Best Ever Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Well, the title says it all! A friend had me try this and I have to say I have never tasted any banana cake that was so good! She found it on Recipezaar-it's #67256 if you want to read the extra notes on cooking times. I think the key to it's incredible moistness is that you literally pop it into the freezer right from the oven! I place a wood cutting board onto my plastic freezer shelf first. This was one of the cakes I made for a small conference of about 100 people-it went over big! The cream cheese frosting is great; I do use the low fat cream cheese and it makes way more than I need, so I save it or halve the recipe. A milk chocolate or mocha frosting is delicious on it too. Enjoy! Oh! Don't forget the cup o' joe with it-that's a must!

1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
2-1/8 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-8 ounce package cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla
3-1/2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat the oven to 275. Grease and flour a 9x13 pan. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice; set aside. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and the 2-1/8 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in the banana mixture. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for one hour or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for at least 45 minutes. This is what makes the cake so moist. For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in the vanilla. Add the powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until the frosting is smooth. Spread on the cooled cake. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts, if desired. Store in refrigerator.