Banana Layer Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 2 1/4 cups cake flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 large)
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/3 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 large bananas, peeled, sliced

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f
• 2 lightly butter three 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides; dust pans with flour.
• 3 combine cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl.
• 4 mix mashed bananas, buttermilk and 1 teaspoon vanilla in another medium bowl.
• 5 using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter and sugar in large bowl until blended.
• 6 add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend after each addition.
• 7 add dry ingredients alternately with banana mixture in 3 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients and beating just until blended after each addition.
• 8 divide batter equally among prepared pans.
• 9 bake cakes until tops are just beginning to color and tester inserted into center comes out with a few crumbs attached, about 20 minutes.
• 10 cool cakes in pans on racks 10 minutes.
• 11 using small knife, cut around cakes to loosen; turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely.
• 12 beat cream cheese and remaining 1 cup butter in large bowl until light and fluffy.
• 13 beat in remaining 1 tablespoon vanilla and pinch of salt.
• 14 gradually beat in powdered sugar.
• 15 cover and refrigerate frosting until firm enough to spread, about 15 minutes.
• 16 place 1 cake layer on platter.
• 17 spread 1/2 cup frosting over top.
• 18 place half of sliced bananas evenly over frosting, leaving 1/4-inch border at edge.
• 19 place second cake layer on work surface.
• 20 spread 1/4 cup frosting over top.
• 21 place cake layer, frosting side down, atop bananas.
• 22 spread 1/2 cup frosting over top.
• 23 place remaining half of sliced bananas evenly over frosting, leaving 1/4-inch border at edge.
• 24 place third cake layer on work surface.
• 25 spread 1/4 cup frosting over top.
• 26 place cake layer, frosting side down, atop bananas.
• 27 spread remaining frosting over sides and top of cake. (can be made 1 day ahead.
• 28 cover and chill.
• 29 let stand 1 hour at room temperature before serving.).