Banana’ mite Cake

Ingredients

¾ Cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 Cup granulated sugar

1 Cup + 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar, packed

2 Teaspoons fresh lemon juice

3 Large eggs

½ Teaspoon salt

2 Cups over ripe bananas, smashed

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

2 Teaspoons banana extract, optional

1 Cup of buttermilk

3 Cups all-purpose flour, shifted

2 Teaspoons baking soda

1 Batch Banana Cream Cheese Icing, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oven 350°F

Grease and flour 2 eight or nine inch cake pans, set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter until creamy. 

Add sugars, and continue to mix. 

Add Lemon juice, eggs, salt and extracts, mix well.

Add bananas and buttermilk. 

Once the banana mixture is well mixed begin to add the dry ingredients slowly.

Be sure not to over mix or your cake will come out tough.

Divide the batter evenly into the 2 cake pans, and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Allow cakes to cool in the cake pans and once cool to the touch remove from pans and place on a wire rack until completely cooled.  I usually allow the cakes to cool down over night before applying the icing, as to avoid any melting.  I usually make the icing while waiting for cakes to cool and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Banana Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients

¼ Cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 8oz package of cream cheese, room temperature

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

2 Teaspoons banana extract

3 ½ - 4 Cups confectioners sugar

¼ Cup walnuts, finely chopped

Beat butter in a medium mixing bowl, add cream cheese and extracts.  Once mixture is creamy add the sugar and mix until well incorporated.  Place in refrigerator until ready to use.  I usually trim off the excess on the cake layers to even them out before I begin to ice them.  I take the  pieces of cake I trimmed off and place them onto a cookie sheet and place in the over at 250°F for approximately 20-30 minutes, or until crispy.  Once cooled, place in the bowl of a food processor with the walnuts and pulse a few times until mixture is crumb like (this is what you will use on the sides and top of the finished cake).

Enjoy!!