Caramel lovers just won't be able to resist this yummy banana upside down cake! It's delicious warm with cream or ice cream and certainly won't last long! The caramelised bananas on the top are so so good!
I made this banana upside down cake a couple of months ago but somehow I didn't quite get around to writing up the recipe. It's been sitting in my drafts folder staring at me ever since. Now, if I hadn't enjoyed it so much I might just have left it there and eventually forgotten about it, but this is certainly not a recipe to be forgotten about.
The Inspiration for this banana upside down cake
I was inspired by The Great British Bake Off. One week, fairly near the beginning of the series, the contestants had to make upside down cakes. Someone, I can't now remember who, made a rather delicious looking banana one.
Until then, the only upside down cake I remembered eating was the pineapple and glace cherry one my mum used to make. As soon as I tried this one I knew I wanted to keep the recipe and make it again. I loved the layer of sticky caramel on the top coating the banana slices, especially around the edges where it was lovely and chewy.
What to serve with this caramelised banana upside down cake
This cake is absolutely delicious warm with ice-cream or custard. It's nice cold too but absolutely amazing warm. Just imagine a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into the warm caramel banana topping! It is so worth making.
More Upside down Cakes
Inspired by this cake, the very next week I made a blackberry upside down cake. I had all sorts of plans to make more similar cakes. Those plans have not quite been realised yet, but, there's time.
How long does this cake keep?
This cake will keep for three days but it is definitely best eaten warm. So, if you don't eat it all up when you first make it, I would advise you to reheat individual portions before serving. You can reheat it in the oven or in the microwave.
Can you freeze banana upside down cake?
Alternatively you can freeze any leftover cake. Wrap it up in grease-proof paper and put in an airtight container. It can be frozen whole or in individual pieces. Defrost at room temperature or overnight in the fridge and then reheat before serving.
What kind of tin to use for an upside down cake?
When I first made an upside down cake it was a disaster. Caramel leaked out of the bottom of the tin and burnt in the oven. Not only did I have a horrible cleaning job to do afterwards, we lost half the caramel topping!
To prevent that happening it's important to line the tin with non-stick baking paper and to fold it up at the corners so that the caramel can't leak out if you are using a loose bottomed tin.
What substitutions can you use?
If you want to change this cake then why not try using a different kind of fruit in the topping. You could try peach slices, berries or pineapple.
If you're a fan of chocolate banana cake then why not add some chocolate chips to the cake batter and omit the spices?
If you don't have self raising flour then use plain flour but add 2 teaspoon of baking powder.
Recipe
Banana Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Cake Topping
- 120 g brown sugar
- 60 g butter
- 1.5 tablespoon golden syrup
- 3 bananas sliced
Ingredients for the Cake
- 2 ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoon yoghurt
- 90 g butter at room temperature
- 180 g caster sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 180 g self-raising flour
- 0.5 teaspoon cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C.
- Line a 20 x 20cm baking tin with baking parchment. If you're using a loose-bottomed tin then fold the parchment at the corners so it goes up the sides of the tin too. Otherwise the caramel will leak out into the oven.
- Put the sugar, butter and golden syrup for the topping in a small saucepan. Cook until all the sugar and butter have melted. Stir gently and pour into the tin. If necessary tilt the tin backwards and forwards so the layer of caramel covers the bottom of the tin.
- Slice the bananas into pieces about 2cm thick. Place them in the caramel.
- Start to make the cake. Mash the bananas with a fork then mix into the yogurt. Set aside.
- Put the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Whisk till pale and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, whisking after each one.
- Sift the flour and spices and gradually fold into the mixing bowl. Then fold in the banana and yoghurt mixture too.
- Spoon the batter into the cake tin on top of the caramel and bananas.
- Bake at 180C for about 45 minutes. Test with a skewer to see if it's cooked. If necessary bake for a little longer.
- When ready, let the cake stand for a couple of minutes out of the oven. Place a plate on top of the tin and turn it over to remove the cake.
- Serve warm with cream, custard or ice cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin for Later!
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Places I'm sharing this Caramel Banana Upside Down Cake
Cook Blog Share hosted by Eb at Easy Peasy Foodie
Cook Once Eat Twice hosted by me, Corina, here at Searching for Spice
Baking Crumbs hosted by Jo's Kitchen Larder
Anca
I like upside down cake, but I never used bananas before, that sounds like a very good idea. Your cake looks so good.
Corina Blum
Thanks Anca! I love the fact you don't need to decorate an upside down cake after it's baked and the bananas and caramel are so good in this one.
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
Fab idea - I'm rather partial to a pineapple upside down cake, but I've never tried it with bananas - must give that a go! YUM!!! Eb x
Corina Blum
My mum used to make a pineapple upside down cake and it was so good! This one is definitely my husband's favourite though x
Jenny walters
Sweet Lord this looks good. I keep meaning to make one, they always look sooo good. This one sounds divine. Feeling very inspired!Thank you so much for sharing it on #Baking Crumbs
Corina Blum
You're welcome Jenny! I love upside down cakes and this one is the most caramelly one I make!
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder
I'm really pleased that you didn't leave this delicious cake in your draft folder and decided to publish it instead! I love upside down cakes but have never had banana one but as all the banana bakes usually go down really well in our house I'm sure this one would too! Really love the sticky caramelised banana topping too! Thank you for sharing with #BakingCrumbs 🙂 x
Corina Blum
You're welcome and thanks for hosting too Jo! This is one of my husband's favourite desserts and my daughter loves it too. x
Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook
I love banana cakes and muffins or anything baked with bananas, but I haven't tried baking an upside down cake. This must be so good with that topping! I need to change things now! 😀 Thanks for sharing, Corina. x
Corina Blum
The topping is so good on this - caramel and banana is such a great combination! x
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
Oh this sounds divine! I'm so glad you shared it!
Corina Blum
I'm so pleased you like it! It's one of the recipes I've updated but it is one I make every few months anyway.
Mandy
I love a good upside down cake, this one looks perfect with the addition of caramel. mmmmm
Corina Blum
Thanks Mandy! The caramel is so so good with the bananas!
Balvinder
This cake looks unbelievable. caramel and banana go so well together.
Corina Blum
They do, don't they? This is one of my husband's favourite desserts.
Amy | The Cook Report
That caramel looks amazing! Love the sound of this cake 🙂
Corina Blum
Thanks Amy! We love the topping too and the caramel goes so well with the bananas!
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours
Caramel and banana go so well together, this sounds utterly delicious. Perfectly served with some vanilla ice cream. Nice to see an alternative to pineapple upsidedown pudding.
Corina Blum
I do love upside down cakes and my mum used to make the pineapple one when I was younger but I haven't actually had that one for years! I can't resist the way upside down cakes have that beautiful caramelised bit on the top!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
Now this sounds like my kind of cake - such delicious flavours! Definitely going to have to give this a try
Corina Blum
I hope you like it! It's a very easy cake to make and definitely a crowd-pleaser.
fiona saluk
girlll I love the GBBO too! And this upside down cake rendition looks amazing - you're right they are one of the most satisfying cakes for caramel lovers indeed. I'm curious how your berry one came out but I always find bananas caramelize so beautiful it's hard to beat!
Corina Blum
I love berries so much in cakes and for me the berry one was probably my favourite but my husband always says you can't beat this one!
Elizabeth
That looks amazing! I bet my kids would LOVE this! I must make it for our next pudding night.
Corina Blum
It's very popular with my kids and my husband! I hope you like it.
Helen Costello
Caramel anything will be delicious every time! I think I remember that particular episode of Bake off when I suddenly yearned for a sticky upside down cake. Thanks so much for being part of #BakeoftheWeek - Great to have you as part of the party.
Corina
Thanks Helen! My husband absolutely love caramel so I do tend to make things like this mainly because of him but I really liked it too luckily!
Derek | Dad With A Pan
Usually I see pineapples in upside down cakes, this is a great change on a classic, I love it!
Corina
Yes, we always had pineapple in upside down cake when I was younger but banana is fantastic too and goes so well with the caramelly topping!
April
Oh yummy! Corina this cake looks too good! Look how moist it is! I wish I had it right now!
Corina
Thanks April! It is beautifully moist and very very moreish!
Sarah James @ Tales From The Kitchen Shed
Yes please ! I love upside down cakes. I could just eat a piece with a big scoop of ice cream, yum 🙂
Dene' V. Alexander
This looks like it would go over great in my house!! The bananas and ice cream and gooeyness seal the deal!!
Corina
It's one of those desserts that's really tempting, isn't it? I hope you all enjoy it if you make it.
Elizabeth
This looks like the sort of thing I would absolutely love with lashings of cold custard. Yum!
Jacqueline (PiperCooks)
Have never had an upside down cake, but this has my name all over it. I'm currently watching what I eat but I think my family would love this, I'll have to try it out for them 🙂
Corina
I'm sure they'll enjoy it! If they like banana and caramel it's certain to be popular!
Vicki Montague
Ooo sounds amazing! I'm going to have to make this using my wholegrain gluten free flour blend. It looks perfect!
Corina
I do hope you like it! Let me know how it turns out with gluten-free flour!
mainy
Wow this looks amazing in the photos and all the ingredients are just what I like. I am saving this one!:)
Mainy
#brillblogposts
Corina
I'm so pleased you like it! It was a real hit at home when I made it!
jenny paulin
lovely photos that make this pudding so tantalising - it looks so tasty! sticky and gooey and just delicious, I am sure. Thank you for making me hungry and for lining up to #BakeoftheWeek x
Corina
Aww it's always nice to make people hungry! So pleased you like it and thanks for hosting x
Aish Das-Padihari
I have a sugar tooth and I have to have some dessert almost everyday after dinner. I work out everyday, so that, I can eat cake. I'm going to try this recipe.
Corina
I have to work out too after this! I don't feel guilty if I know I'm going out for a run soon afterwards. Or if I've just got back from running!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
I can't even remember the last time I had an upside down cake. The the gooey bananas, and this warm with some ice cream would be divine.
Corina
Oh it was! My mum used to make upside down cakes when I was a child and then I didn't have one for years till I made this one and a berry one as well.
Fred
Looks nice and fluffy it will be good with a late night tea or with some ice cream :).
Corina
Oh Fred it was amazing when it was still warm with ice cream and when we finished it off the next day we just reheated it a little too. And still served it with ice cream!
Marie-Pierre Breton
Oh man! What a dreamy looking banana cake! I eat my way through it in no time! and that perfectly caramelized top!! Dreamy!
Corina
Oh I'm so pleased you like it! I keep being asked to make it again too!
jacquee | i sugar coat it!
Upside down banana cake a la mode...I am DROOLING over here!! That perfectly caramelized topping looks absolutely irresistible!
Corina
Thank you so much! I have to say I was really happy with how it turned out and my daughter is asking for it again!
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Oh my goodness - that caramelization is amazing! Pass me a big slice, I need breakfast. 😉
Corina
So pleased you like it Heather!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
Upside down cakes are one of my favorites because you don't have to deal with frosting etc... they're just ready to go. This looks and sounds delicious!
Corina
Exactly! I am not such a big fan of frosting either but feel I have to do it to sometimes to make a cake look finished off. If is great when you don't need to do anything like with this.
Tara
Such a stunning caramelized top! Or bottom 🙂 I have yet it make an upside down cake. Definitely need to add it to my list.
Corina
haha! I did wonder whether to call it the bottom or the top as I was writing the post! You should definitely try an upside down cake - they are delicious.
Platter Talk
That looks so good, especially with the scoop of ice cream to melt atop! Warm bananas are so comforting, to me.
Corina
Thanks! I love vanilla ice cream with warm desserts and yes, warm bananas are definitely comfort food!
Ali from Home & Plate
Wow...this looks sticky and sweet and caramelized perfectly. I don't think I could only eat just one piece. There is nothing like banana upside down cake any time of the year. Delicious!
Corina
Thanks! It is very sweet and sticky and perfect as a warm dessert.
Katerina
All this caramelized bananas on top make me drool!
Susan
I adore upside-down cakes! This one looks great!
Author Annette J Dunlea Irish Writer
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