Banana Layer Cake

Ingredients

• CAKE:
• 2 cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon maple extract
• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (about 3)
• FROSTING:
• 1 8-oz. package cream cheese, at room temperature
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 16-oz. box confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 1 teaspoon maple extract
• 4 firm but ripe bananas, sliced 1/4-inch thick
• Store-bought caramel sauce, optional