Banana Bread Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Banana Bread Cupcakes with Mastika Cream Cheese Frosting

Ever since I saw a post on Kopiaste's blog for Banana Bread Cupcakes with Mastic Cream Cheese Frosting, I've been dreaming about making this recipe.  I really admire Ivy and her creativity in the kitchen.  She is Cypriot, lives in Greece and speaks English too.  A very talented lady, indeed!

This banana bread cupcake recipe and icing was created by Ivy.  

While I realize that not everyone knows what Mastic is, they can check on Kopiaste's post and read links to the detail of its origin.  The only thing I will tell you is that it's found in only one place throughout the world, which is on a specific tree located on one of the Greek islands. 

Mastic can be found at a local Greek or Macedonian specialty shop/grocer, or bakery.  If you cannot find it, just omit it from the recipe and I can guarantee you that you will still be satisfied.

INGREDIENTS for Banana Bread:
325 grams sifted Cake & Pastry Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
10 tears of Mastika, pounded with 1 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
145 grams Butter at room temperature
270 grams Sugar
3 large ripe Bananas
1/2 cup Greek Yogurt
3 Eggs

INGREDIENTS for Mastika Cream Cheese Frosting:
400 grams Cream Cheese
60 grams Butter
150 grams Icing Sugar
10 tears of Mastika, pounded with 1 tbsp Icing Sugar

OPTIONAL:  2 Bananas (sliced) for final decoration

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 350F with rack in middle of oven.

Bowl 1:
1.  Sift flour into bowl.
2.  Mix in baking soda, mastika and salt.

Bowl 2:
1.  In an electric mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until smooth.
2.  Add bananas, one at a time, until they're mashed.
3.  Mix in the yogurt.
4.  Add eggs, one at a time, until they're fully mixed within the mixture.
5.  Gradually mix in the dry ingredients from bowl 1.  Beat until light and fluffy.

• Pour batter into lined muffin tins.
• Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until golden.
• Set aside to cool on a wire rack while preparing icing.
• Decorate cupcakes with icing and a slice of banana on top.