BANANA NUT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE ICING

CAKE:
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp vanilla
3/4 cup chopped pecans
ICING:
1 (8 oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup butter
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 Tbsp almond flavoring
6 cups powdered sugar
milk
Chopped pecans (for top)

CAKE:
In mixer combine dry ingredients. Add everything else except pecans and beat until smooth. Add pecans and stir to mix them in. Place in two round cake pans or one 9x13-inch oblong pan.

Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. Cakes will be extra moist due to extra bananas. Cool on racks.

ICING:
Cream the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and almond flavoring until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar until thick enough to spread. If you get it too thick add a little bit of milk at a time until it is where you want it.

Use icing to put layer together and spread the rest around the cakes. Press chopped pecans on sides after iced.

From: Missy Ryan
Source: Texas Pecan Board