My banana cupcake recipe yields super flavorful, soft, and moist cupcakes that can be made easily in under an hour! Frost them with my brown butter frosting for an incredible flavor pairing! Recipe includes a how-to video.
Homemade Banana Cupcakes
Soft, fluffy, and richly flavored with sweet, ripe bananas… Maybe you caught a sneak peek of these banana cupcakes when I shared my brown butter frosting recipe last week (did you catch the video?)? That frosting is the perfect complement to these slightly tropical desserts and I hope you’ll try the two together (and maybe bring them for Easter dessert!).
While the flavor profile may seem a bit complex, even the most basic beginner baker will have perfectly soft, moist, and fluffy cupcakes if they just follow my tips and steps.
Let’s get started!
What You Need
This recipe was closely modeled after my popular banana muffin recipe (which has hundreds of five star ratings!). It’s slightly sweeter and makes a better cupcake than muffin, but it’s just as easy. Here’s what you need:
- Bananas. The riper the better (and the more flavorful your banana cupcakes will be). Bananas get sweeter as they ripen. Ideally, yours would be even browner than the ones in the photo above.
- Sugar. I use a blend of granulated sugar and light brown sugar for the best flavor. If you happen to not have brown sugar on hand, see my post on how to make brown sugar. This is made with molasses, which adds moisture and imparts additional flavor in the cupcakes.
- Butter & Oil. As in many of my cake recipes (like my chocolate cake and vanilla cake) I like to use a blend of both butter and oil for best results. The butter adds a beautiful flavor, while the oil keeps the cake moist.
- Eggs. Eggs bind the cupcake batter together, without it the cupcakes wouldn’t hold together. Because of this I am not certain of an egg substitute that would work well.
- Buttermilk. Another key ingredient that makes the cupcakes moist and flavorful.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Banana Cupcakes
- Mash the bananas very well. Try to get all of the lumps (it’s not possible, but mash ’em really well). The mixture will be rather liquidy when you’re finished.
- Combine all of the wet ingredients (including sugar, which many people don’t think of but is technically a wet ingredient). An electric mixer isn’t necessary, but I like to use one because it ensures my ingredients are thoroughly combined and it helps to break down the bananas even further.
- Whisk dry ingredients separately, then fold them into the wet ingredients. If you were using an electric mixer, switch to a spatula now as it’s very easy to over-mix this batter (and that will leave you with dense, dry banana cupcakes).
- Fill cupcake liners ¾ of the way full with batter. If you have excess batter, discard it or make additional cupcakes.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. I always recommend shooting for a few moist crumbs; the cupcakes will continue to bake as they cool and if the toothpick comes out clean you run the risk of having cupcakes that are a bit too dry rather than moist.
- Always allow banana cupcakes to cool completely before covering with frosting (otherwise your frosting will melt!).
Frequently Asked Questions
Over-mixing the batter is the most likely culprit. You must carefully fold together the wet and dry ingredients until completely combined, but also until just combined. Use a light hand.
Other reasons include accidentally over-measuring your flour (why I always recommend using a kitchen scale), expired baking powder or baking soda, or baking too long. Bake the cupcakes on the middle shelf of your oven and use an oven thermometer to make sure the temperature is accurate, as many ovens run much hotter (or sometimes colder) than they indicate.
This is may be another consequence of over mixing the batter. Over mixing puts extra air into the batter, and when the air collapses the cupcakes do too. Ironically, under-mixing can also cause this, as can under-baking or opening the oven door too frequently while the cupcakes bake.
While you could, I would recommend you check out my banana cake recipe instead. That recipe has been specifically engineered to work as a cake.
I’ve linked to (and recommend) my brown butter frosting in the recipe, but some other great options include cream cheese frosting, my favorite chocolate frosting, or be adventurous and try peanut butter frosting!
More Recipes You Might Like
Enjoy!
Let’s bake together! Make sure to check out the how-to VIDEO in the recipe card!
Banana Cupcake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (350 g) well-mashed very ripe bananas (this is typically 3 bananas for me)
- ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled at least 5 minutes
- ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil may substitute canola or other neutral cooking oil
- ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar firmly packed
- 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60 ml) buttermilk room temperature preferred (click the link to make a buttermilk substitute if needed)
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 batch brown butter frosting or your favorite frosting see notes for some of my other recommendations
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350F (175C) and line a 12-count cupcake tin with paper liners. Set aside.
- Make sure bananas are very well mashed (I often start with a fork or potato masher and then switch over to my mixer) then add melted butter, oil, and sugars and stir very well to combine.1 ½ cups (350 g) well-mashed, ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled at least 5 minutes, ¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil, ⅔ cup (133 g) granulated sugar, ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar
- Add eggs and vanilla extract and stir well, then stir in buttermilk.2 large eggs, 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup (60 ml) buttermilk
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add dry ingredients to batter and use a spatula to gently fold together until combined. Batter should be completely combined, but don’t over-mix or your cupcakes may be dense and dry!
- Portion batter into cupcake liners, filling each ¾ full. If you have extra batter, discard or make additional cupcakes.
- Transfer to 350F (175C) oven and bake for 17-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Allow to cool completely before frosting with my brown butter frosting (or see other options in my notes).1 batch brown butter frosting or your favorite frosting
Notes
FROSTING
Other great frosting choices include:- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
- Buttercream frosting
- Swiss Meringue buttercream
- Chocolate Frosting
- Peanut Butter frosting
Storing
Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days. Cupcakes may also be frozen for several months.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Marilou
These are excellent and a great way to not waste 3 overripe bananas. ! I am so grateful that you include weights in your recipes.
My batch made 15 cupcakes. I only had room in the oven for 12 so the last 3 sat patiently on the counter for 17 minutes. Curiously, those last 3 had a nicer dome.
Nevertheless, all were delicious. thanks and keep those recipes coming!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Marilou! 🙂
Brigitte Couture
Could I make them using frozen bananas? Would I need to change something in the recipe since when bananas are defrosted they are swimming in juice 😉 discard the juice, mash it in…???
Sam
Hi Brigitte! I haven’t personally tried with frozen bananas so I can’t say for sure how it would do. I think it would be fine if they were thawed and the extra moisture drained out. If you try it, please let me know how they turn out for you!
Seren
Hi. I mostly made this cupcake recipe, but couldn’t help tweaking it to half all quantities, and including ingredients I had on hand that I wanted to use.
I added one teaspoon of cinnamon, one teaspoon of orange zest, and instead of buttermilk I mixed half and half raw yoghurt and orange juice.
I was skeptical of the method – I typically cream butter and sugar – but tried it you way. It was so quick and easy I was nervous they wouldn’t turn out.
The mix made exactly 12 cupcakes. And turn out they did! They are light, fluffy, moist, and flavoursome. Delicious cupcakes. Thank you
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Seren! 🙂
Bruce
I’ll be trying these in April for a friend’s birthday. I had thought of using my browned butter frosting, but I just found this video on YouTube. I’ll let you know if it’s as good as it seems to be. Maybe you’ll want to perfect the recipe and add it to your blog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9idTkwEMMLo
Sam
I’ll have to check it out. Thanks! 🙂
Bridgette
Sam, I would like to make these using mini muffin tins. Do you have any recommendations for alterations to the recipe (if needed) and cooking time? Thx!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Bridgette! The baking time will be less, so just make sure to keep an eye on them 😊
Janie
This will definitely be my only recipe for banana cupcakes…and I did use very ripe and brown skinned bananas. Cupcakes were the best, and I have tried many recipes!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you loved them, Janie! ❤️
Debbie
Wow, these are absolutely delicious. So happy to have found you and your recipes
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you found us too, Debbie! Enjoy your cupcakes 😊
Nancy
Look great. Question for this recipe and others. I generally only use dark brown sugar; will that work when light brown is in a recipe?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Nancy! Dark brown sugar will impart a stronger, richer flavor. Whether you want that really depends on the recipe 😊
Kristi
Absolutely perfect! Light and fluffy and so delicious. I found that this recipe made 12 full sized cupcakes and 12 mini ones. Having some extra was great for taste testing them when they came out of the oven. 🙂
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks for letting us know how you enjoyed them, Kristi 😊
Marilynj
Can the recipe be doubled to make a two layer cake?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Marilyn! You could, or you could use our banana cake recipe instead, since that one is designed to be a cake 😊
Gaby
I just made them!!! Just delicious 😋 even without frosting 😋.
Marie
Would these hold up to a filling? I’m looking for a good banana cupcake recipe to make banana pudding cupcakes.
Sam
Hi Marie! While I’ve never filled them myself I think they should hold up just fine. Let me know how it works for you!
Ellis
SO GOOD, they worked perfectly and were so tasty with the frosting, Definitely recommend!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Ellis! 🙂
Mastu
I would love to try the frodting recipe never thought tht baba cakes tastes real gud with frostinv thank you so much gor the recipe
Sam
I hope you love it! 🙂
Alleta
Very easy recipe, clear instructions, and these turned out so good! I used all the batter and made 17 cupcakes. I filled the empty muffin spots with a little water so things didn’t get too dry, and everything worked perfectly. Thanks for a great recipe!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Alleta! 🙂
Jessica
Hello I am making this today! Do you have the recipe in grams? I don’t have any American cups since I don’t live in America
Sam
Hi Jessica! Weight/gram measurements are provided after each ingredient. I hope that helps! 🙂
Sheba
The best combination!!! Love the banana cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting !
Anna
I’m giving myself five stars for this one.
My mom had three VERY brown bananas on the counter, and I saw this recipe, and felt it was just meant to be. <3
So I get all my wet ingredients in, didn't have buttermilk so I made some up according to your directions, mixed it all up…
And then realized I had added A FULL CUP of buttermilk. And thoroughly mixed it in. No coming back from that.
So I threw in baking powder, some spices, and 3 cups of quick oats and made a baked oatmeal, topped with streusel and butterscotch chips.
It just came out of the oven and it's DELICIOUS.
So five stars for me, but also for you, because I've tried a lot of your recipes and all of them have been FABULOUS and I'm sure this one would have been the same if I had managed to follow the directions. XD
Sam
Thank you so much, Anna! I am so glad you enjoyed them so much! 🙂
Hanah
Could I use oat flour instead of all purpose flour to make these? Also does it make a difference if I use butter at room temperature rather than having it melted when I add it in?
Sam
Hi Hanah! Unfortunately I’m not familiar with baking with oat flour so I really can’t say for sure… maybe someone else who has tried this can chime in! And yes, I would recommend using melted butter, otherwise the ingredients won’t quite incorporate as they ought to and your cupcakes may have a slightly different consistency.