The Perfect Party Cake
Banana-Coconut Upside-Down Cake
If you ever need the perfect cake for a special celebration like a birthday party, bridal bash, baby shower, or summer gathering – this is it!
Prep Time: 12 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Yield: Serves 8 Cost per Serving: $.93
The magic of this delicious upside-down cake is in the reveal: invert the cooled cake over a serving dish and that little flip does all the work for you. Upside-down cakes really are maximum impact with minimum effort.
Ingredients:
Topping:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 bananas, sliced 1/4-inch thick
- 2 cups loosely packed shredded coconut
Cake:
Directions:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F.
Step 2: Make topping: Melt butter over medium-high heat in a 10- or 12-inch ovenproof skillet at least 2 inches deep. Stir in brown sugar and cook, stirring often, until smooth, about 1 minute. Add lemon juice; stir until bubbling, about 1 minute. Arrange bananas in a flat layer over the bottom of the pan and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle coconut on top; remove from heat.
Step 3: Make the cake: Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. With an electric mixer, beat butter on high speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add sugar; beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed and add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk, starting and ending with flour.
Step 4: Pour batter over bananas and coconut; spread evenly. Be careful not to mix bananas and coconut into the batter.
Step 5: Bake until cake springs back slightly when touched in the center, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cake sit in the skillet for 5 minutes to allow juices to blend into the cake. Run a knife around outside of the cake to loosen, then carefully invert onto a wire rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature, with ice cream or whipped cream, if desired.