Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
Moist banana cupcakes made with yellow cake mix, mashed ripe bananas, and miniature chocolate chips, topped with rich chocolate frosting. The combination of sweet bananas and chocolate creates a crowd-pleasing treat that's perfect for birthday parties, school events, or weekend baking with kids. Using a cake mix base makes these cupcakes quick and foolproof while the added bananas provide natural sweetness and tender texture. The contrast between the banana-studded cake and decadent chocolate frosting makes each bite satisfying.
Ingredients
- 1 box Betty Crocker Super Moist Yellow Cake Mix
- 1 cup very ripe bananas, mashed (2 medium)
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup butter or margarine, softened
- 3 eggs
- ¾ cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tub (16 oz) Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Chocolate Frostingcream cheese frosting1:1tangyadds dairy
Complements banana flavor well
Instructions
- 1
Heat oven to 375°F for regular pans or 350°F for dark or nonstick pans
- 2
Place paper baking cups in 24 regular-size muffin cups
- 3
Beat cake mix, bananas, water, butter and eggs with electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds
- 4
Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally
- 5
Stir in chocolate chips
- 6
Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups
- 7
Bake 18 to 24 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
- 8
Remove from pan to cooling racks
- 9
Cool completely for about 30 minutes
- 10
Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting
Tips
Use very ripe bananas with brown spots for maximum sweetness and easier mashing
Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting
Store frosted cupcakes loosely covered to maintain moisture without making frosting sticky
Good to Know
Store loosely covered at room temperature
Can be made 1 day ahead, store unfrosted cupcakes covered
Serve at room temperature
Common Mistakes
Don't overmix batter to avoid tough cupcakes
Cool completely before frosting to avoid melting
Use ripe bananas to avoid bland flavor
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
Complements banana flavor well
FAQ
Can I use homemade frosting instead of store-bought?
Yes, any chocolate buttercream or cream cheese frosting works well. You'll need about 2 cups of frosting total.
How long do these cupcakes keep?
Store covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze unfrosted for up to 3 months.
Can I make these without chocolate chips?
Absolutely, the cupcakes are delicious plain or you can substitute nuts, dried fruit, or other mix-ins.