### Moist Banana Cake Recipe

**Description:**
Indulge in this moist and flavorful banana cake, made with ripe bananas and a hint of cinnamon. Perfect for dessert or a sweet snack, this cake is easy to make and can be enjoyed plain or with a delicious cream cheese frosting.

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**Ingredients:**
– 3 ripe bananas, mashed
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 1 cup granulated sugar
– 2 large eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 cup sour cream
– 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
– 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

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**Instructions:**

*Preparing the Batter:*
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes).
3. Add the mashed bananas to the butter and sugar mixture and mix until well combined.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon (if using).
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
7. Fold in the sour cream and chopped nuts (if using) until just combined.

*Baking the Cake:*
1. Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

*Assembling and Serving:*
1. Once the cake is completely cool, you can frost it or serve it plain. For a cream cheese frosting, beat together 8 oz of cream cheese, 1/4 cup of softened butter, 2 cups of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth.
2. Alternatively, dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar.
3. Slice the cake into generous pieces and serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if desired.
4. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week. The cake can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

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**Notes:**
– Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and sweetness.
– Don’t skip the sour cream; it adds moisture and richness.
– For a twist, consider adding chocolate chips or dried fruit.

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**Prep Time:** 15 minutes
**Cook Time:** 60-70 minutes
**Total Time:** 1 hour 15 minutes – 1 hour 25 minutes
**Yield:** 1 loaf (approximately 10 slices)