This is the best easy banana upside down cake recipe. This simple and tasty recipe starts with a boxed cake mix and adds ripe bananas, butter, and brown sugar to make a gooey caramelized topping. It's going to be your new favorite dessert!
Why this is the best banana upside down cake recipe
This cake has just a few simple ingredients, and you probably already have them in your pantry!
All you have to do to make this cake is mix up a cake mix, add in some mashed bananas, and layer the caramel toppings in the pan. It's easy peasy.
Because you put mashed bananas in the cake batter, this cake has a strong banana flavor - it's delicious and rich!
The caramel-banana topping is gooey and delightful, and the addition of pecans gives it a crunch that is great with the soft texture of the bananas and cake.
What you'll need to make the best banana upside down cake recipe
EQUIPMENT
- 9-inch cake pan - I made this in a 9-inch pan, but you could also make it in a 9x13 pan. If you make it in a 9-inch pan, you will have cake batter left that you won't use, so you will probably want to make a second 9-inch cake. Alternately, you could make this cake in a 12-inch or 10-inch cast iron skillet.
INGREDIENTS
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.
- Melted butter - It doesn't matter whether you use salted or unsalted butter. Salted butter contains approximately one teaspoon of salt per pound of butter which is not really enough to worry about. I generally buy unsalted but use whatever you have.
- Packed brown sugar - Brown sugar gets combined with melted butter to make a caramelized topping that soaks into the bottom of this cake (which then becomes the top when you flip it). It is heavenly.
- Chopped pecans - If you have a nut allergy, you could skip these or use a different nut (walnuts maybe?), but I think the pecans really add something lovely to the cake.
- Overripe medium bananas - You're going to slice half of the bananas to put on the bottom of the cake, and then you're going to mash the rest of the bananas and mix that gooey goodness into the cake batter.
- Yellow cake mix plus ingredients required to prepare the batter - You're going to doctor this cake mix up and make it delicious. I prefer yellow but you could also use a spice cake mix, a white cake mix, or even a chocolate cake mix.
How to make upside down banana cake
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Whisk butter and brown sugar together in a small bowl.
- Spread the brown sugar mixture evenly in the bottom of a 9-inch cake pan. There's no need to grease and flour the pan because this caramel layer will not stick.
- Add the chopped pecans to the butter mixture in the bottom of the pan.
- Arrange sliced bananas over the pecans.
- Prepare the cake mix according to package directions except reduce the oil required by ¼ cup to account for the liquid contained in the mashed bananas. Add the mashed bananas to the cake batter.
- Pour the cake batter over top of the bananas and pecans in the cake pan.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until cake tester or toothpick inserted in the thickest part of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then invert on a serving platter. You may have to scrape some of the nut mixture out of the pan if it sticks.
- Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream (or both).
Variations
I love experimenting with bananas, and I had the following ideas.
Try mixing a couple of handfuls of chocolate chips into the cake batter.
Try mixing a couple of handfuls of mini marshmallows into the cake batter.
Or better yet, add both chocolate chips AND mini marshmallows!
Or, give your cake a burst of flavor by replacing ¼ cup of the liquid in the cake mix with dark rum, whiskey, bourbon, or banana liquor.
How to store banana upside down cake
I recommend wrapping this cake tightly in plastic wrap and storing it at room temperature. It will stay good for 3-4 days. If you need to keep it longer, put it in the refrigerator, but know ahead of time that the fridge tends to dry out baked goods and the texture will suffer.
You can also freeze this cake. I recommend wrapping one slice at a time in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil, and then store those in the freezer for up to 2 months. To serve, place in the fridge overnight and then heat the thawed cake in the microwave for 20-30 seconds to warm it just before serving.
Try these other delicious recipes while you're here:
- Skillet Pineapple Upside Down Cake Recipe
- Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
- Bananas Foster Pancakes
- Frozen Chocolate Covered Banana Popsicles
- Microwave Campfire Banana Boats Sundaes
- Banana Crumble
- Peach Banana Smoothie
- Quick & Easy Homemade Chocolate Banana Cream Pie
Recipe
Banana Upside Down Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 4 overripe bananas 2 sliced and 2 mashed
- 1 package yellow cake mix with ingredients required to prepare
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Combine butter and brown sugar and spread evenly in the bundt pan.
- Top with chopped pecans.
- Arrange sliced bananas over the pecans.
- Prepare the cake mix according to package directions except reduce the oil required by ¼ cup to account for the liquid contained in the mashed bananas.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until cake tester inserted in the thickest part of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes, then invert on a serving platter. You may have to scrape some of the nut mixture out of the pan if it sticks.
Carol's Corner says
sounds great! I can't wait to try it!
Cat Davis @ 3 Kids and Us says
You had me at banana. I have about 5 of them that are definitely past ripe that I haven't decided what to do with yet ... I think I know now.
Cat Davis @ 3 Kids and Us says
You had me at banana. I have about 5 of them that are definitely past ripe that I haven't decided what to do with yet ... I think I know now.