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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Cakes & Cupcakes

    Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

    Published: Aug 20, 2021 ยท Modified: Nov 15, 2024 by Emily Laurae ยท This post may contain affiliate links.

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    My favorite Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes with a coconut twist, a sweet cream cheese surprise on top with a sprinkling of toasted coconut flakes!

    Banana Cupcakes
    Jump to:
    • โ“ Is it a muffin or a cupcake?
    • ๐ŸŒ Why should you use ripe bananas?
    • Best Substitutes for Bananas in Baking
    • ๐ŸŒ When are your bananas considered ripe?
    • ๐ŸŒ Measure by volume, not bananas
    • ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿณ Expert Tips
    • โ„๏ธ How long are banana cupcakes good for?
    • Other delicious Banana Recipes to try!
    • Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes
    • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Comments

    โ“ Is it a muffin or a cupcake?

    Generally speaking, cupcakes are made with a higher amount of fat and sugar than muffins are. Cupcakes can be more of a decadent dessert, whereas a muffin is essentially a healthy, socially acceptable cupcake you can get away with eating for breakfast.

    The addition of cream cheese frosting adds a tangy sweetness to the experience, and adds to the overall appearance of the presentation as well for these Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes- a win-win!

    Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes
    Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes

    ๐ŸŒ Why should you use ripe bananas?

    Usually, banana recipes require the use of ripe or โ€œoldโ€ bananas. This is due to a number of reasons!

    • Ripe bananas can be used as an egg replacement in baking as they help provide structure as the loaf rises
    • The soft consistency makes the bananas much easier to mash uniformly
    • This makes the bananas incorporate more smoothly into your batter
    • Ripe bananas are sweeter and much more full of concentrated flavor as they ripen
    A Pinterest-friendly image of bananas, with a text overlay that says options for easy banana substitutes in baking.

    No bananas in your kitchen? No problem!

    Best Substitutes for Bananas in Baking

    Discover how to keep your baking recipes deliciously moist and flavorful even when you've run out of bananas or need a banana replacement. Explore some favorite substitute for bananas in baking that perfectly captures the texture and taste you crave!

    Get the guide โ†’

    ๐ŸŒ When are your bananas considered ripe?

    The darker the bananaโ€ฆ the better. Once your banana skin has a number of brown freckles and large brown spots you know youโ€™re ready for them to be used! Honestlyโ€ฆ thereโ€™s no banana thatโ€™s โ€œToo ripeโ€ when it comes to baking with bananas.

    To start the ripening process, allow the bananas to ripen at room temperature. Depending on the temperature in your kitchen, they could be ready in a few days or in a week. If you want to quicken the process, I would suggest placing the bananas in a brown paper bag for a few days and then check in on them!

    Never throw away those โ€œoldโ€ dark brown bananas! Stick them in the freezer to use the next time you make banana cupcakes โ€“ your future self will thank you!

    Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes

    ๐ŸŒ Measure by volume, not bananas

    When it comes to making banana cupcakes, I would suggest measuring the bananas by volume/weight instead of the number of bananas. A lot of recipes will mention using a certain number of ripe bananas, but Iโ€™ve found that using a specific unit of measurement helps to get the best most consistent results every single time.

    This is how I measure bananas for my mini banana cakes, banana bread without baking soda and sourdough banana bread recipes!

    ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿณ Expert Tips

    • Banana & Coconut Perfect Pair: Use overripe bananas for natural sweetness, and coconut oil enhances the coconut flavor. A delightful twist to your banana bread recipe.
    • Preparation and Baking: For even muffins, divide batter using a measuring cup into muffin tins lined with paper liners. Position the oven rack in the middle position for uniform baking.
    • Flour Blend for Texture: Combine coconut flour, almond flour, and purpose flour in a large bowl. This blend ensures a moist texture and rich flavor, perfect for coconut banana bread muffins.
    • Enhanced Flavor Burst: Fold in dark chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips for a delightful contrast. For an added crunch, sprinkle unsweetened coconut flakes on the muffin tops before baking.
    • Storage Tip: Once cooled, transfer muffins to a freezer bag. This method retains the freshness, making them a great way to have an afternoon snack ready anytime!
    Cupcake Batter in Muffin Tin

    โ„๏ธ How long are banana cupcakes good for?

    Once your banana cupcakes are baked and cooled, they will be good for 1-2 days at room temperature. Place in an airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge for longer shelf life. The banana cupcakes should be good for up to seven days if kept in the fridge. After one week, wrap the leftovers in plastic and place them in the freezer to enjoy later. 

    For more tips on how to store banana bread, head over to my in-depth guide!

    Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes
    CoconuCoconut Banana Bread Cupcakes t BanCoconut Banana Bread Cupcakes ana Muffins

    Other delicious Banana Recipes to try!

    • Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Without Baking Soda.
      Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Without Baking Soda
    • Raspberry banana muffins on a serving plate.
      Easy Raspberry Banana Sour Cream Muffins โ€“ Moist & Delicious
    • Caramelized Banana Bread
      Caramelized Banana Bread
    • Sourdough banana bread slices.
      Delicious Sourdough Discard Walnut Banana Bread Recipe

    If you try the recipe for this Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! ๐Ÿ“ง 

    Coconut Banana Muffins

    Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes

    My favorite Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes with a coconut twist, a sweet cream cheese surprise on top with a sprinkling of toasted coconut flakes!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 322kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Bowl
    • Whisk
    • Spatula
    • Muffin/Cupcake Liners
    • Muffin Baking Pan
    • Cooling Rack

    Ingredients

    Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes

    • 1.5 Cups (180 g) All Purpose Flour
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ยผ teaspoon Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
    • 3 (360 g) Bananas, Ripe
    • 1 Egg, large
    • โ…“ cup (72 g) Coconut Oil , melted
    • โ…“ cup (73 g) Light Brown Sugar, packed
    • ยผ cup (80 g) Maple Syrup
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • โ…” Cup (57 g) Unsweetened Coconut Flakes

    Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 2 Tablespoons (28 g) Unsalted Butter , softened
    • ยฝ Cup (113.5 g) Cream Cheese , Softened
    • ยฝ Cup (60 g) Sifted Powdered Sugar
    • 1 tsp Vanilla Paste, or vanilla extract

    Toasted Coconut Flakes

    • ยฝ Cup (42 g) Coconut Flakes

    Instructions

    Coconut Banana Bread Cupcakes

    • Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF and prepare your muffin baking tray with muffin/cupcake liners.
    • Add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon into a medium bowl and whisk until all ingredients are combined. Set aside.ย 
      1.5 Cups All Purpose Flour, 1 teaspoon Baking Soda, ยผ teaspoon Salt, 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
    • In a separate bowl, mash bananas with a fork until the majority of your bananas are smooth in a large bowl.ย 
      3 Bananas
    • Add the egg, oil, brown sugar, syrup and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Then add the dried ingredients and mix to combine. Finally, add the unsweetened coconut and stir to combine.ย 
      1 Egg, โ…“ cup Coconut Oil, โ…“ cup Light Brown Sugar, ยผ cup Maple Syrup, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, โ…” Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
    • Pour your batter into the prepared muffin liners and bake until a tester comes out clean, about 30 minutes.ย 
    • Allow your coconut banana bread cupcakes to cool and enjoy!ย 

    Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Beat together the softened butter and cream cheese on medium speed until itโ€™s smooth and somewhat fluffy.ย 
      2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, ยฝ Cup Cream Cheese
    • Scrape down the sides, then add in the powdered sugar slowly and vanilla paste.
      ยฝ Cup Sifted Powdered Sugar, 1 teaspoon Vanilla Paste

    Toasted Coconut Flakes

    • Preheat oven to 350ยฐ F and prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
    • Add coconut to the baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes until golden brown.
      ยฝ Cup Coconut Flakes
    • Remove coconut flakes from the oven and allow to cool

    Assembly

    • Place cream cheese frosting in a plastic bag or pastry bag and cut off the tip. Add a dollop of frosting onto each cooled cupcake and sprinkle with the toasted coconut flakes before enjoying!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 59IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

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    About Emily Laurae

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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