Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup gluten-free 1:1 baking flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt.
• Add 2 large eggs (room temperature), ½ cup milk, ¼ cup vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the dry ingredients and whisk until combined.
• Stir in ½ cup boiling water until the batter is smooth (the batter will be thin).
• Divide the batter among the 12 prepared liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
• Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
• Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. While the cupcakes cool, prepare the filling and frosting.
• For the banana cream filling: in a bowl, beat together 1 very ripe banana (mashed) and 2 ounces cream cheese (room temperature) until smooth and creamy. If needed, add up to 1–2 Tablespoons milk, a little at a time, to thin the filling to your desired consistency. Set aside.
• For the peanut butter frosting: using a hand mixer or stand mixer at medium speed, beat 1 cup creamy peanut butter and ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter (room temperature) for 2–3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar, mixing until incorporated.
• Increase the mixer speed to medium and add 2–4 Tablespoons milk, starting with 2 Tablespoons and adding an additional 1 Tablespoon at a time as needed to reach the desired frosting consistency.
• Increase the speed to high and beat the frosting until light and fluffy.
• When the cupcakes are completely cool, cut a small hole in the center of each cupcake with a cupcake corer or small paring knife and set the removed pieces aside.
• Fill each cupcake hole with the banana cream filling. Optionally, replace the top piece of the removed cupcake over the filling.
• Frost the filled cupcakes with the peanut butter frosting and, if desired, decorate with mini chocolate chips, chocolate curls, chocolate sprinkles, or other preferred chocolate decorations.