Banana Cake with Spiced Vanilla Buttercream

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup

unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 cups

sugar

large eggs

1 tsp

vanilla

1 tsp

cardamom

very ripe bananas, mashed

2 tsp

lemon juice

3 cups

all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp

baking soda

1/4 tsp

salt

1 1/2 cups

buttermilk

spiced frosting

1/2 cup

unsalted butter, at room temperature

8 oz

(1 container) mascarpone cheese, at room temperature (you can substitute cream cheese)

1 tsp

vanilla extract

1/4 tsp

ground cloves (you can add more if you like)

up to 4 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar