My oldest daughter, Phoebe, turns 6 on Friday. SIX. I can’t believe it. Where did the time go? I feel like it was yesterday when I was holding her for the first time. . or feeding her. . or taking her to daycare or tying her hair in a ponytail.
She’s growing up.
Now, I’m lucky if she even lets me brush her hair. Yeah. She’s 6. Six and she knows what she wants and can be very particular about certain things. I’ve watched her grow over the years and have probably seen the most growth this past year, after we moved to Washington. This once extremely shy kid, now runs outside to call out all of her neighborhood friends to come out and play. She still has training wheels (which we hope to take off this summer) but she rides her bike with a lot of joy and excitement. Her new bike, which we got for her birthday, has a basket so she totes around this little stuffed teddy bear. I hope it stays in there for a while. I’m not ready for her to grow up and grow out of certain things yet.
Phoebe will always be my big girl. My first daughter. The oldest.
The one who used to cling to my leg when I dropped her off at pre-school. The one who was always scared to try anything new. Always. The one who was always very timid and shy. And even though she’s growing out of this, there are still times when she gets scared or doesn’t like too much attention or just plain and simple: needs her mommy. I will be here for her forever. And each day, I will strive to be a better mother. . because God knows sometimes I suck at it. And sometimes I am selfish and sometimes I lose my temper. On those days when I screw up, Phoebe always seems to be more loving and gives me more hugs. She’s awesome. She gets her awesomeness from her loving father.
To celebrate this week (because she is also the STAR of the week at school) and because I get to bring in homemade cupcakes to her class on Friday, and Phoebe has selected about 5 recipes for me to experiment with. . First up. . . We bring you these Chocolate Banana Cupcakes from the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook. Phoebe and I – of course- embellished our cupcakes. That’s how we roll.
If you are a baker, you need this cookbook. I have also baked their Chocolate Cheesecake, where my chocolate curls first made their debut . . . and I just discovered a blogger who is baking her way through the entire cookbook! These cupcakes are legit. Everything you want in a cupcake and more. Moist, flavorful and delicious! If you like chocolate + bananas, you must try these!
I hope you enjoy!
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- about ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- a pinch of salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (cut into cubes)
- ½ cup whole (or 2%) milk
- 2 eggs
- 1-2 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
- 2⅓ cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
- 6½ tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 oz. good quality semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate bar for the curls
- swirled chocolate wafer sticks; optional
- Special equipment: a vegetable peeler
- Preheat the oven to 325 (F).
- Combine all of your dry ingredients in a bowl, mix slightly and pour into your stand mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and beat on slow speed until you get the consistency of sand and everything is well combined.
- Slowly add the milk into the flour mixture, mixing well until all the ingredients are combined. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well, scraping any unmixed ingredients from the side and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
- Lastly, mix in the mashed banana by hand. I left some of my banana somewhat chunky so there would be lovely banana pieces in my cake.
- Spoon the cake batter into cupcake liners in your muffin tin until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 - 22 minutes, or until light golden and the cake bounces back when touched. Let the cupcakes cool slightly in the pan before placing onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat the confectioners' sugar, butter, and cocoa powder together in your mixer on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together. Turn the mixer down to a slower speed, and add in the milk, a couple of teaspoons at a time.
- Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed and continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy (for about 5 minutes).
- Frost your cooled cupcakes and, when ready to serve, if decorating with the chocolate curls: microwave your chocolate for 10-15 seconds and simply use your vegetable peeler to shave and create chocolate curls. You can do this right over the cupcakes so the curls just land on top. Insert a chocolate wafer stick if adding and enjoy!!
I´m pretty sure she also gets her awesomeness from her amazing mom…! Happy birthday Phoebe!! I hope to meet her before she turns seven.
There are so many great baking books I would love to bake from cover to cover. Maybe I should embark on something like that on my own, it´s very challenging and exciting at the same time, and I won´t be able to do as I do with some groups where I don´t necessarily make every recipe in the book if I don´t feel like it.
Hi Paula,
I think that’s a fabulous idea. . then, at least there’s no worry in knowing what you will bake next. . I first checked out the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook from the library and then loved it so much, we bought it. If I ever had the balls to do that, I would maybe pick the Dahlia Bakery cookbook since it’s a local gem here and everything in the cookbook looks challenging and fabulous. . and yes, I also hope we both get to meet you soon too!!
Happy birthday to sweet lil Phoebe! It really is incredible how quickly kids grow up. I remember my nephew as a big fat adorable happy baby and now he’s 10. TEN! Double digits! It makes me feel old. And don’t knock yourself as a mom – I know how much you adore your daughters and how much love, time and attention you devote to them. You have yourself to thank for the lovely lady she’s growing into. And these cupcakes are ridiculous, in the best way possible. They look so fluffy and moist inside. Topped with that gorgeous frosting and chocolate curls, I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself from eating them! Fuggedabout the kids in P’s class 😉
Thank you Nancy. . you are too kind. . we mothers have plenty of “I suck” days. . thank God tomorrow’s a new day! and dude, I took these out to the neighborhood kids right after I snapped my photos and they were gone in about 2 seconds. I had to grab one for Paul! 😛
Aw, Alice… this is such a gorgeous post. Phoebe is a lucky girl to have you as a mother… you both did a beautiful job with the cupcakes and I’m happy that she gets to celebrate her extra-special ‘big’ birthday in such style!! Ah to be six again. I loved being six… I had a beautiful birthday in our backyard with a balloon cake, tiny frankfurts and ketchup and sausage rolls. My mum dressed up as a clown, complete with a water-squirting buttonhole rose, and I got my first bicycle (with trainer wheels). I remember it quite vividly… along with various baking sessions, picnics and talks that mum and I had together. I know that Phoebe will remember these special mummy and daughter times for the rest of her life. You’re doing an amazing job, beautiful! Happy Birthday Phoebe!
Awh, thank you Laura! Wow, I love that you actually remember your 6th birthday! Your mom sounds amazing! and from what you shared for her recent birthday, sounds like she did a great job in raising you! I don’t even remember hardly any of mine from my childhood. . except maybe the ones where my parents took a lot of photos and I had the photos to look at. . I am reminded everyday to keep trying to do my best and that each day/moment shapes her into who she is. . who she will become . . it’s overwhelming but I am also extremely grateful at the same time. . I guess this is why some say being a parent is the hardest job ever. I believe it!
this recipe didnt work out,i’m sorry to say but they didnt grow AT ALL as the baking soda is missing.
I wanted to give it a try anyway cos it sounded very yummy but the recipe was not good i’m so sorry :/
Hi Noemi,
First off, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment for me. . even though these cupcakes didn’t work out for you! I’m so sorry to hear this! Secondly, yes, when I also saw the recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery (actual bakery in London) cookbook, which I am celebrating in this post, I was surprised to see no baking soda. . but the recipe does call for 1 tablespoon of baking powder which does the trick. I have made these cupcakes 4 or 5 times now and they have worked out each time. If you feel like trying again, please do! Everything I have made from this cookbook has come our very nicely and I love it. . . you can also consult their actual blog: http://hummingbirdbakery.com/blog/faqs/the-hummingbird-bakery-cookbook/
Again, very sorry for your baking story. . but I hope you give these a try again. Thank you!
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