Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This is the best banana cake recipe I've ever made!  

I found the recipe from AllRecipes.  I make my own mixture of milk and vinegar to substitute for the buttermilk and half the frosting part of the recipe.

Ingredients for Cake:

-3/4 cup butter, melted or softened

-2 1/8 cups sugar

-3 eggs

-2 tsp vanilla extract

-3 cups flour {you could use 2 white and 1 wheat if desired}

-1 1/2 tsp baking soda

-1/4 tsp salt

-1 1/2 cup milk

-1 tbsp plus 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar

-2 tsp lemon juice

-1 1/2 cups ripe bananas (about 2-3)

Ingredients for Frosting:

-1/4 cup butter, softened

-4 oz. cream cheese, softened

-1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-ground cinnamon for dusting, optional

Process:

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

2. Combine milk and vinegar in a bowl and set aside for about 5 minutes or until ready to use.

3. Break bananas into pieces and place in mixing bowl.

4. Beat with whisk attachment until bananas begin to "mash".

5. Add the butter to the bananas.

 6. Add the baking soda.

 7. Add the salt.

8. Next, add the lemon juice, eggs and vanilla (adding these at the same time is always a good idea; I've heard the eggs can help hold on to the vanilla flavor, so its worth doing).

9. Beat until well blended.

10. Add the sugar to the banana mixture.

11. Beat well.

12. Pour the milk mixture into the banana mixture.

13. Beat well.

14. Add the flour to the mixture.

15. Beat well, scrape the sides and beat again to ensure there isn't any chunks stuck to the sides or bottom of the bowl.

16. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. {I know mine isn't pretty, but it has a cover and works great for this recipe.}

17. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.

18. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 80 minutes. {I usually do closer to 80 minutes}

19. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

For the frosting:
1. In mixing bowl, combine all frosting ingredients.

2. Beat well until thoroughly combined.

3. Once cake has cooled, dollop frosting in the center of the cake.

4. Spread frosting over cake.

I like to spread the frosting just shy of the edges of the cake.

You can store this at room temperature or in the refrigerator; it will last longer in the refrigerator; but it'll still be gone before you want it to!  :D

5. Serve dusted with cinnamon if desired! 

 We love it with the cinnamon, especially the kids!  Enjoy!