Caramelized Upside-Down Banana Cake

What do I do with over ripe Bananas? I am sure there is about a million things you can do with them. First and most common use of ripe Bananas is in Traditional Banana Bread and even though I love it, it sounds boring today. I am in the mood for something new, more exciting, adventurous, creative. Something I have not tried before. You get my drift...

I have made the authentic Upside-Down Pineapple Cake several times and another huge favorite is the Pear Upside-Down Gingerbread. Fear not, its Fall so I am sure I will be making it this season. So I am trying this Banana Upside-Down Cake inspired by yet another favorite of mine, "Banana Foster". Bananas go extremely well in baking, caramelizing with brown sugar and Flambeing so this should work well. This recipe is an adaptation from Avery Cooks.

Caramelized Upside-Down Banana Cake

RECIPE: Caramelized Upside-Down Banana Cake

Ingredients
1 stick Butter, unsalted
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3-4 Bananas, sliced in half horizontally, then slice each half vertically into 3-4 pieces
1 TBSP Rum, optional
Dry Ingredients:
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 tsp Baking Powder
pinch of salt
Wet Ingredients:
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Buttermilk (you can substitute it with half cup milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar mixed in)
1/3 Cup Greek Yogurt
3 Tbsp Canola Oil
2 tsp Vanilla Extract

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Have a 9" Springform pan ready. A regular 9" cake pan will be too shallow. You can also use a flat bottom glass bowl if you have it.
2. Melt the butter and pour into the cake pan. Swirl it around to cover all the nooks and crannies.
3. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the butter and fan the banana slices over it like a wheel and place them close together. Fill in all the gaps with smaller pieces. You can also put some slices around the circumference of the pan. If using the rum pour it over the banana slices.
4. Whisk together the dry ingredients 1 cup flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
5. In another bowl whisk the wet ingredients. 1 large Egg, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1/3 cup greek yogurt, 3 tbsp canola oil and 2 tsp Vanilla.
6. Fold in the wet ingredients with the dry using a spatula. It will be lumpy so do not over mix, just enough to mix it in.
7. Carefully pour the batter into the pan so as not to move the banana slices.
8. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until it is set. insert the toothpick and make sure it comes out clean.
9. Make sure you allow the cake to cool before you invert, slice and serve. You can serve it with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or some vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients you will need

Sliced Bananas

Melted butter in the springform pan

Layer the brown sugar evenly on top of the butter

Fan the banana slices over it like a wheel and place them close together. Fill in all the gaps with smaller pieces. You can also put some slices around the circumference of the pan. You can pour a TBSP of Rum if you want at this point.

Whisk together the dry ingredients 1 cup flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp baking powder and a pinch of salt in a bowl.

In another bowl whisk the wet ingredients. 1 large Egg, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1/3 cup greek yogurt, 3 tbsp canola oil and 2 tsp Vanilla.

Fold in the wet ingredients with the dry using a spatula. It will be lumpy so do not over mix, just enough to mix it in. Pour it over the bananas and bake for 40-45 minutes.

Fresh out of the oven

Hope you enjoy this special treat with your friends and family. Please tag me on facebook and Instagram or send me pictures of things you try and don't forget to recommend this site to your friends.