Recipe Tips
VariationOmit the sliced banana. Decorate 24 orange candy coating wafers with 1 Tbsp. melted semi-sweet baking chocolate to resemble basketballs. Let stand 10 min. or until candy coating is firm. Tuck wafer "basketballs" into the cream on one cut side of each of the reserved cookie pieces, then press gently into frosting to secure.
How to StoreRefrigerate unfrosted cupcakes in tightly covered container up to 2 days before frosting and serving. Or the frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated up to 2 hours. Top with banana slices and reserved cookie pieces just before serving.
Make-AheadThe cupcakes can be baked ahead of time. Cool, then freeze up to 1 week. When ready to serve, let frozen cupcakes stand at room temperature about 1 hour to thaw. If desired, the frosting can also be prepared of time. Refrigerate up to 1 week. If frosting is too stiff to easily pipe onto tops of cupcakes, first beat it with a mixer until of desired consistency. Top frosted cupcakes with sliced bananas and cookie pieces just before serving.
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