Sunday 29 December 2013

Banana Maple Upside Down Cake

I simply love the sound of this cake - who can possibly resist a combination of bananas and maple syrup fused together in a sticky gooey sauce lining the bottom of the cake. 



The bananas and maple syrup caramel topping did not disappoint - softened bananas soaked in a sweet, sticky maple flavoured syrup. It's totally addictive and goes so well with cake. 


I wasn't so happy with the butte cake though - I thought that the texture was rather dry. I was already slightly concerned about this recipe as it did not have any added moisture in the form of milk or water. I think in future I would make this banana maple caramel topping with another butter cake base. 


Banana Maple Upside Down Cake (9 inch)
A Bill Granger Recipe

Ingredients
  • 100 g (3.5oz) unsalted butter, softened
  • 220 g (7.8oz) caster (superfine) sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 155 g (5.5oz) plain (all-purpose) flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
For the caramel topping
  • 50 g (1.8oz) unsalted butter
  • 60 g (2.1oz) firmly packed brown sugar
  • 60 ml (2.1fl oz) maple syrup
  • 4 bananas, sliced in half lengthways to serve
Method
  • Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Place the caramel topping ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring, over medium heat for 10 minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is rich and golden.
  • Pour the syrup into a 23 cm (9 inch) greased or non-stick springform cake tin and arrange the sliced bananas, cut-side down, over the base of the tin.
  • Place the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until pale and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition, then add the vanilla extract.
  • Sift the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt, then gently fold through the butter mixture. Spoon the batter evenly over the bananas and smooth the top with a spatula.
  • Place the cake on a baking tray to catch any escaping syrup and bake for 35 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave in the tin for 5 minutes to cool slightly.
  • Transfer to a large serving plate. Serve warm, with vanilla ice cream if desired.

This is for Cook Like A Star hosted by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids, Baby Sumo of Eat Your Heart Out and Mich of Piece of Cake. 


25 comments:

  1. Mich, this is IRRESISTIBLE!
    Happy New Year to you and your family!
    Angie

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  2. whatever said and done, that cake looks really good! I wouldn't mind gobbling up half of it! Happy New Year to u n ur family! :)

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  3. What a nice cake! Always love banana cake...but never tried this upside down version before :)) Thank you Mich for always being there and leaving nice comments on my blog��! Have a wonderful holiday and happy new year in advance my friend!❤

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  4. The bananas maple syrup sounds like a delicious combination, I would change the cake recipe too if I were to bake this cake, I think there is too much sugar in it! Happy New Year

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  5. Mich, this is a lovely cake! Love the sticky gooey on the bottom of the cake.

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  6. Hi Mich, your cake looks delicious! I hope you had a great Christmas and happy new year!

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  7. Oh Mich, this cake simply looks absolutely delicious. I will definitely love this....it is not that I often come across banana upside down cake. How I wish Im invited to have a slice .... yum

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  8. Mich, This cake sounds yummy, sorry to hear that the cake part wasn't quite what you were hoping for.

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  9. Mich, your banana upside down cake looks very pretty there, can't really guess that it was baked upside down. I seldom eat syrup cake

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  10. Ooo that sounds like a brilliant topping for a cake! Happy New Year to u Mich ;)

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  11. Hi Mich,
    The cake looks good though! Maybe with some drizzling of melted chocolate would cover the dry texture! Or eat it with ice cream!
    Happy New Year!

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  12. I have never used bananas in an upside down cake. Great idea and looks fantastic too!
    I wish you a great new year!x

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  13. The topping looks lovely. I'm sorry the cake turned out a bit dry! What a fabulous idea to use bananas though. Thank you for sharing!

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  14. Your cake looks yummy and i would like to have a piece!
    Happy New Year 2014!

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  15. Hi Mich,

    Wishing you and your loved ones a great 2014 ahead! Cheers!

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  16. wow, finger licking good!
    Wish you a happy new year, God blessed you all the way then!!!

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  17. wow, so yummy!
    May The Year 2014 Bring for You Happiness,Success and filled with Peace,Hope & Togetherness of your Family & Friends....Wishing You a...*HAPPY NEW YEAR*

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  18. wow.. so tempting! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, Mich.

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  19. Mich, that looks like a special and yummy cake! Here's wishing you a Happy New Year!

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  20. Hi Mich, Happy New Year to you and family. Wow... love your delectable cake, so tempting... I would love to have a big slice please! :))

    Have a nice week ahead.

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  21. You mean all those times I was making Pineapple Upside Down Cake I could have been using bananas? Why have I never thought of that??? it looks delicious, Mich! Thank you so much for sharing, Happy New Year to You and Yours!!!

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  22. Hi Mich,

    Happy 2014!!!

    You are right that there is no milk, yogurt or any liquid added into this cake batter... I agree that this recipe is kind of strange too... maybe the cake will become moister with time when the syrup get absorbed... I'm just guessing :p

    Zoe

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  23. i tried one bill granger cake without butter but used yogurt instead..i found it dry too thus i didnt post it up..

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  24. Your first paragraph was exactly how I felt. And I was so happy to see that it's not required to cook the banana first (when I made pinapple upside down cake, I had to cook pineapples in the caramel). This will be a really quick to make and I'm so inspired right now. Better print out the recipe now! :D Thank you for sharing!!!

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