Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Filling

These scrumptious, easy-to-make cupcakes have a delectable sweet cream cheese filling laced with mini butterscotch or chocolate chips.

Recipe Ingredients:

Cream Cheese Filling:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 cup minature butterscotch, semisweet or white chocolate chips

Topping:
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts
2 tablespoons brown sugar, firmly packed or granulated sugar

Cupcakes:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
2/3 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs

Cooking Directions:

1. For Cream Cheese Filling: In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until smooth. Stir in desired flavor chips; set aside.
2. For Topping: In a small bowl, stir together nuts and sugar; set aside.
3. For Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line medium muffin cups with paper bake cups; set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the bananas, buttermilk or sour milk, shortening and vanilla.
5. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Add the eggs. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.
6. Fill muffin cups 1/2 full with batter.
7. Spoon about 1 teaspoonful filling into center of each cupcake.
8. Sprinkle about 1 teaspoonful topping over top of each cupcake.
9. Bake for 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cake portion comes out clean.
10. Remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely.

Makes 36 cupcakes.

Shortcut Tip: Instead of making the cupcakes by scratch, you can use 1 (18.25-ounce) package banana cake mix, instead.