Banana Upside Down Cake

Name: Banana Upside Down Cake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 3-4 medium sized bananas, sliced ½-inch thick ((enough to cover the bottom of the pan)); 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, (softened to room temperature); 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 cup milk; powdered sugar or Cool Whip (for topping (optional))

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If you love upside down cakes, you’ll love this fun twist! Banana Upside Down Cake is a deliciously easy homemade cake that is sure to impress!

ANOTHER FRUITY TWIST ON A CLASSIC CAKE

I’ve really been having a lot of fun with different variations on upside down cakes. What I love about this particular recipe is it is a light cake and not super thick. This is such a simple made-from-scratch cake that I think is a perfect summer dessert. It’s full of flavor and so insanely easy to make, just like my Raspberry Upside Down Cake and my Strawberry Upside Down Cake!

A piece missing of an upside down cake on a serving plate.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

How do I know when the cake is done?

Use the toothpick method. Simply insert a toothpick into the center of your cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done, if it still has batter, it needs a little longer in the oven.
Remember that all ovens may bake a little different and baking times may vary on what type of baking dish you used as well.

Why cut the bananas thick?

You don’t want the bananas falling apart when you cut into the cake. Cutting them slightly thicker will help them hold up better to the baking process.

Why didn’t my brown sugar mixture set?

If you don’t let your cake cool for the 5-10 minutes before removing from the pan, you’re not giving that mixture time to set. It needs that time to cool and thicken.

How to store leftovers

If you have any leftover cake, it can be stored at room temperature for 2-3 days (covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container). Alternatively, refrigerate it properly to extend its shelf life to 5-6 days. Freezing is not recommended.

A baking dish with a banana upside down cake.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

unsalted butter– you could use salted butter, just be sure to leave out the extra salt in the recipe.
brown sugar – when measuring brown sugar, you need to pack it into the measuring cup.
bananas– I used about 3 or 4 medium bananas and I sliced them into ½-inch thick rounds. You’ll need just enough to cover the bottom of the pan
all-purpose flour – you could use self-rising flour but you’ll need to leave out the salt and baking powder in the recipe.
baking powder– always make sure you’re using fresh baking powder. So many baked goods don’t turn out because expired or old baking powder was used.
egg – if you have time, let the egg come to room temperature. Baked goods turn out a bit lighter and fluffier if all your ingredients are room temperature.
vanilla extract – if you really want to amp up the banana flavor, try using banana extract.
powdered sugar or Cool Whip– you can use either for a topping which is optional. Or just top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Bananas, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, salt, flour, vanilla extract, egg, and baking powder.

HOW TO MAKE BANANA UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9″ high sided round pan or springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Note: If using a springform pan, you will need to place a piece of foil or bake on a sheet tray to catch any of the butter/sugar mixture that may leak out the bottom.

In a medium bowl, whisk together butter and brown sugar. Spread into the bottom of the prepared pan. Top the brown sugar mixture with sliced bananas in an even layer. Set aside.

a collage of two photos: brown sugar butter mixture on the bottom of a round pan; sliced banana son top of the brown sugar butter mixture in a pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder salt, set aside. In another bowl, beat together unsalted butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla extract until combined. Add in the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined. It will look crumby at this point which is normal. Lastly, add in milk and beat until incorporated.

a collage of three photos: a mixing bowl with unsalted butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla extract; flour mixture added to the bowl with butter mixture; milk added to cake batter mixture in bowl.

Spoon the batter over the bananas and gently spread using an offset spatula as the batter is thick. Bake in the oven for about 35-40 minutes until golden or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Please note, oven times vary so please check with a toothpick first to ensure doneness as it may take longer in your oven.

a collage of two photos: unbaked banana upside down cake in a pan; banana upside down cake in a pan cooling.

Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for about 10 minutes (don’t skip this essential cooling down time). Run a knife along the pan’s edge to ensure it is released before inverting it over a serving platter.