Grandma's Banana Cake

Grandma Gray's Banana Cake

My grandma used to make this for our summertime gatherings and I still remember how I looked forward to it.  The cake is good. The frosting is fabulous.  My husband loves it when we get over-ripe bananas that I need to use up because more often than not he gets this cake.

Banana Cake

2 eggs
1 and 1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. butter or margerine
1 C. mashed bananas
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 C. buttermilk or sour milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 C. nuts, optional

Heat oven to 350*. Grease and flour a 9 X 13 pan.  In a mixing bowl cream together eggs, sugar and butter until fluffy.  Add bananas.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Alternately add milk and flour mixture to wet ingredients until well combined. Stir in vanilla. Add nuts, if desired.  Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool and top with Caramel Frosting.

Caramel Frosting

1/2 C. butter
1 C. packed brown sugar
1/4 C. milk
2 C. powdered sugar

In a 2-3 quart saucepan, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil.  Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Add milk slowly, stirring until mixture boils again.  Remove from heat and cool.  Add powdered sugar; beat with mixer until creamy.  Add a dash of hot water if icing becomes too stiff.