For Annalyn’s monkey-themed birthday party on Saturday, I decided that ordering a cake would be just too easy. I mean, why have someone else bake a cake when you can bake 48 individual cakes yourself?
Isn’t that my motto?
Seriously, after looking at our grocery store’s idea of a monkey cake, I decided that making one myself might be better. I know what you’re thinking: that must have been one ugly monkey cake!
And you’re right.
After consulting Mr. Google, I found – among many complicated looking monkey face cakes – a Betty Crocker recipe for banana chocolate chip cupcakes. Get it? Bananas? Monkeys?
Right.
The only question that remained was how to make them party-cute. You know what I mean . . . plain cupcakes won’t cut it for my baby girl’s second birthday party!
With that thought in mind, I made the mistake of searching Etsy for ideas. Why do I do that to myself? Why?
Dear People of Etsy,
Please stop making so many cute things that I cannot afford to buy. Thank you.
Love,
Mary
After deciding that I just could not justify spending the money being – rightfully, I am sure – charged for the cutest little cupcake toppers I’ve ever seen, I looked again at my cupcake recipe. That’s when I noticed it: their cupcakes had miniature bananas on top! Sooo cute! And so easy, right?
According to Betty Crocker, it sure is. The recipe says, and I quote, “Special Touch: Garnish cupcakes with banana-shaped candies. Look for them in the candy aisle of the supermarket.”
Oh, I did, Betty. And I found nada. Zilch. Nuttin’. Apparently banana-shaped candies are a mythical thing like the unicorn and self-tanner that doesn’t streak.
Don’t tell me about Runts. I know about Runts. I like Runts – especially the strawberry pieces. But it seems ol’ Willy Wonka and the Runts have fallen on hard times, because they aren’t selling in these parts. I looked at our grocery store, two Walmarts and a Target for these stupid candies. I even – at the very last minute – called the local candy store in the nearby, almost completely dead mall.
It had closed.
So, it was back to the cupcake toppers. Which I made myself. And turned out pretty cute – without even taking a million hours to make.
But the real masterpiece was the cupcakes themselves. Mark wasn’t a fan, but I thought they were delicious! And after frosting four dozen of them, I got pretty good at making the top look all swirly and pretty.
Four dozen is a LOT of cupcakes. Not to bake. Although I did have to actually break out my mixer and measuring cups and everything. But to frost? It’s kind of a lot.
I think it was worth it, though. Things didn’t exactly go according to plan with Annalyn’s party. The weather didn’t cooperate, so the park shelter we reserved (and, ahem, paid for) didn’t really work out for our get-together. An hour before the party was scheduled to start, we decided it was just too darned cold and moved it to the house.
We moved it to the house, where I decided I did not need the green streamers to look like vines (Get it? Vines? Jungle? Monkey?). And I told myself that by cramming 30 people into our tiny house, the unswept floors would not be visible, much less noticeable.
So the party plans didn’t all work out quite right. But we did have a great time. And people seemed to like my cupcakes . . . especially the birthday girl!
Here’s the recipe. Check out Mouthwatering Monday and Tasty Tuesday (tomorrow, obviously) for more recipes. And visit Blissfully Domestic for some domestic bliss (go figure).
Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
1 box yellow cake mix
2 very ripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
½ cup water
¼ cup butter or margarine, softened
3 eggs
¾ cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1 container (1 lb) chocolate frosting
Prep Time: 25 min
Total Time: 1 hour 20 min
Makes: 24 cupcakes
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffins cups.
- In large bowl, beat cake mix, bananas, water, butter and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed two minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Using spoon, stir in chocolate chips. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups.
- Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Frost cupcakes with frosting.
Enjoy!
These sound great to me! You did a wonderful little swirl on the top. I always get tired and end up just putting the frosting any old way. This recipe should be a hit with the monkeys I have around here!
Kim
Awww, Happy Birthday. I will have a two year old in December. *BIG SOB* where does the time go?
Yum Yum!
I can't believe you couldn't find runts! GASP
Banana cupcakes sound delicious and I know our MOnkey would have loved them, too!
Wait, where is a picture of the cute cupcake toppers you made? I kept thinking you were waiting till the end of the post for a big reveal and then I scrolled down and they weren't there!
They sound yummy to me!
I was wondering the same thing, Triple, but didn't want to be annoying… ;) I wish I had one of those cupcakes right about now, btw… but also don't b/c my pants feel too snug today. (*cry*)
Evil woman, blogging about yummy cupcakes when I am trying to biggest loser my butt…
But I am glad ya'll had a great time at your darlin's birthday party! Sorry about the banana's- did you at least buy bunches of the mini bananas to go along side the cupcakes? Those things are so darn cute, but too expensive for our family to consume. We buy about 25 bananas a week. We go through them like milk!
I'm shocked about the Runts, too! That's the first thing I thought of when I read the instructions!
You know what – at her age, it's more about the CUPCAKE than the decorations! And they look DE-LISH! Oh my – I do love banana & chocolate chips. They look and sound perfect for a birthday party! I may have to use a monkey theme for my little monkey, Georgie, next year…
Ok…I honestly did not get to try a cupcake (only because I was trying to balance the twins on my hips), but the boys both loved the cupcakes and even told Aunt Stephie how good they were! I think they looked AWESOME!
You're right…4 dozen is a lot of cupcakes. I haven't purchased runts in a long time but was surprised to hear they are hard to find. But your cupcakes look perfect without a little candy banana on top.
two-year-olds love cupcakes, with a banana decoration or without. i'm sure they were delicious!
I think cupcakes are the perfect birthday food. These sound delicious. I would love for you to join me for Crock Pot Wednesdays.
Really wishing for those ingredients in my pantry tonight, so I can make these!!
Four dozen cupcakes is amazing! You go!
Those cupcakes look and sound fantastic. Thanks for sharing with TATT!
Happy Birthday to our kiddos tomorrow!! Who can believe they're two! I want more party pics! I love the monkey theme. YAY for you, mama! One more party in the books!
seriously? no runts?! surely there's GOT to be some around because i had them recently. and did you know that they have pineapple ones now in addition to the banana ones?
glad her party turned out well despite the bad weather.
Wonderful! These cupcakes look delish!
Yum! From the looks of the birthday day girl, they were very delicious! Can't beat chocolate and bananas together – it's a winner everytime :)
Kristin