brownie cupcakes with banana cream cheese frosting.

i made these cupcakes with ghirardelli double chocolate brownie mix. yum. sorry about the quality of the photos...i take most with my camera. below is the recipe to make these :)

supplies (for the brownie mixture):
*1 box of ghirardelli double chocolate brownie mix
(follow instructions on the back of box)
* 1 egg
* vegetable oil
* water

look on the back of the box for liquid (veg.oil and water) measurements.

supplies (for frosting):
* 1 8 oz tub of cream cheese. only use 1/2 the tub by cutting it down the middle. (i used dairy-free cream cheese. my boyfriend cannot have products that have cows milk.)
* 3 cups of confectioners'/powdered sugar
* 1 1/2 tsp of banana extract
* 6 T of softened margarine (stick is prefered for easy measurement)

i made the banana cream cheese frosting first. in a large bowl, with a mixer at low speed, beat the cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until blended. after blended, add the banana extract and beat the mixture again with the mixer to make sure the extract is thoroughly dispersed in the frosting. beat until smooth and fluffy, which is about 1-2 minutes. makes about 2 1/2 cups.

fill mini cupcake cups with the brownie mixture halfway. put the oven on 350 degrees F. i would say to leave them in for about 15-20 mins. the trick with baking is that you need to check the firmness with either or toothpick, or your finger (i promise its unlikley to burn yourself). i check with my finger, and when they have risen, and are firm, but not hard to the touch, i take them out and let them cool. after they have cooled in the cupcake pan, then take them out and put them on a plate. repeat until brownie mixture is gone, and frost when they are cool, not warm/hot.

i decorated mine with strawberries, but you dont have to :)