Ingredients:

  • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour, sifted
  • ¾ cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ½ teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
  • ½ cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter, softened (for cake)
  • 2 Large Eggs, room temperature
  • 4–5 medium Very Ripe Bananas, mashed (approx. 450 g)
  • ½ cup Buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (for cake)
  • 8 oz Full-fat Cream Cheese, chilled
  • ¼ cup (½ stick) Unsalted Butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 3 cups Powdered Sugar (Icing Sugar), sifted
  • ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract (for frosting)
  • Pinch of Salt (for frosting)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line the loaf or cake tin with parchment paper, leaving an overhang 'sling' for easy removal.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the room-temperature butter and sugar together on medium speed until the mixture is pale, light, and fluffy (approximately 3–5 minutes).
  4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract.
  5. Reduce the mixer speed to low. Add the mashed bananas and mix briefly until just combined.
  6. Gently mix in the dry ingredient mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk in two additions (start and end with dry ingredients). Mix only until just combined—do not overmix.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared tin. Bake for 60–65 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  8. Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes before carefully transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Do not frost until the cake is fully cool.
  9. For the frosting: Beat the room-temperature butter and the chilled cream cheese together until smooth and completely lump-free (about 2 minutes).
  10. Gradually beat in the sifted powdered sugar on low speed, then increase to medium until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  11. Mix in the vanilla and a pinch of salt. Beat for an additional minute.
  12. Once the cake is completely cool, spread the frosting evenly over the top and serve.