Banana Cake

This cake was first made for me by a friend while I was visiting her after she had delivered her 11th child. I told her, 'I should have baked for you!'

Banana Cake
Ingredients

• ¾ cup butter
• 2 ⅛ cups white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour  
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 ½ cups mashed bananas
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 3 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 Step 1
Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

 Step 2
In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and 2 1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in banana mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.

 Step 3
Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into freezer for 45 minutes. This will make the cake very moist.

 Step 4
For the frosting: In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add confectioners sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Spread on cooled cake.

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