Gone bananas

Banana Cake with
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

DISCLAIMER:
Recipe adapted, and photo borrowed, from blog link listed at the end of this post. Big thanks going out to Mel's Kitchen Cafe (who is way more talented in the kitchen than I am).
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Decided to go for something different on my blog this week and post THE most delish dessert I've had in... was going to say "forever" or a "very long time" but will settle for... most delish in weeks!!

Banana Cake:
½ cup butter, softened
1½ cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about three)*

• Preheat oven to 350° - grease 9x13 pan
• In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth
• Beat in eggs, one at a time
• Stir in sour cream and vanilla
• In separate bowl - combine flour, baking soda and salt
• Stir into batter
• Mix in mashed bananas
• Spread evenly into prepared pan
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes - until golden brown on top, and toothpick in the center comes out clean
• Allow to cool completely before frosting

*Tip for using extra-ripe bananas:

When you have bananas which are over ripe, but don't have time to bake anything... don't throw them away! Instead throw the whole bananas, peel and all, into the freezer (yes the peel will go dark brown in the freezer - that's perfectly okay).

At a later date remove from freezer, place on counter-top (or plate) and allow to thaw completely. Using kitchen sheers cut off bottom of banana peel, and squeeze the now perfectly mushy banana out. After thanking Mother Nature for the natural banana protector from freezer burn, discard the now useless peel,

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup confectioner’s sugar (I also added 2 large spoonfuls)
⅛ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1½ cups heavy whipping cream

• In large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla
• Beat until light and fluffy - set aside
• In another bowl beat whipped cream until stiff peaks form (use chilled bowl and chilled beaters for best results)
• Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture
• Spread the delightful frosting over the cake (then fight or draw straws over who gets to lick the bowl)

recipe source: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2008/11/banana-bars-with-whipped-cream-cheese-frosting.html