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Home » My Latest Recipes

Chocolate Banana Upside Down Cake

Dec 27, 2024 · 2 Comments

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This Chocolate Banana Upside Down Cake combines the best of two worlds—luscious caramelized bananas and a rich chocolate cake. The bananas caramelize during baking, giving a gooey, buttery topping that soaks slightly into the cake, adding extra moisture and richness.

a banana chocolate upside down cake on a serving platter

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Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • Storage
  • Top Tip
  • FAQ
  • More dessert recipes with bananas
  • 📋 Recipe

Ingredients

This Chocolate Banana Upside Down cake has two main components:

  1. Caramelized banana topping: This consists of sliced bananas arranged at the bottom of the pan, caramelized with a mixture of butter and sugar to create a rich topping once inverted.
  2. Chocolate Cake Layer: A chocolate cake batter poured over the caramel banana layer and baked to perfection.

Banana caramel topping ingredients

The topping for this upside-down cake includes the following ingredients:

ingredients needed for topping banana upside down chocolate cake including brown sugar, bananas, and butter
  • Unsalted butter
  • Brown sugar - you may use light or dark brown sugar
  • Ripe bananas

See recipe card for quantities.

Chocolate cake ingredients

Gather the following ingredients to make the chocolate cake batter for this recipe:

ingredients needed to make chocolate cake batter including flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, eggs, vegetable oil and coffee
  • All-purpose flour - sift flour if necessary to remove any lumps
  • Corn starch, baking powder, baking soda
  • Granulated sugar
  • Cocoa powder - use Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Sift if necessary to remove any lumps.
  • Vegetable oil
  • Eggs - use large eggs and bring to room temperature before starting recipe
  • Coffee - use brewed and cooled coffee (this enhances the chocolate flavor in the cake). Alternatively, replace coffee with water.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

To create the perfect chocolate banana upside down cake, follow these step-by-step instructions:

Caramel topping instructions

nine inch round cake pan prepared with baking spray

1 - Generously apply baking spray to an 9" round cake pan.

melting butter in a saucepan over a stovetop

2 - Place butter in a saucepan. Melt butter over medium heat. Continue to cook until butter comes to a low boil.

brown sugar and butter boiling in a saucepan to make topping for chocolate banana upside down cake

3 - Add brown sugar to saucepan. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring often.

caramel and sliced bananas in round cake pan

4 - Once mixture begins to boil, remove from heat and pour into cake pan (use caution as the mixture is hot). Allow to cool slightly. Cut bananas into ¼" slices. Place banana slices in pan over the butter/brown sugar mixture. Set aside to cool.

Chocolate cake instructions

dry ingredients to make chocolate cake combined in a mixing bowl

1 - Combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar, cornstarch, baking powder and baking soda in large bowl.

eggs and oil added to mixing bowl

2 - Add oil and eggs. Mix until combined.

pouring coffee into mixing bowl to make chocolate batter for banana upside down cake

3 - Slowly pour brewed coffee into bowl while continuing to mix, scraping the bowl occasionally (note - water may be substituted for the coffee). The batter should be smooth.

pouring chocolate cake batter over bananas and caramel topping

4 - Pour cake batter into pan over top of banana and caramel layer. Bake at 350℉ / 180℃ for 30 - 35 minutes, or until cake is fully risen and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean (to check internal temperature: insert an instant read thermometer into center of cake. Cake is finished baking if temperature is 180℉ / 83℃).

Unmolding cake

Follow instructions below to unmold this upside down cake:

  • After removing cake from oven immediately run a knife around cake edges.
  • Wait 5 minutes for cake to cool slightly.
  • Flip over onto a serving platter. If any banana slices are stuck to the pan, remove with an offset spatula and place back on cake.
  • Allow cake to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
removing baking pan from cake while cake is still hot

Variations

This cake is quite versatile and can be customized to match different tastes. Check out these variations:

  • Gluten-free - simply replace the all-purpose flour with a 1 to 1 gluten free flour replacement. My favorite brands are Bob's Red Mill and King Arthur.
  • Walnuts - to add some crunch to your cake, toast and chop 1 cup of walnuts. Then stir them into the chocolate cake batter as the final step.
  • Peanut butter - peanut butter, chocolate, and bananas are a match made in heaven! As the final step, stir ⅔ cup of peanut butter chips into the chocolate cake batter.

Equipment

Here’s the equipment you’ll need to make this upside-down banana chocolate cake:

  • Hand or stand mixer: while an electric mixer is convenient for making the cake, you can also mix it by hand using a rubber spatula.
  • Bowls, measuring cups and spoons
  • Food scale: although not essential, it does provide more accurate measurements
  • Rubber spatula
  • 9" round cake pan
  • Saucepan - use a heavy-bottomed saucepan as it ensures even heat distribution.
close up view of cake showing detail of banana and caramel topping

Storage

Allow the chocolate banana upside down cake to cool completely before storage.

Wrap the cake in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or place it in an airtight container. Be careful not to crush the topping. Store at room temperature in a cool, dry place for up to 2 days.

To freeze, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Alternatively, store it in a freezer-safe container. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.

overhead view of an upside down banana chocolate cake

Top Tip

Remember to unmold this banana chocolate upside down cake while it is still warm. As the cake cools, the caramelized topping (like bananas and sugar in a chocolate banana upside-down cake) can harden and stick to the pan, making it difficult to release cleanly. Unmolding while warm ensures the topping is still pliable and slides out easily.

FAQ

Can I make mini banana chocolate upside-down cakes?

Absolutely! Use muffin tins or ramekins for individual portions. Adjust baking time accordingly, usually 15–25 minutes.

More dessert recipes with bananas

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

  • overhead view of baked banana chocolate crinkle pie
    Banana Chocolate Crinkle Pie
  • banana chocolate cookie and one with a bite taken to show fudgy filling
    Banana Chocolate Cookies
  • baked dessert empanadas with bananas and nutella
    Nutella Banana Empanadas (Air-fryer option)
  • banana pudding tartlets in chocolate pie crust
    Banana Cream Tarts in a Chocolate Pastry Crust

I hope you enjoy the heavenly combination of caramelized bananas and rich chocolate in this delicious banana chocolate upside down cake!

📋 Recipe

a banana chocolate upside down cake on a serving platter

Chocolate Banana Upside Down Cake

This Chocolate Banana Upside Down Cake combines the best of two worlds—luscious caramelized bananas and a rich chocolate cake
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
Cooling Time 45 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 people
Calories 311 kcal

Equipment

  • Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer Note: cake batter may be mixed by hand with a rubber spatula
  • 1 Food Scale optional
  • 1 Bowls, measuring cups and spoons
  • 1 Rubber spatula
  • 1 9" Round Cake Pan
  • 1 Heavy-bottomed sauce pan

Ingredients
 
 

Banana Caramel Topping

  • 6 Tablespoons Unsalted butter
  • 1 Cup Brown sugar Use light or dark brown sugar
  • 3 Medium Bananas Use ripe bananas

Chocolate Cake

  • ⅓ cup Cocoa Powder
  • 1 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 cups Granulated Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch
  • 1 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ⅓ Cup Vegetable or Canola Oil
  • 2 Large Eggs Room temperature
  • ⅔ Cup Brewed Coffee (cooled) May substitute water for coffee

Instructions
 

Banana Caramel Topping

  • Generously apply baking spray to an 9" round cake pan.
  • Place butter in a saucepan. Melt butter over medium heat. Continue to cook until butter comes to a low boil.
    6 Tablespoons Unsalted butter
  • Add brown sugar to saucepan. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring often.
    1 Cup Brown sugar
  • Once mixture begins to boil, remove from heat and pour into cake pan (use caution as the mixture is hot).
  • Cut bananas into ¼" slices.
    3 Medium Bananas
  • Place banana slices in cake pan over the butter/brown sugar mixture. Set pan aside to cool.

Chocolate Cake

  • Preheat oven to 350℉ / 180℃
  • Combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar, cornstarch, baking powder and baking soda in the bowl of a stand mixer. If mixing by hand or with a hand mixer, combine ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
    ⅓ cup Cocoa Powder, 1 cups All Purpose Flour, 1 cups Granulated Sugar, 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch, 1 teaspoons Baking Powder, ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
  • Add oil and eggs. Mix until combined.
    ⅓ Cup Vegetable or Canola Oil, 2 Large Eggs
  • Slowly pour brewed coffee into bowl while continuing to mix, scraping the bowl occasionally (note - water may be substituted for the coffee). The batter should be smooth.
    ⅔ Cup Brewed Coffee (cooled)
  • Pour cake batter into pan over top of bananas and caramel layer.
  • Bake for 30 - 35 minutes, or until cake is fully risen and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean (to check internal temperature: insert a instant read thermometer into center of cake. Cake is finished baking if temperature is 180℉ / 83℃).

Unmold Cake

  • Remove cake from oven and immediately run a knife around cake edges.
  • Wait 5 minutes for cake to cool slightly.
  • Flip over onto a serving platter. If any banana slices are stuck to pan, remove with an offset spatula and place back on cake.
  • Allow cake to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 311kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 2gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 66mgPotassium: 186mgFiber: 2gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 194IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg
Keyword chocolate banana upside down cake
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen says

    May 09, 2025 at 5:07 pm

    5 stars
    This was a delightful cake. We made it gluten free and added about half a cup of walnutd.

    Reply
    • dessertswithstephanie says

      May 09, 2025 at 5:35 pm

      Hi Karen, sounds like a nice variation on the cake. So pleased you enjoyed!

      Reply
5 from 1 vote

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Welcome to Desserts With Stephanie. I hope you enjoy your visit. All the recipes and techniques I discuss on this site have been fully tested in my bakery for more than 15 years. Let's have some fun in the kitchen and put a smile on someone's face with a little sweetness.

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