Going Bananas

It's beautiful. The sun is shining on a 70+ degree day. Then, the clouds roll in and a thunderstorm builds; tornadoes loom; the skies are angry as the temperature drops and the weather changes. Hours later, Mother Nature turns the rains to ice, and the cold winds bring the blinding, blowing snow of a blizzard which closes interstates, schools, and offices. However just a day later, winter weather warnings once again give way to sun, clear skies, and spring temperatures...only to have the threat of more snow on the horizon of the forecast.

Yes, that is a week of weather in south central South Dakota. It is bananas. In spite of the clean living of most of our residents, we are at the mercy of what seems to be a PMSing Mother Nature. Well, I know what I want when PMS comes knocking at my door: cake. Roasted Banana Cake with Brown Butter Frosting has the best frosting ever, and we all know that frosting MAKES a cake. Let's bake some up as an offering to crazy old Mother Nature. Let's hope that Roasted Banana Cake On My Plate will save us from going bananas with the ever changing weather.

Roasted Banana Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

2 cups sliced ripe banana (about 3 medium)
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 large eggs
Baking spray with flour
Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 400°.
Combine banana, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon butter in an 8-inch square baking dish. Bake at 400° for 35 minutes, stirring after 17 minutes. Cool slightly.
Reduce the oven temperature to 375°.
Combine 2 1/4 cups flour, soda, and baking powder in a medium bowl.
Combine banana mixture, buttermilk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in another medium bowl.
Place 1/2 cup butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs; mix well.
Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternating with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
Pour batter into a 13 x 9–inch baking pan coated with baking spray.
Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
To prepare frosting, melt 1/4 cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat; cook 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly.
Combine browned butter, powdered sugar, cream cheese, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer until smooth.
Spread frosting over cooled cake. Sprinkle with pecans.