••••BANANA-CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH BANANA MASCARPONE CREAM••••

(Source: Chiquitabananas.com & photos also)

Best Chiquita Banana-Chocolate Cupcakes With Banana 

Mascarpone Cream Recipe

These sinfully rich cupcakes are loaded with Chiquita Bananas in the cake AND in the cream filling! Silky chocolate ganache and banana chips garnish top this delightful dessert. Surprisingly, these cupcakes are decadent without being overly sweet. 

Prep Time:35 minutes
Total Time:55 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Servings:16

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 1   cup  unbleached all-purpose Flour
• 1/3   cup  unsweetened Cocoa powder
• 1   cup  Sugar, divided
• 3/4   tsp.  Baking powder
• 3/4   tsp.  Baking soda
• 1/8   tsp.  Salt
• 1    Egg
• 3    ripe Chiquita Bananas, mashed

• 1/2   Tbsp.  Banana liqueur or banana extract
• 1/2   cup  warm Water
• 1/4   cup  Coconut milk
• 1/4   cup  Vegetable oil
• 1 1/2   cups  Heavy cream, divided
• 8   oz.  Mascarpone
• 10   oz.  semi-sweet Chocolate chips
•    Banana chips for garnish

Instructions for best Chiquita Banana-Chocolate Cupcakes With Banana Mascarpone Cream Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 16 regular-sized muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and all but 1 Tbsp of the sugar. In a second bowl, whisk together the egg, 1 mashed banana, and liquer or extract until combined, then add the water, coconut milk, oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Pour batter into the muffin cups about 3/4 full, and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. While the cupcakes are baking, make the filling by mixing the 2 mashed bananas and mascarpone cream with a hand mixer until smooth. Clean and dry off the beaters, and whip 1 cup heavy cream with 1 Tbsp. sugar until stiff peaks form. Slowly fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture, and chill for 10 minutes. While the cream chills and the cupcakes cool, make the ganache by melting the chocolate chips in a double boiler then constantly whisking in 1/2 cup of heavy cream until smooth. To fill the cupcakes, take a cylindrical apple corer and core two small holes in the middle of each cupcake going through the center, but not breaking the bottom of the cake. Fill a piping bag with the banana cream fitted with a star tip and fill each cupcake from bottom to top. Dip the tops of the cupcakes in the ganache, and hold cupcake upside down until it stops dripping. Garnish with 2 banana chips and place in the refrigerator to set for 10 minutes. — Recipe idea and photo courtesy of Amanda Holbrook for the Ultimate Chiquita Banana Recipe Contest.

••••FROZEN BANANA HOT CHOCOLATE••••

(Source: ChiquitaBananas.com & photos also)

Best Frozen Chiquita Banana Hot Chocolate Recipe

Comforting hot chocolate is transformed into an icy cool drink for a summer. 

Prep Time:5 minutes
Total Time:5 minutes

Cook Time: 

Servings:4

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 2   cups  milk
• 1    Chiquita® banana
• 3   Tbsp.  honey
• 2   Tbsp.  cocoa powder

• 1   tsp.  vanilla 
• 8    ice cubes 
• 1/4   cup  mini marshmallows 

Instructions for best Frozen Chiquita Banana Hot Chocolate Recipe

Add milk, banana, honey, cocoa powder, vanilla to blender. Blend until smooth. 

Add ice and pulse until smooth. 

Pour into 4-1 cup glasses. Garnish with mini marshmallows. Tip: For an extra special presentation, garnish with additional cocoa powder sifted on top on the marshmallows!

••••EASY ON THE GO BANANA & PANCAKE SKEWERS••••

(Source: Chiquitabananas.com & photos also)

Easy On The Go Banana & Pancake Skewers Recipe

Make sure your minions are fueled for the day ahead with these yummy breakfast skewers. Make the pancakes in advance for easy assembly in the morning. These skewers also work as a great party treat for larger crowds, too. 

Prep Time:
Total Time:

Cook Time: 

Servings:12

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 1   cup  all-purpose flour
• 2   Tbsp.  granulated sugar
• 2   tsp.  baking powder
•    Pinch ground nutmeg
• 1/4   tsp.  salt
• 1 1/4   cup  milk

• 1    egg, beaten
• 1/4   cup  oil, divided
• 1   tsp.  vanilla 
• 2    Chiquita® bananas, sliced
• 1/3   cup  blueberries 
•    Maple syrup, for dipping

Instructions for easy On the Go Banana & Pancake Skewers Recipe

Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg and salt; set aside. Whisk together milk, egg, half of the oil and vanilla until smooth; stir into flour mixture until just combined (batter will be lumpy). Let stand for 15 minutes. 

Preheat 12-inch nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low heat; brush skillet with some of the remaining oil. Pour teaspoonfuls of batter into skillet, leaving space between pancakes; cook, in batches, for 1 to 2 minutes or until bubbles form on the surface. Flip over; cook for 1 minute or until golden brown. Wipe skillet between batches, brushing with some of the remaining oil as necessary. 

Thread banana slice, pancake and blueberry onto skewer; repeat layers 3 more times. Serve with maple syrup for dipping.

••••BANANA FINALE!!!••••

(photo-google+)

••••TROPICAL SAUSAGE & GRILLED BANANA KEBABS••••

(Source: Chiquitabanana.com & photos also)

Best Tropical Sausage And Grilled Chiquita Banana Kebabs Recipe

Grilled banana kebabs and sausage kebabs pair with a simple tropical grilling sauce.

Prep Time:20 minutes
Total Time:30 minutes

Cook Time: about 10 minutes

Servings:4

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 8    long metal skewers or 16 smaller bamboo skewers
• 2   Tbsp.  low-sodium Soy sauce
• 2   Tbsp.  Pineapple juice
• 1/4   tsp.  Black pepper
• 2    cloves Garlic
• 1    large Green onion, quartered
• 1/4   cup  Cilantro (optional)

• 4    cooked Turkey or Chicken sausages, andouille, chipotle, or apple-flavored
• 1    Red bell pepper, seeded and cut in 16 wedges
• 1    Green bell pepper, seeded and cut in 16 wedges
• 2   cups  fresh Chiquita Pineapple chunks
• 4    Chiquita Bananas, cut in 1 ½-inch slices
• 2    Limes, cut in wedges

Instructions for best Tropical Sausage and Grilled Chiquita Banana Kebabs Recipe

If using bamboo skewers soak them in water until you are ready to thread the kebabs. Place soy sauce, juice, pepper, garlic, onion and cilantro (if using) in a blender and puree until smooth; set aside. Cut sausages into widthwise quarters. Alternately thread pieces of sausage, red peppers, green peppers and pineapple on half of the skewers. Thread banana slices on the remaining skewers. Brush the kebobs with the reserved grilling sauce. Grill sausage kebabs over a hot grill for about 8 minutes, turning frequently and brushing with the grilling sauce, until the peppers begin to char and the sausages are hot. Add banana kebabs to the grill when kebabs are about halfway cooked. Grill for about 2 minutes, turn the banana kebabs over, brush with remaining grilling sauce and grill for about 2 minutes more. Serve Tropical Sausage Kebabs and Grilled Bananas with lime wedges.

Serving Suggestions:
Serve on a bed of lettuces or over jasmine rice.

Beverage Pairings:
Serve with a tropical rum cocktail.

••••CHIQUITA BANANA BERRY SMOOTHIE••••

(Source: Chiquitabanana.com & photos also)

Quick Chiquita Banana Berry Smoothie Recipe

Invite a whole bunch of fresh berries to jump in the blender with a Chiquita Banana. Watch the magic happen. Easy to make and you can always vary the recipe ingredients a little to keep your Banana Berry Smoothie drinking experience innovative and fun.

Prep Time:5 minutes
Total Time:

Cook Time: 

Servings:2

Rate:

     

 

Ingredients:

• 2   whole  Chiquita Bananas (best with brown flecks on peel)
• 2   cups  Ice
• 1   cup  Milk OR Vanilla Yogurt
• 1/2   cup  Blackberries

• 1/2   cup  Blueberries
• 1/2   cup  Raspberries
• 2   whole  Strawberries

Instructions for quick Chiquita Banana Berry Smoothie Recipe

Pour all ingredients in blender pouring ice in last. Blend on high for 30 seconds or until smoothie thickens.

••••CELEBRATING ANOTHER YEAR••••

(photos-eBay.com & johnflowersphoto.com & entertaining.com)