Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Buttercream Frosting

I found this recipe online and had to try it for my husband who loves anything banana. It is a lot like banana bread...just lighter...and sweeter...

cake recipe 

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
2 egg yolks
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
3 crushed bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites, beaten

• Mix sugar and butter and beat on low speed until completely combined.

• Add egg yolks and beat on high speed until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. 

• In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk thoroughly.

• Alternate adding dry and wet ingredients (milk), beating each time until just mixed in. Start and end with dry. When you’re done, you should have a nice, soft, fluffy batter. 

• Mash bananas and add to batter.

• Whip the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.

• Carefully fold the egg whites into the batter, trying not to deflate them too much.

• Pour the batter into 2 greased and floured round pans.

• Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

• Remove cakes from the pans and let cool. 

frosting recipe

1 cup milk
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1½ cup brown sugar
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt (if you use unsalted butter)

• Stir milk and flour together and mix over medium heat for 5-10 minutes, until it thickens. It changes suddenly, so don’t walk away from it.

• Set the milk aside to cool. Very important to make sure this cools completely otherwise you will have a gravy for your frosting.

•  Combine sugar, butter (room temperature) and vanilla in a mixer.

• Beat on medium speed for around 10 minutes, until the sugar is dissolved, for the most part.

• Add the cooled milk mixture to the butter mixture and stir until smooth. Once you do this any remaining graininess from the sugar will pretty much dissolve. 

• Frost cake. It is a pretty soft and light frosting so if you want it to set up at all you will have to put it in the fridge for a bit.