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Banana upside down cake after flipping.
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4.72 from 7 votes

Banana Upside Down Cake

This show-stopping perfectly spiced Banana Upside Down Cake is full of so much delicious flavor! The magic of the upside-down method is that when you flip it, you're met with a glorious gooey caramelized banana topping that's pure bliss.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 9" round cake
Author: Jessica

Ingredients

Topping (Bottom of the Pan)

  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 6 tbs unsalted butter melted
  • 2-3 bananas sliced into ¼" rounds (or more depending on how you arrange them)

Cake

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • pinch salt
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup mashed banana about 2 medium sized bananas
  • ½ cup buttermilk see recipe notes to make your own
  • 1 tbs vanilla extract
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9" round baking pan very well, set aside.
  • Combine melted butter and brown sugar. Press mixture into bottom of the pan. Arrange banana rounds on top of brown sugar mixture. (This will ultimately be the top of your cake.)
  • In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and whisk very well for one minute. Add in the wet ingredients and stir until completely combined and no lumps remain. Don't over mix. Pour cake mixture into prepared pan on top of bananas. It will fill almost to the top of the pan.
  • RECIPE EDITED TO ADD: Based on reader's reviews, it seems some have had the batter spill over while baking, and some have had great success. To prevent this, simply place the cake pan on a baking sheet when it goes into the oven to catch anything that spills over.
  • Bake for 42-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
  • Let cake cool for only 5 minutes in pan then turn out on a large plate or platter. (If you wait too long, the caramelized brown sugar will stick to the pan!)

Notes

To make your own buttermilk: Stir in 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar or fresh lemon juice to the milk. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes until thickened.
Storage instructions: Store upside down banana cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Freezing instructions: Wrap cooled cake in a layer of plastic wrap and place in a resealable, freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 9g