Banana Upside Down Cake

Skip the traditional pineapple and discover how much better this caramelized banana version tastes with its rich, buttery cake base and gorgeous presentation. The combination of fresh banana slices and a tender banana cake creates the perfect balance of textures and flavors.

Looking for more banana desserts? Try this Pumpkin Banana Bread for a seasonal twist, or this No Bake Banana Split Dessert for something cool and refreshing. You’ll also love this Easy Chocolate Banana Icebox Cake for another simple banana treat!

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy and Impressive: This banana upside down cake uses a simple cake mix base but looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, making it perfect for entertaining or special occasions.
• Rich Banana Flavor: Unlike single-banana desserts, this recipe uses bananas both in the batter and as the beautiful caramelized topping, delivering intense banana flavor throughout.
• Perfect Texture: The combination of banana cream pudding mix in the batter creates an incredibly moist banana cake that stays tender for days.
• Gorgeous Presentation: When you flip the cake onto a serving platter, the caramelized banana slices create a stunning pattern that’s guaranteed to impress your guests.

What Makes Upside Down Cakes Special?

Upside down cakes are baked with the topping on the bottom of the cake pan, then inverted after baking to reveal a beautiful caramelized fruit layer on top. This banana upside-down cake takes the concept beyond the traditional pineapple version, using butter and brown sugar to create a rich caramel base that perfectly complements the sweet banana slices. The result is a cake that’s both visually stunning and incredibly delicious.

Banana Upside Down Cake Ingredients

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and exact measurements.

• Ripe Bananas – Four small ripe bananas provide the perfect sweetness and flavor, with two mashed into the batter and two sliced for the gorgeous caramelized topping.
• Golden Butter Cake Mix – A quality cake mix creates the perfect tender base without the fuss of measuring multiple dry ingredients, while still delivering homemade taste.
• Banana Cream Pudding Mix – This secret ingredient adds extra moisture to the cake and intensifies the banana flavor throughout the entire dessert.
• Salted Butter – Creates the rich caramel base when melted with brown sugar, providing the signature gooey bottom that becomes the top when inverted.
• Brown Sugar – Packed brown sugar caramelizes beautifully with the butter to create that iconic sticky-sweet topping that makes upside down cakes so irresistible.
• Whole Milk – Adds moisture and richness to the cake batter, helping create that perfect tender crumb.
• Ground Cinnamon – Divided between the batter and the brown sugar mixture, cinnamon enhances the warm, comforting flavors.

Substitutions and Additions

• Cake mix alternatives – Use yellow cake mix or vanilla cake mix if golden butter cake mix isn’t available, though the flavor will be slightly different.
• Pudding mix options – Try vanilla pudding mix for a more subtle flavor, or even butterscotch pudding for extra richness.
• Butter substitutions – Unsalted butter works fine if you add a pinch of salt, though salted butter provides better flavor balance.
• Spice variations – Add nutmeg, allspice, or even a touch of cardamom along with the cinnamon for more complex flavors.

How to Make Banana Upside Down Cake (step-by-step directions)

STEP 1. Begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and preparing your bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Peel two bananas and mash them thoroughly in a large bowl until no large chunks remain. (Photo 1)

STEP 2. Add the cake mix, pudding mix, one teaspoon of cinnamon, eggs, milk, and oil to the bowl with the mashed bananas. Using a hand mixer, beat the mixture until well combined and set aside. (Photos 2, 3 & 4)

STEP 3. Melt the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl, then stir in the brown sugar and remaining cinnamon until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Spread this butter and brown sugar mixture evenly across the bottom of your prepared cake pan. (Photos 5 & 6)

STEP 4. Peel and slice the remaining two bananas, then arrange the banana slices in a single layer over the brown sugar mixture in the pan, allowing them to overlap slightly in the center for complete coverage. (Photos 7 & 8)

STEP 5. Carefully pour the cake batter over the bananas in the pan, ensuring it spreads evenly without disturbing the banana arrangement. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. (Photo 9)

STEP 6. Remove from oven and let the cake cool in the pan for exactly 5 minutes, then carefully invert the cake onto a serving platter while still warm to prevent sticking. (Photo 10)

Recipe Tips

• Don’t skip the rest time – Let the cake cool for exactly 5 minutes before inverting; too long and it will stick, too short and it may fall apart.
• Use ripe but firm bananas – Overripe bananas will become mushy during baking, while underripe ones won’t caramelize properly with the brown sugar.
• Test for doneness carefully – This moist banana cake should have slightly sticky crumbs on the toothpick, not completely clean, to avoid overcooking.
• Work quickly when inverting – Have your serving platter ready and flip the cake confidently in one smooth motion while it’s still warm.

Storing Tips

• Storage: Store this banana upside down cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, as the moist texture and fruit content require refrigeration.
• Refrigerator: The cake will keep well covered in the fridge and actually improves in flavor after a day as the banana and caramel flavors meld together.
• Freezing: Wrap individual slices tightly and freeze for up to 3 months, though the texture of the caramelized banana topping may change slightly.
• Reheating: Serve slices at room temperature or warm them gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to enhance the caramel flavors.

Serving Suggestions

This banana upside down cake is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to complement the rich caramelized flavors.

Pair it with other comforting desserts, Apple Oatmeal Bars, or Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes for a dessert spread. For a complete comfort food meal, serve it after hearty dishes like Hearty Classic Beef Stew or Homemade Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese. The cake also pairs beautifully with coffee or try it with Homemade Almond Milk for a lighter option.

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