Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3 large)
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 3/4 cup chopped unsalted pistachios, toasted
• CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
• 2 containers (8 ounces each) whipped cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs,1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Fold in 3/4 cup pistachios.
2. Transfer to 2 greased and floured 8-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 45-55 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
3. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread top with 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake. Spread top and sides with 2 cups frosting.
4. Decorate cake as desired with remaining frosting. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until frosting is set.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 606 calories, 28g fat (16g saturated fat), 111mg cholesterol, 510mg sodium, 85g carbohydrate (62g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protei