Upside-Down Cardamom Banana Bread

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good banana dessert recipe. This Upside Down Cardamom Banana Bread is just as easy as a classic banana bread, but takes it over the top with the exotic spice and caramelized bananas. 

If you’re a banana lover like I am, you’re always looking for the best recipes to use up those over ripe bananas. And granted, I do have some on the blog, but not enough that it showcases that bananas are by far my favorite fruit.

• Date Banana Bread
• Caramelized Banana Protein Pancakes 
• Peach Banana Bread
• Banana Cream Pie
• Bananas Foster Whole Wheat Pancakes
• Chia Seed Banana Bread (the most popular recipe on this site!)
• Banana Coffee Cashew Smoothie

Typically, banana bread is a quick bread that you slice and serve as a snack or go to breakfast. But we’ve elevated this banana bread with the caramelized bananas, as well as a healthy dose of ground cardamom, which makes the flavor all that much better. Top with vanilla bean ice cream or whipped cream and you’ve got a plated dessert that can be served up at any dinner party. Impressive enough for guests, yet quick enough for mid-week pick me ups!

Photography by Stacey Rupolo / Recipe by Cooking with Books 

Upside-Down Cardamom Banana Bread

This caramelized banana bread elevates your everyday banana bread recipe into something pretty enough to serve guests!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:45 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr

Ingredients

• ½ granulated sugar
• ½ cup dark brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil
• ¼ cup Stonyfield Greek Yogurt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ½ tablespoon ground cardamom
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

for banana topping:

• 3 bananas sliced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ¼ cup granulated sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350F and grease a loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, eggs, oil, yogurt, and vanilla until fully incorporated.
• Add the rest of the dry ingredients, careful not to overmix. Set aside.
• In a saute pan, melt the butter and sugar until a sugar syrup forms. Drizzle into bottom of loaf pan.
• Place sliced bananas in rows on the bottom of the pan. Pour batter over it without disturbing bananas.
• Bake until golden brown, about 35-45 minutes.
• Flip over right out of the oven so bananas don't stick. Serve warm with ice cream.

Servings: 6 -8 servings

Author: Marnely Murray