Prize Winning Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

By: Rhonda J

I made this recipe yesterday and it was DELICIOUS! I brought it to a sleepover and it was a great hit. It barely even lasted the night. All was left was the crumbs in the pie tin. If you make this, I guarentee you'll love it! People will be begging you for the recipe.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups bananas, mashed, ripe
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/8 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Frosting
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 to 2 cups white sugar

Garnish
chopped walnuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 275°.


Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan.


In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with the lemon juice; set aside.


In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.


In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy.


Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla.


Beat in the flour mixture alternately with buttermilk


Stir in banana mixture.


Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and place IMEDIATELY into the freezer for 25 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.



For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add white sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over top of the frosting, if desired.