This banana dessert is another easy but fancy recipe that is sure to impress. (I think I’m going to make easy-but-fancy a new motto of mine).
When we were in South America I was blown away by the number of banana cakes and banana breads for sale. So of course I just had to sample several… 😉
It makes sense though- Peru is one of the world’s leading producer of the tropical fruit. Especially of the organic variety, which should have upper middle class American jumping for joy.
Thus, in typical me fashion, I sough out some Peruvian bananas when we arrived home to make into my own version of the South American delicacy. And, I don’t know, the chocolate chips just seemed like something I would deeply enjoy, so I added them to the batter.
So I hope that you enjoy my riff on South American banana cake, laden with moist banana batter and topped with a bananas-foster-esque caramel topping, and filled with mini chocolate chips.
I give you: Upside Down Banana Chocolate Chip Cake. 
The cake starts with a layer of brown sugar melted into butter, spread onto the bottom of a non-stick cake pan. The bananas are arranged on top of the brown sugar mixture (it took me about 2 and a half bananas). 
The batter is a one-bowl batter that doesn’t even require you pulling out a mixer. Just mash the banana, throw in the rest of the ingredients, and stir until it is moistened.
Then dump, bake, and be rewarded with the most moist, rich, banana-y dessert known to man. Spoiler- it was oh-so-addictive. 
(I dare you to just have one slice).
Upside-Down Banana Chocolate Chip Cake
Ingredients
_For the upside down part_
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2-3 ripe bananas sliced (I used about 2 ½ bananas)
_For the cake_
- 2 ripe bananas mashed
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 cup flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Brush a 9-inch non-stick cake pan with butter.
- In a small bowl melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave. Stir in 1/2 cup of brown sugar and then pour into the bottom of the cake pan.
- Spread evenly with a silicone spatula until the sugar-butter mixture forms a nice even layer.
- Evenly distribute sliced bananas (I used a circular pattern) over the butter mixture.
- Meanwhile in a medium bowl add the mashed banana. Stir in the egg, buttermilk, sugar, vanilla, and butter. Mix until thoroughly combined.
- Gradually stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Finally, fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour into the cake pan over the sliced bananas.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of cake comes out clean.
- Cool until cake can be handled with bare hands, then flip out of the cake pan and onto a serving plate.
- Cake is best served warm.
Oh my god! I’m drooling over here. This cake looks amazing. Good call on the chocolate chips.
Thank you Nicole! Banana and chocolate are probably one of my favorite combinations ever 🙂
Excuse my french but that looks pretty damn good! I will have to make this for my husband. He is in love with bananas.
Bahaha! Love it! Glad you like this one 🙂
Totally gorgeous Sarah! I LOVE upside down cakes. They’re always so pretty, and yours looks wonderful! I’ll have to make this for my son Sean when he comes home to visit. He loves banana bread, so he’ll love this even more!
Yes! It’s like a tastier epic version of banana bread. Hope he likes it!
It looks fantastic. Whereas I would devour every bit of this, Dave does not eat cooked bananas ?
My Dave doesn’t either! We should have a banana dessert party and uninvite them 😉
I’m so into all things banana at the moment. This looks a-mah-zing! I’m trying a banana muffin with dates and pecan nuts today, wish me luck! 😀
ooo that sounds killer! Can’t wait to see it up on your blog 🙂
Oh my! Love this. So pretty and your addition of chocolate chips with the bananas was inspired 🙂
Chocolate and bananas is most definitely one of my favorite dessert flavor combos 🙂
oh my god this cake looks incredible! i’m usually not a fan of baked bananas but i definitely want a slice of this cake right now. i just adore that chocolate chip centre.
Haha thanks Thalia! My husband agrees with you on the baked bananas thing.. he wouldn’t touch this cake.. more for me!! 😉
This cake looks incredible. It has a certain “wow” factor. Upside down cakes are the best.
Thank you so much Sheryl! It was surprisingly easy to make 🙂
Beautiful! How do you think it would be to double the recipe, and use as a layer cake with a whipped cream/peanut butter frosting?
Oh wow, I think that sounds amazing! I definitely think that could work. Just keep in mind that it’s a little on the heavy side (similar to banana bread) so be careful using the whipped cream.. it might all squeeze out the sides. I’d probably go with a thick icing to make sure it holds up.
Hello ~ Awesome blog ~ Thanks
I made this today and it really is delicious, the caramelized bananas are the bomb.
I made it in a cast iron pan and it came out clean as a whistle.
that’s so awesome, thanks for sharing!!!
I made this cake yesterday and wow…it is just as delicious as it looks! It’s just stunning when you flip the cake out of the cake pan and behold those lovely banana slices. Chocolate and banana….need I say more?
yess i adore banana and chocolate in combo! So glad it worked out well for you!