Brownie Banana Bread Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting.
Today is a special day! It’s a certain someone’s birthday… you know, that guy I live with? Yeah. It’s his birthday.
He turns 83 today!
Oye. Okay, he’s really only in his 30s. I guess the “he’s older than me” jokes got old themselves about three years ago. I’d say I need some new material but the fact is that he gives me new material daily. Sometimes even hourly.
This marks the 5th birthday that Mr. How Sweet and I will celebrate together. In fact, we started “officially” dating only a few days before his birthday 5 years ago. “Official” simply meaning that I had to stop flirting with other boys and he had to stop drunk-dialing girls. True story!
I thought he was super old. I am the oldest child – the oldest cousin, grandchild – oldest everything. So to be dating someone that was 10 years older than me… it seemed like a big deal because it was just different than anything I was used to. I denied the feelings for a long, long time (read: like seven months) before he finally broke me down and got me to commit. Romantic right?
Next came our first “official” date. I’m not going to explain anymore of this “official” business but you are more than welcome to speculate. He planned a fun night: going to see a Pirates games (if that’s what you want to call it) which really translates to eating a bunch of Pittsburgh-themed food while watching fireworks, then going out for dinner and drinks. It was the perfect end to summer and I was even too annoyingly enamored with him to care that he was taking me a baseball game outdoors in 90 degree heat. AKA: my worst nightmare. I’m a huge sweater.
Just before we arrived he decided to glance at the tickets and realized they were actually for September 30th – over a week away. Oops! Secretly I thought this was perfect because it would be a fun way to celebrate his birthday… which was on the 30th. Trying to figure out what to buy your new boyfriend for his birthday is challenging… you don’t really know each other well enough to be fully aware of his favorite interests (or insanely annoying quirks) and well, when he’s a good bit older than you and has his own place, and when you have only ever dated boys who lived with their parents and taken you to the Olive Garden where they order the Tour of Italy every.dang.time… yeah, it’s challenging.
So I stopped fretting about what to plan and simply had to find the perfect gift for his birthday… which was on the 30th.
Right?!
Yeah. Not sure if you’ve looked at a calendar… but today is September 20th, so you can imagine how great it is forgetting your new boyfriend’s birthday two days after you started dating. Someone clued me in that morning on the 20th back in 2006 – of course after I had talked to him numerous times with no mention of a birthday. I argued back, “uhh… no. His birthday is on the 30th. I know this!” To which I was just stared at with a blank glare.
Turns out, his birthday is September 20th. Who knew? Instead of admitting defeat and turning his day around, I acted like the stubborn ass that I am and pretended that I “purposely” forgot just so I could surprise him. And my pathetic attempt at “surprising” consisted of me tying a balloon to his door like he’d just had a baby or something and buying him a season of Entourage on DVD, because seriously, what do you get the guy you’ve been seeing for two whole days?!
I still have a difficult time deciding what to buy for his birthday considering he has almost everything and what he really wants (a vintage $60,000 Rolex, anyone?) I can only dream to afford. So I just make him food and give him a bunch of stuff he doesn’t need.
He loves chocolate chip cookies and cupcakes after they’ve been in the fridge, so I went the cupcake route. As I was frosting them, I called out, “you like banana bread, right?”
Him: “Ugh, no. You know I don’t like banana bread! I only like bananas when they are green and banana bread has black bananas in it. Blech.”
Hmmmm. I thought that sounded eerily familiar.
Fail. What the eff? Why do birthdays and I not get along?
Lucky me, these looked too appetizing for him to turn down. After I frosted them and packed them away for the night, and after we returned home from seeing Straw Dogs and fulfilling my Alexander Skarsgard void, he opened the fridge and yelled, “What the %$&@ is in this container? I think I want one.”
I then spent the next 20 minutes watching him eat four cupcakes over the sink with a can of Diet Coke. Apparently cupcakes are the new chocolate chip cookie.
So there’s that. If that isn’t love… I don’t know what is.
Oh! And by the way, Mr. How Sweet has a name. I know…weirrrd. But let’s be serious – you’ve probably wanted to virtually stab my eye out every time I type the words “Mr. How Sweet” as much as I mentally punch myself in the face each time I write it. His name is Eddie. Or Ed, which my dad calls him because he thinks it’s more manly. I might still call him Mr. How Sweet or I might call him Ed or I might call him something completely different, but I sure as heck won’t call him late for dinner.*
Brownie Banana Bread Cupcakes
Ingredients
Brownie Layer
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 heaping tablespoons of cocoa powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips, lightly tossed in flour
Cupcake Layer
- 1 1/3 cups flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of nutmeg
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting
- 3/4 cups of butter, 1 1/2 sticks, at room temperature
- 8 ounces (1 block) of cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 3/4 cup loosely packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Brownie Layer
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until fluffy – about 3-4 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined, scraping down the bowl a few times. With the mixer on medium speed, add in flour, salt and cocoa powder, mixing until just combined. Line a cupcake tin with liners, then spoon about 1/2-3/4 of a tablespoon of brownie batter in each cup. Press down with the back of a spoon coated in non-stick spray.
Cupcake Layer
- Combine dry flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg and set aside. In a bowl, whisk egg and add brown sugar, mixing until smooth. Stir in vanilla extract. Add sour cream and melted butter and mix. Stir in dry ingredients, then add mashed bananas and mix until batter comes together. The batter will be thicker than normal cupcakes. Using an ice cream scoop or 1/4 cup measure, scoop batter in liners over top of brownie batter. Bake for 15-18 minutes, then let cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
- Beat butter and cream cheese in the bowl of your electric mixer until completely combined and creamy, scraping down the sides a few times. Add in brown sugar and powdered sugar, beating on low speed and gradually increasing to medium speed. Add in vanilla extract. Beat frosting for 4-5 minutes on medium-high speed until really creamy and combined. This frosting is not very thick or study, so make sure to either frost immediately before eating, or keep in the refrigerator for up until 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
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I appreciate you so much!
*yeah… desperately need some new material.
196 Comments on “Brownie Banana Bread Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting.”
Handsome and I started dating right before his birthday (well, like a month) but it was still in that awkward phase of what do you get someone so new – so I hooked him up with a gift bag full of cold medicine, vapor rub, cough drops and that sort of thing since he proclaimed to always be ill on his birthday. I know, I’m so romantic it hurts.
I’m shocked you’s still lets you celebrate his big day – next year when mine turns 30 he says it’s done. No more birthdays (and I’m not allowed to turn 26 or he get’s to upgrade). Can you feel the cuddles in our relationship? ;)
These cupcakes look fab!
Eddie! Wow, I didn’t picture him as an Eddie. I have no idea what I did picture him as but, it’s weird knowing his name after all this time! Happy bday to him :)
Kind of funny b/c I made one of your mac and cheese recipes for my husband on his birthday earlier this year. He LOVES mac and cheese.
Don’t feel bad about messing up the date of his birthday when you’d only been dating 2 days. When my hubby went to sign us up for a new gym membership about a year ago he wrote my birthday down wrong on the registration forms. We’ve only been together 15 years this coming January. True story! (It’s okay though because he’s a sweetie and I love him.)
Also, those cupcakes look DIVINE!
What a great story :)
How wonderful it must have been to see him down 4 cupcakes after stating he doesn’t like banana bread. Guess he does now (in cupcake form with an awesome frosting of course)
Happy Birthday Mr How Sweet :)
I don’t really love bananas either but I would have happily downed four of those babies while standing over the sink (or maybe not even that..maybe just straight over the container) as well. The brownies alone would’ve completely done it for me – turn those into banana bread cupcakes and frost them? I’m sold.
Happy birthday to Mr. How Sweet!!
I want to nose dive right into these cupcakes. I may have to make them for my cake decorating class! :)
Brownies and banana bread in cupcake form? Genius! I have to say I was always wondering what Mr. How Sweets name was! Happy Birthday Mr. How Sweet/Ed/Eddie! I always use to make my boyfriend food for his birthday too, food is the way to a mans heart!
LOL…ahhh, you have to love stories like that when you’re first dating. Don’t worry- I STILL get confused about my husband’s birthday. It’s the 9th of June, but for some reason, I always get it in my head that it’s the 6th. I have birthday dyslexia or something.
Happy Birthday to Mr. How Sweet!!!
GENIUS. Can’t wait to try.
Happy birthday to your hubby! My birthday is tomorrow – want to put some of those in the mail for me today? :)
This is hilarious! After 10 years, my hubby still goes “Your birthday is on the 10th right?” (It’s the 8th btw)
Glad to hear Mr. How Sweet has a name!! But I think most of us agree, that was a great name for him all along ..
Happy Birthaday Mr How Sweet, Ed, Eddie, no matter how ur wife calls you, I am a firm believer that everyday feels like birthday or at least like a party in your house with so much delicious food and gorgeous desserts!!! :) And banana bread brownie cupcakes is something that I would make for my birthday, just sounds tooooo good!
Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MR HOW SWEET!
What an interesting combination! I like the sounds of it :)
Ah, it’s Carrie and mr Big all over again! We got so used to the fabulous nickname that the revealing of the real, ordinary one is hard to get used to. May I continue calling him Mr How Sweet?
Mr How Sweet, congrats! Hope you had a great birthday!
You can always call him that. :)
I’m so glad his name is Eddie, what a great name! Happy birthday Mr. Eddie How Sweet!
OMFG! These look Ah-Mazing!
Stellar recipe and concept. And happy birthday to Mr How Sweet, however old he is! : )
Culinary cross breeding at it’s best! YUM!!
Happy Birthday Mr. How Sweet!! :-)
Love the story and you are not alone….my DH thinks my birthday is the 14th (it’s the 13th) and I keep thinking his is on the 18th (it’s the 17th)! It’s the thought that counts! :) Happy birthday to your fabulous Mr. How Sweet (er Ed) ;)
Happy Birthday to Mr. How Ed Sweet Die It Is!
Wait, that only sort of worked.
It’s official. You need to own your own cupcake cafe or bakery.
Happy birthday to Mr. How Sweet!! a.k.a Eddie — never would have matched that name with Mr. How Sweet, haha.
Those cupcakes look heavenly. They would be a wonderful gift–I’d be content. :)
You mean, he’s not really called Mr. How Sweet in real life? That’s so weird.
Happy Birthday, Eddie!
Nope. Can’t do it.
Happy Birthday, Mr. How Sweet!
Hah! MY dad calls him Mr. HS all the time.
My boyfriend and I “officially” started dating right around his bday too, so I went a similar route- Guinness-infused funfetti cupcakes, aka the ‘make him fall in love’ gift. Score!
That story was too cute. Loved it. I did kinda wonder what Mr. How Sweet’s name was. That’s all! :)
My husband is 6 years older than me and the “you’re old” jokes never EVER get tired. For me. Which is what matters. (P.S. Happy birthday to the Mr.!)
Agreed!
Happy Birthday Mr. How Sweet!
Its my own boyfriends birthday today too. He’ll be 30 with 16 years of experience.
Happy birthday to him. :)
Happy birthday mr how sweet. My husband and I are 4yrs apart. I threw my hubby a surprise bday party and he loved it.
I love that he ate these with a diet coke. That would be something I would do. Although I try and quite at least once a month, the diet coke not the sweets. Happy Birthday to Mr. How Sweets [aka Eddie]!
you had me at brown sugar frosting…I must try that very soon! So happy we finally learned Mr. How Sweet’s real name :)
Great Story! Happy Birthday to Mr How Sweet (Eddie)! And these cupcakes look and sound amazing!!!
Quite the combination! These look amazing and great complexity of flavors! Nice photos as always!
Great fun recipe. I love layered baked goods!
What an interesting combination of flavors with these layers….sounds delicious. Happy Birthday to Eddie!
Happy Birthday Mr How Sweet / Eddie :)
I think one of the best gifts is baked goods. As long as I make my hubby his coveted applecrisp on his bday, he’s happy!
Aw, that is such a great story. Happy Birthday to Mr. How Sweet!
happy happy birthday to him!!
Whoa, he actually HAS a name?! I’m in shock. It’s been so long…
Eddie. Ed. Hm.
Weird.
Those look amazing. They sound amazing. I have all of the ingredients at my house… I might just have to make them this week…
I’m suddenly in desperate need of a special occasion.
Haha – great story. Boys (men – whatev) are so hard to shop for! I usually end up getting the bf football tickets. This year I went with a new grill and the most ridiculous cake ever – chocolate cake w cookie dough filling. Happy Birthday Mr. Ed How Sweet
Such a cute story. :) I have never minded the “mr.howsweet” thing. I thought it was very fitting! The cupcake bite photo is just perfect! The layers are exceptional!
My Girlfriend just sent me the link to your blog and I absolutely loved it. You see, I’m also 10 years older than she, I also gave chase for several months before getting the coveted “official status” (she will claim I grew on her but I maintain that it was love at first sight… just took her longer to figure it out), She’s convinced my birthday is November 15 (it’s actually November 2), and I recently purchased tickets to a baseball game for the wrong day. She also never tires of amusing herself and others at my expense about my “advanced years” and the detriments I face because I was “born in the 70s”. Early on we both fought becoming serious because of how bad we look on paper (admittedly, she fought it considerably harder than I) but in the end the heart wants what the heart wants (turning in my token for use of one cheesy cliché here). I never dreamed what we have to be possible. I’m completely and totally in love with this girl. You have a great story thanks for sharing, and don’t sweat the little Birthday mishaps. I’m sure you’ll have many more opportunities to get it right…. even if you don’t, he’s quickly approaching the age where he won’t remember them anyway ;).
Hahaha! This is awesome!!
Happy Birthday to Mr. How Sweet! I still like the ring that has to it. And the cheesy jokes. :-)
Hey! Mr. How Sweet and I share the same birthday! Happy birthday to us :-) Cupcakes look so delicious. Finally got to make your puffy M&M cookies this weekend for our roadtrip. They were a huge hit!
Happy birthday to you! Love your name.
Finally, a name!! Love it!
i have some overripe bananas sitting on my counter right now begging to be cooked….can’t wait!!! and can i just say that you crack me up!!! i wish i lived closer to you because you would defintely be a very entertaining personto hang around with =) and don’t worry, me and birthdays don’t play well together either, i never know what to get my hubby either so i usually ask him to pick any dessert and dinenr and i’ll make it =)
Thanks so much Trinity!
YUM. What a great combination! I love banana bread with chocolate chips, but never thought about doing it with a chocolate batter…definitely need to make this!!
Awe, what a “sweet” story. I like Eddie and funny how your dad(my cousin) likes to call him Ed when we all call him Billie…sweet Willy too. I love reading your blog & send my love to everyone :D
Thanks so much Carolyn! Great to hear from you. :)
Okay I’m at work and that is seriously some funny stuff!*
*no new material needed! :0)
Tell Eddie happy birthday too.