Perfect Banana Upside Down Cake Recipe: Sweet Golden Delight

Banana upside down cake revolutionizes an ordinary dessert into a mesmerizing culinary experience that tantalizes taste buds.

Sweet caramelization creates a luxurious golden layer that revolutionizes simple ingredients into something magical.

Soft, pillowy cake combines with rich, gooey fruit for a truly decadent sensation.

Warm, comforting flavors meld together in a symphony of delightful textures that dance across your palate.

Each forkful promises a delectable journey through buttery, caramelized goodness that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

Tropical notes weave through the dessert, offering a sophisticated twist on a classic comfort food.

The magic happens when humble ingredients elevate themselves into something extraordinary.

Banana Upside Down Cake: A Sweet Twist on a Classic

• Caramelize in Minutes: Transform simple bananas into a luxurious golden-brown masterpiece with minimal effort, creating a stunning dessert that looks professionally crafted in under an hour.
• Texture Paradise: Experience a delightful contrast between soft, tender cake and sticky-sweet caramelized banana layers that melt in your mouth with each delectable bite.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for casual weekend brunches, afternoon tea parties, or unexpected dessert cravings, this cake satisfies everyone from kids to sophisticated adult palates with its comforting, familiar flavors.

Essential Ingredients for Banana Upside Down Cake

• Butter: Rich flavor enhancer and pan greaser for easy cake release.
• Brown Sugar: Creates a deep caramel-like base and adds moisture to the cake.
• Bananas: Ripe, soft bananas provide natural sweetness and tender texture.

• All-Purpose Flour: Standard flour that provides structure to the cake.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with cakes golden-brown color.
• Eggs: Binding agent that helps create cakes fluffy texture.
• Milk: Adds moisture and helps blend ingredients smoothly.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm, sweet notes.
• Baking Powder: Leavening agent that helps cake rise and become light.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances other flavor profiles.

• Caramel Glaze: Optional topping for extra richness and sweet decoration.

How to Make Banana Upside Down Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Pan

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously coat a 9-inch cake pan with butter, then sprinkle brown sugar evenly across the bottom to create a delicious caramel base.

Step 2: Arrange Banana Layer

Slice ripe bananas diagonally and carefully place them in a beautiful overlapping pattern across the sugared pan bottom.

Step 3: Create the Cake Batter

• Flour
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Eggs
• Milk
• Melted butter
• Vanilla extract

Whisk the ingredients until smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain.

Step 4: Combine and Bake

Gently pour the cake batter over the arranged banana slices, making sure to cover them completely. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes at 350°F. Then reduce the temperature to 325°F and continue baking for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 5: Cool and Serve

Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Carefully invert the cake onto a serving plate, allowing the caramelized bananas to create a stunning topping. Optional: Drizzle with additional caramel sauce for extra decadence.

Tips for Perfect Banana Upside Down Cake

• Select Ripe Bananas: Choose bananas with deep yellow skin and brown speckles for maximum sweetness and rich flavor.
• Create Perfect Caramel Layer: Melt butter and brown sugar together slowly to develop a rich, golden caramel base that prevents sticking.
• Slice Bananas Evenly: Cut bananas into uniform thickness to ensure consistent caramelization and attractive presentation when cake is inverted.
• Check Cake Doneness: Insert a toothpick in the center – if it comes out clean with minimal crumbs, the cake is perfectly baked.
• Let Cake Rest Completely: Allow cake to cool for at least 15 minutes before inverting to help caramel layer set and prevent breaking the delicate cake structure.

Storing and Reheating Banana Upside Down Cake

• Refrigerate: Store leftover banana upside down cake in an airtight container to maintain freshness. Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent drying out. Refrigerated cake stays delicious for up to 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Slice the cake into individual portions before freezing. Wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Frozen cake preserves well for 2-3 months without losing its rich flavor and moist texture.
• Reheat: Bring refrigerated cake to room temperature for the best taste. Warm individual slices in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, or place in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. Drizzle fresh caramel glaze before serving to revive its original decadent appeal.

Pairing Banana Upside Down Cake with Beverages

• Pair with Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream: The cold, smooth vanilla ice cream perfectly complements the warm, caramelized banana cake, creating a delightful temperature and flavor contrast that melts in your mouth.
• Sip Smooth Bourbon Cocktail: A classic bourbon old fashioned or bourbon neat enhances the caramel notes in the cake, bringing out the rich, deep sweetness of the bananas and brown sugar.
• Enjoy with Strong Espresso: A shot of rich, bold espresso cuts through the cake's sweetness, providing a robust counterpoint that highlights the cake's complex caramel and banana flavors.
• Match with Cinnamon Tea: A warm cup of spiced cinnamon tea brings out the cake's subtle spice undertones, creating a cozy and comforting dessert experience that feels like a warm hug.

Fun Variations of Banana Upside Down Cake

• Tropical Paradise Cake: Enhance the banana base with diced pineapple and sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top for a Hawaiian-inspired dessert.
• Nutty Caramel Banana Cake: Incorporate chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter and add a splash of rum for a rich, indulgent flavor profile.
• Chocolate Banana Swirl: Marble dark chocolate batter through the vanilla base and top with chocolate drizzle for a decadent chocolate-banana fusion.
• Spiced Banana Cake: Mix in ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of cardamom to create a warm, aromatic version of the classic upside-down cake.

Banana Upside Down Cake Recipe

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4.9 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Banana upside down cake brings Southern comfort to dessert tables with its caramelized fruit and tender crumb. Warm spices and rich brown sugar glaze create a nostalgic treat that welcomes you to savor each delightful slice.

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Ingredients

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Banana Upside Down Cake

Main Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons (57 grams) unsalted butter
• ¼ cup (50 grams) brown sugar
• 4 bananas (ripe)

Liquid Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) heavy cream

Additional Ingredients:

• ¼ teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and meticulously coat a 9-inch (23-centimeter) round cake pan with softened butter, ensuring complete coverage.
2. Generously sprinkle brown sugar across the buttered pan bottom, creating an even, delectable base layer.
3. Carefully arrange sliced bananas in an overlapping, decorative pattern directly on top of the brown sugar, covering the entire pan surface.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon, whisking thoroughly to eliminate any potential lumps.
5. Incorporate softened butter, eggs, vanilla extract, and milk into the dry ingredients, stirring until a smooth, velvety batter forms.
6. Gently pour the prepared batter over the banana-lined pan, using a spatula to distribute evenly and prevent disturbing the banana arrangement.
7. Place the cake pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center emerges clean and the top turns a golden-brown hue.
8. Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, enabling the caramelized sugar to set slightly.
9. Carefully invert the cake onto a serving plate, allowing the banana-sugar layer to create a luscious, glistening topping.
10. Optional: Drizzle with homemade caramel sauce for an extra touch of indulgence before serving warm or at room temperature.

Notes

• Caramelized bananas create a luscious, sticky bottom layer that transforms when the cake is flipped upside down.
• Precise temperature control ensures a moist, golden cake with perfectly caramelized fruit underneath.
• Brown sugar melts into a rich, gooey syrup that coats each banana slice during baking.
• Gentle cooling prevents breaking the delicate cake structure when inverting onto a serving plate.
• Caramel drizzle adds an extra layer of indulgent sweetness that complements the banana’s natural flavor.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 70 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 400 kcal
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 580mg
• Fat: 28g
• Saturated Fat: 17g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 36g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: <1g
• Cholesterol: 90mg