Banana and Cocoa Cupcakes

1. 1

   Mash the banana with a fork.

2. 2

   Melt the butter or margarine in a large bowl for 20 seconds in a 900 W microwave, add the sugar and mix well.

3. 3

   Add a beaten egg and mix, followed by vanilla extract and milk, and then mix again.

4. 4

   Add the mashed banana and mix well once more.

5. 5

   Combine the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder and sift into the mixture.

6. 6

   Mix until the lumps have disappeared.

7. 7

   Pour the mixture into paper cups (if using side dish cups, use size 9) and bake in an oven preheated to 180C for 25 minutes.

8. 8

   For those that don't want the cupcakes to puff out too much, put the paper cups in something like a pudding mould and they should come out I put mine in so that they become a bit taller.

9. 9

   Finished!

10. 10

    I omitted cocoa powder from the mixture and halved the recipe for 10 cupcakes.

11. 11

    If you aren't using cocoa powder, mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to the mashed banana.

12. 12

    This will stop browning.

13. 13

    If you leave out the banana, the cupcakes won't be as sweet so slightly increase the sugar or else the bitterness from the cocoa powder will be overwhelming.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.