Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes transform a boxed cake mix into a delightful banana treat! We top these with store-bought chocolate or cream cheese frosting for a tasty banana cupcake the whole family loves.
Making banana cupcakes is a great way to use up overripe bananas. We love chocolate chip banana muffins and chocolate chip banana bread but cake (in any form) is one of my favorite foods. So naturally when it comes to time to use up brown bananas I have to make chocolate chip banana cupcakes some of the time. They make the perfect dessert or afternoon snack with a hot cup of coffee.
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Ingredients
See recipe card for exact amounts.
Ingredient Notes
cake mix – we use a yellow cake mix. I usually buy the most inexpensive brand on the shelf, including the store brand if it’s available.
bananas – over-ripe bananas are perfect for this recipe. You can use fresh bananas, just mash them as much as possible.
butter – I keep unsalted butter on-hand but I think salted butter would be okay in this recipe.
eggs – we use room temperature eggs so our cupcakes get nice and fluffy.
semi-sweet chocolate chips – the addition of chocolate chips makes these cupcakes perfect.
frosting – we make these super easy using store bought frosting, but homemade is also an option.
How to make banana and chocolate chip cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 375°. Line muffin tins with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Mash bananas in a medium bowl.
- Beat cake mix, mashed bananas, water, butter and eggs in a large mixing bowl until combined. Batter will have small pieces of butter in it. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Divide batter between 24 muffin cups.
- Bake 18 to 24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack and cool completely, about 20 minutes.
- Frost cooled cupcakes.
Tips
- If you don’t have two 12 cup muffins pans you can make these in batches or use foil cupcake liners.
- We mix this batter by hand but you can use an electric mixer if you want.
- Dark pans cook and brown baked goods faster so if using them set the oven at a lower temperature than you would if you were using shiny pans, usually 25° lower will do it.
Substitutions and additions
- Instead of softened butter you could use an equal amount of melted butter.
- Swap the butter for unsweetened applesauce, vegetable oil or canola oil.
- Use whatever flavor cake mix you want. Vanilla, white, chocolate, or even strawberry would all be tasty.
- Chocolate, cream cheese, vanilla, caramel, buttercream, or mocha frosting would all be delicious on these cupcakes.
- Try different flavored chips, butterscotch, peanut butter, dark chocolate or milk chocolate baking chips are all great choices.
Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge or at room temp for a few days.
How to freeze cupcakes
The best way to freeze frosted cupcakes – after they are cooled and frosted put them in the refrigerator for a couple of hours so the frosting sets up. Then wrap individual cupcakes in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container. We use a large zip top freezer bag.
To thaw cupcakes unwrap them and thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes or in the fridge for a few hours.
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Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 yellow cake mix
- 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (2 medium)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 tub frosting
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°. Line muffin tins with paper liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Mash bananas in a medium bowl.1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (2 medium)
- Mix cake mix, mashed bananas, water, butter and eggs in a large bowl until combined. Batter will have small pieces of butter in it. Stir in chocolate chips.1 yellow cake mix, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup butter or margarine,, 3 eggs, 3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
- Divide batter between 24 muffin cups.
- Bake 18 to 24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack and cool completely, about 20 minutes.
- Frost cooled cupcakes.1 tub frosting
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Recipe from Betty Crocker.
Ooh! We do banana cupcakes sometimes, never thought to cut a lil’ corner and do a box, well played! We also never thought to add chocolate chips, but that will be remedied in the future. Thanks for the inspiration.
Lee always says, “My wife made this from scratch, she scratched open the box”. Haha! Thanks for stopping by!
Nothing is quite like chocolate frosting on a cupcake! These banana chocolate chip cupcakes look absolutely divine!
I wasn’t sure I would like the combo of banana and chocolate, but it worked really well together. Thanks for stopping by!