Upside Down Banana Cake

  • Prep: 30 Mins / Cook: 20 Mins
  • Serves 10
  • easy

This vegan banana upside down cake is absolutely delightful, with slices of caramelized syrupy bananas on top a fluffy chai-infused sponge. The perfect partner to your afternoon tea or coffee!

Dairy Free

Ingredients

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  • Vegan Butter Vegan Butter 60g 1/4 cup
  • Light Brown Sugar Light Brown Sugar 150g 3/4 cup
  • Ground Cinnamon Ground Cinnamon 1/4 tsp 1/4 tsp
  • Dark Rum Dark Rum 3 tbsp 3 tbsp
  • Banana Banana 3 3
  • Soy Milk Soya Milk 160ml 2/3 cup
  • Apple Cider Vinegar Apple Cider Vinegar 2 tsp 2 tsp
  • Vegan Butter Vegan Butter 75g 1/3 cup
  • White Sugar White Sugar 150g 3/4 cup
  • Banana Banana 1 1
  • Chai Tea Chai Tea 1 teabag 1 teabag
  • Aquafaba Aquafaba 3 tbsp 3 tbsp
  • Vanilla Extract Vanilla Extract 1 tsp 1 tsp
  • All Purpose Flour Plain Flour 240g 2 cups
  • Baking Soda Bicarbonate of Soda 1 tsp 1 tsp
  • Baking Powder Baking Powder 1 tsp 1 tsp
  • Table Salt Table Salt 1/4 tsp 1/4 tsp
  • Ground Cinnamon Ground Cinnamon 1 tsp 1 tsp
  • Ginger Root Ginger Root 1 tsp 1 tsp
  • Ground Nutmeg Ground Nutmeg 1/4 tsp 1/4 tsp

Instructions

  1. 1.Preheat the oven to 180C and grease an 8-inch round cake tin, and line the bottom. I used a springform tin to make it easier to unfold but a regular pan should work too.
  2. 2.Place the butter, sugar, and cinnamon in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar. Add the rum and simmer gently on medium heat for 4 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes then tip into the base of the tin. I like to reserve a few tablespoons of this caramel to brush over the cake when it is done, but this is optional and if you prefer to keep it simple, just tip all of the syrup into the tin.
  3. 3.Slice 3 of the bananas (large and ripe) lengthways and place cut side down in the tin, trimming them to fit and cover the base. Set aside.
  4. 4.In a small bowl, mix the soy milk and vinegar together. Leave this for five minutes to allow the milk to thicken. Meanwhile, cream the vegan butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Next, stir in the thickened soy milk mixture, 1 mashed banana, chai tea*, aquafaba and vanilla. Mix this well. Now, sift in the flour, baking soda, powder, salt, and spices together. Fold until just combined, taking care not to overmix. The batter should be fairly thick but still pourable.
  5. 5.Gently pour the batter over the bananas, taking care not to dislodge them and even the top out with a spatula.
  6. 6.Bake for 45-50 minutes until puffed and golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5-10 minutes then run a knife around the inside of the tin. Invert the cake onto a serving plate or board. Serve warm!
  7. 7.*Note: To make the chai tea, I brew one bag of tea in 5 tablespoons of boiling hot water for 10-15 minutes, then squeeze all the water out of the tea bag and measure 1/4 cup (60ml) of that liquid to use in the batter.
  8. 8.*Optional: a pinch of cloves, allspice, or cardamom powder.

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