To Die For Banana Cake With Vanilla Bean Frosting Recipe

Ingredients

Cake:

• 2/3 cup sugar 
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup mashed super ripe banana (about 2)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste* (see below)

Directions

To make cake (is easily mixed by hand):

1. Preheat the oven to 375F (see note below). 
2. Cream together sugar, sour cream, egg, and 2 tablespoons softened butter. 
3. Add mashed bananas and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. 
4. Add flour, salt, and baking soda; mix well. 
5. Pour into an 8x8-inch pan that has been sprayed with baking spray.
6. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
7. Cool completely before frosting.

To make frosting:

1. Cream butter and confectioner's sugar together until smooth. 
2. Slowly add the heavy cream and vanilla bean paste; stir until smooth.  
3. Spread on cooled cake. 

Notes  

• Vanilla bean paste is a product that can be purchased at gourmet groceries or you can order it online (linked below).  Here's the general rule for substituting vanilla: 1 vanilla bean = 1 tablespoon vanilla powder = 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste = 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract.
• Bake at 350F if using a glass pan.   

IMPORTANT TIP

• To ensure the cake bakes without a hump, wrap the cake pan with insulated baking strips.  I wouldn't even dream about baking a layer cake without them!