{saturday craft: Banana Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting!}

My seriously sassy & ::snorty:: friend Ruthanne is here with a TASTY treat :] Ruthanne loves to bake and ahem, she has been known to mail me goodies. She’s a good friend to have! *wink* Anyways, she’s put together a super tasty recipe for us to drool over. Hope you enjoy it! xoxo

PS. See us hanging at Blissdom? {look down} Isn’t she cuuuuute?!

The recipe for these scrumptious cupcakes comes from The Cake Mix Doctor. If you don’t have this cookbook, it’s a must for your wish list. Trust me.

Banana Cake with Caramel Frosting

Pre-heat the oven to 350.

Lightly grease either two 9-inch round cake pans or one 9×13 inch cake pan, sprinkle with flour and shake out excess. Set aside.

Using an electric mixer, stir together:

1 pkg. plain yellow cake mix
1/2 C light brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Slowly add in:

1 C mashed, ripe bananas {about 2 to 3 medium}
1 C water
1/2 C oil
3 lg. eggs

Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for about 2 minutes.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans.

Bake for about 22 to 28 minutes or until the center of the cakes springs back when tapped.

Allow the cake to cool completely. Also, try not to devour it right then. It will smell divine and take every last bit of self-control not to stick your face right into the pan. I speak from first hand experience.

While the cake is cooling {and while you’re practicing fabulous self-restraint} . . . .

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine:

1 stick butter
1/2 C light brown sugar
1/2 C dark brown sugar

Stir until it comes to a boil.

Add in:

1/4 milk

Bring back to a boil and then remove from heat.

Stir in:

2 C powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

You’ll want to frost with this fairly quickly. It will harden kind of fast. If you find that it’s too difficult to spread, just place it back on low heat until it softens back up.

And then . . . . devour!

Thanks Ruthanne for sharing this recipe with us! Off to the kitchen I go…
{hi ho.}

♥ I have some giveaway winners to announce ~

* Singer sewing machine winners: Daily Dose of Sugar Mama and Southern Gal Thoughts — gals, please email me your mailing address and which medium zipped pouch you’d like from my shop. XO! I’ll pass your mailing address on to Singer!
* Everyday Keepsakes, $50 shop credit: Amy of Priddy Creations
* Mandolin Goose, 8-piece vintage/repurposed frame set: Brenna of Love, Brenna

Please email me, gals! — gussy(at)gussysews(dot)com