Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I made this cake a while back, but never got around to posting it.  I've tried several different banana cake recipes, but I think this is one of the best.  Still not a real pronounced banana flavor, especially with the cream cheese frosting slightly overpowering it.  But it was a very moist cake and not dense like a lot of banana cakes are, I'll definitely make it the next time I get too many over ripe bananas in the freezer.  By the way did you know that when the last banana in the bunch is just too ripe for eating, you can just toss it in the freezer? In the skin, no need to put in a bag or anything.  When you get several, just pull them out and defrost.  I usually take off the end and just squeeze the banana out. 

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Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Icing.
SERVES 16 , 1 9x13 pan or 1 bunt.
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

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 1/2 cups icing (or powdered) sugar

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 the buttermilk.  Stir in banana mixture.  Pour batter into prepared pan and bake. in preheated 275 F. degree oven.  Check it in about one hour, Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 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 icing 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.