the new banana pudding

as i previously mentioned, i volunteered to make dessert for lunch after my nephew's baptism tomorrow. the recipe i found is a betty crocker recipe that actually calls for using a gluten free mix. i have no reason to make gluten free cupcakes for this event so i modified it a bit. i found another betty crocker recipe for banana chocolate chip cupcakes so i just used those directions minus the chocolate chips, sort of. that recipe called for a yellow cake mix but i opted to use a french vanilla one. for anyone interested in the recipe, it goes something like this:

1 box of betty crocker super moist french vanilla cake mix

2 very ripe bananas mashed up

1/2 cup of water

1/4 cup of butter (or margarine but i obvs used butter)

3 eggs

1. heat oven to 375. place paper baking cups in each of 24 regular sized muffin cups.

2. in a large bowl, beat cake mix, bananas, water, butter, and eggs with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.

3. bake 18-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. cool completely for about 30 minutes before frosting.

now for the frosting:

1/3 cup of butter

3 cups of powdered sugar

3 teaspoons of vanilla

4 tablespoons of milk

1. in a 1-quart saucepan heat 1/3 cup of butter over medium heat, just until light brown, stirring often. (watch carefully because butter can burn quickly). remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.

2. in a medium bowl, beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk until smooth and spreadable.

i iced the cupcakes using an icing bag/tip. then i got to thinking about what would make this dessert even more like banana pudding and it came to me! nilla wafer crumbs sprinkled on top. oh my gosh, you guys! i don't cook or bake that often but i can honestly say that this is the most delicious thing i've ever made. i know serious bakers don't often use cake mixes but i'm not ashamed to say that i used one. it's delicious and that's what is most important.

tomorrow before they are served i'll put a banana slice on each one. i obviously can't do that ahead of time or the slices will become brown, slimy, and all around unattractive. 

i watched exactly one episode of top chef: just desserts and it was the very first one. the cheftestants were told to make their "signature dessert" and then after a few minutes of working on said dessert, they were told they needed to make it into a cupcake. after i was finished making this i thought of that episode. i love banana pudding. when i was little i used to eat vats of it, i'm not even kidding. my dad used to call me puddin' or pud on a regular basis. i don't often make it these days so i wouldn't say that banana pudding is my signature dessert but this is an interpretation of one of my favorite desserts. i think betty crocker should add this to their website :)