Last Updated on November 13, 2019 by Chef Mireille
Last week I took you to the land of windmills and Anne Frank. This week it’s off to the land of coconuts and bananas. As the world athletes are preparing to qualify in their respective sports to take part in the next Olympics, let’s explore some of the cuisine you will be having if you are lucky enough to have a ticket to the Olympic Games in Rio.
This isn’t the first Banana Upside Down Cake I’ve done. The last one I posted here was a dense moist cake with cream cheese and flavored with three types of ginger. This more classic recipe filled with warm Latin American spices is popular to eat during Brazil’s tea time. Upside down cakes are very popular for their tea time with the most popular flavors being banana, mango or cashew. Brazil is one of the largest producers of bananas in the world and bananas make their way into many of both their savory and sweet dishes as in this Cuca de Banana. Here is another example of the way Brazilians utilize bananas.
Banana Upside Down Cake
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Yield: Serves 12
Cake Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, separated
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Caramel Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Cachaca (Brazilian rum)
- 2 thinly sliced bananas
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Spray a 9″ or 10″ cake pan well with non stick spray, preferably a springform pan.
To make caramel, melt butter on low heat in a saucepan. Add brown sugar and simmer on medium heat until bubbles start to appear, when the sugar starts to crystallize, about 3-4 minutes. Add Cachaca and stir to combine. Pour into prepared cake pan. Place banana slices on top in a single even layer.
In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients.
Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla extract and mix until thoroughly combined. Add egg yolks and mix until thoroughly combined.
In a small bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy. Add cream of tartar and beat until stiff peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, fold egg whites into cake batter. Pour over bananas.
Bake for 45 – 50 minutes, until tester inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool for 15 minutes.
Remove from pan and leave to cool completely before slicing.
By mixing the egg yolks and egg whites separately, the cake has an amazingly light and fluffy texture. Perfect texture for cakes that will not need frosting.
Enjoy with a cup of tea.
Banana Upside Down Cake
Ingredients
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 12
- Cake Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs separated
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Caramel Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Cachaca Brazilian rum
- 2 thinly sliced bananas
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Spray a 10" cake pan well with non stick spray, preferably a springform pan.
- To make caramel, melt butter on low heat in a saucepan. Add brown sugar and simmer on medium heat until bubbles start to appear, when the sugar starts to crystallize, about 3-4 minutes. Add Cachaca and stir to combine. Pour into prepared cake pan. Place banana slices on top in a single even layer.
- In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients.
- Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla extract and mix until thoroughly combined. Add egg yolks and mix until thoroughly combined.
- In a small bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy. Add cream of tartar and beat until stiff peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, fold egg whites into cake batter. Pour over bananas.
- Bake for 45 - 50 minutes, until tester inserted comes out clean. Leave to cool for 15 minutes.
- Remove from pan and leave to cool completely before slicing.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 63
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Vaishali
Don’t know if we can make it to Rio, but definitely we can make it to this fantastic cake virtually..it looks so moist with a perfect texture..and yes beautiful clicks too.
Suma Gandlur
This is one scrumptious upside down cake.
Srivalli
I love upside down cakes..never tried with banana though..love the cake’s texture..
Chef Mireille
yes pineapple is the more common flavor but I have always made with banana or mango only
Gayathri Kumar
This version of upside down cake with bananas sound so flavorful. And love the last snap with the fluffy cake..
Usha
I never seen or tasted a banana upside down cake, but you know I am not a big banana fan. cake looks soft and delicious.
Chef Mireille
funny I have been making banana upside down cake since I was in high school and have yet to try the more popular pineapple version
Priya Suresh
Never had a chance to try upside cake with bananas, love that deep colour of the cake.
Chef Mireille
yes the crunchy really caramelized bits on the edges are so delicious – you really must try this version
Harini
A very tempting upside down cake, Mir. Love the crumb.
Amara
Never tried Banana upside down cake, love the texture and color of the cake:)
Pavani
I’ve seen cakes with fresh banana but not cooked bananas like this. It sounds so yummy!! Pinned to try.
Alvaro Brown
Banana Upside Down Cake… Mmmm. So good!
Chef Mireille
thanks – this is actually one of my fave cake recipes I ever posted. You should definitely give it a try.
sapana behl
Wow never tried making upside cake with banana.Looks beautiful.
Smruti | Herbivore Cucina
I have always made pineapple. Never tried banana upside down cake. Yours looks really good!