Cupcakes Recipe

Fluffy Banana Cream Cheese Cupcakes Recipe


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4.9 from 38 reviews

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Delectable banana cream cheese cupcakes deliver a perfect balance of moist banana cake and tangy cream cheese frosting. Sweet memories blend with classic comfort in this irresistible dessert you’ll savor until the last delightful crumb.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (120 ml) unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup (120 ml) mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium bananas)
  • 1 ½ cups (360 ml) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup (180 ml) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) granulated sugar (for cream cheese filling)
  • 1 large egg (for cream cheese filling)
  • Cream cheese frosting (optional)
  • Chopped nuts (like walnuts or pecans) (optional)
  • Banana slices (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line muffin tin with cupcake liners.
  2. Dry Ingredients: Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl.
  3. Wet Mixture: Thoroughly mash ripe bananas and whisk with granulated and brown sugars, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and well-integrated.
  4. Batter Creation: Gently fold dry ingredients into banana mixture, alternating with milk, mixing carefully to maintain a light texture without overmixing.
  5. Baking Process: Fill cupcake liners three-quarters full and bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should emerge clean.
  6. Cooling Stage: Transfer cupcakes to wire rack and allow to cool completely before frosting preparation.
  7. Frosting Development: Cream together softened cream cheese and butter until silky, then gradually incorporate powdered sugar and vanilla extract, whipping until light and fluffy.
  8. Decoration: Use piping bag to create elegant swirls or peaks of frosting on fully cooled cupcakes, ensuring smooth and professional finish.

Notes

  • Choose Perfectly Ripe Bananas: Select bananas with brown spots for maximum sweetness and intense banana flavor, ensuring moist and rich cupcakes.
  • Prevent Overmixing Batter: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture to maintain cupcake’s tender texture and avoid developing tough, dense results.
  • Control Moisture Levels: Mash bananas completely to distribute flavor evenly and prevent large banana chunks that might create uneven baking.
  • Optimize Cream Cheese Frosting Temperature: Ensure cream cheese and butter are at room temperature for smooth, lump-free frosting that pipes beautifully and spreads easily.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 300
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Sodium: 200 mg
  • Fat: 15 g
  • Saturated Fat: 9 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 36 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Protein: 4 g
  • Cholesterol: 60 mg
Jenna Hartley

Jenna Hartley

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

  • Recipe development with a focus on single-dish meals.
  • Fusion of traditional and modern Australian cuisines.
  • Food styling and photography for digital platforms.​

Education

Box Hill Institute, Melbourne

  • Degree: Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management
  • Focus: Specialized in practical food and beverage service, responsible alcohol and hygiene compliance, legal risk management, and hands‑on experience in a simulated restaurant environment.

William Angliss Institute, Melbourne

  • Program: Certificate IV in Patisserie
  • Focus: Specialized in pastry and bakery techniques, cookery and specialty food preparation, recipe planning and costing, commercial kitchen operations, sustainable and inclusive work practices, food safety and hygiene compliance, and workplace health and safety.

Jenna is the heart of Picture Perfect Meals, turning simple ingredients into beautiful, easy‑to‑make dishes. 

Growing up around family meals in Melbourne, she trained at Box Hill Institute and then perfected her pastry skills at William Angliss Institute. She loves mixing classic Australian flavors with fresh ideas to keep cooking fun and stress‑free.

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