Bananas Foster Upside-Down Banana Bread

Imagine a slice of banana bread that’s as bold as it is beautiful. The exterior is a warm, golden-brown canvas—beautifully wrapped in caramelized bananas. As you break through, you're greeted by a tender, moist banana flavored crumb. Each bite offers a multi-layered taste experience: the natural sweetness of overripe and dried bananas melds with a delicate kiss of vanilla and a hint of spice—perhaps cinnamon or nutmeg—reminding you of home and the ingenuity of past generations. The aroma, rich and inviting, fills the air with memories of cozy kitchens and creative resilience during the Great Depression, where resourcefulness turned humble ingredients into a timeless treat. This daring reinterpretation of banana bread celebrates not only its storied past but also the art of modern baking—where every visual detail, every texture, and every burst of flavor invites you to savor both nostalgia and innovation on National Banana Bread Day which is celebrated on February 23.

Bananas Foster Upside-Down Banana Bread

Course: baking, pound cake
Cuisine: French
Keyword: banana bread
Prep Time: 5 hours 50 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 375kcal
Cost: $12
Happy banana bread day!

Equipment

  • 1 Loaf pan 9½ X3¾ X3-inch
  • 2 Baking trays
  • 1 Frying pan
  • 1 Stand mixer
  • 1 Immersion blender
  • 1 Sieve
  • 1 Pastry bowl
  • 5 deli containers
  • 1 Heatproof rubber spatula
  • 1 Dough scraper
  • 1 Piping bag
  • 1 Kitchen blowtorch
  • 1 Pair of scissors

Ingredients

Banana Puree

  • 200 g Previously ripe and frozen bananas flesh thawed
  • 80 g Soft dried bananas bars chopped
  • 150 g Firm banana flesh scraps
  • 10 g Lime or lemon juice
  • 40 g Sugar to taste
  • 0.2 g Nutmeg to taste
  • 15 g Dark rum optional

Cake Batter

  • 150 g Butter softened
  • 80 g Sugar
  • 2 g Salt
  • 2 ea. Eggs at room temperature
  • 260 g All purpose flour
  • 8 g Baking powder
  • 2 g Baking soda

Montage

  • 400 g Firm bananas flesh

Caramel

  • 80 g Sugar
  • 15 g Butter
  • teaspoon Vanilla powder optional
  • 15 g Lemon juice

Instructions

What Will Make Banana Bread Tastier

  • The answer is simple: Add whole soft dried bananas to the recipe. They are concentrated in flavors nutritious snacks. They are indeed about four times higher in fiber, potassium and carbohydrates than the fresh variety.
    Not to be confused with other kinds, like the freeze-dried or banana chips.. these won't do the job!
    bananas

Bananas Foster's Influence

  • Bananas Foster is a simple yet decadent dessert that was invented at the world-famous Brennan's restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana. 
    Bruno Albouze Bananas Foster
  • Properly caramelized bananas will ensure formidable results.

Caramel

  • In the frying pan, cook sugar and vanilla powder on medium heat until sugar turns into brown caramel; stirring every so often. Remove caramel from the heat and incorporate the butter and lemon juice.
  • Pour hot caramel in the buttered pan.

Montage in Mold

  • Peel the firm bananas and carefully cut them lengthwise in 2 to cover the bottom pan, and cut into 3 to cover the sides.
    slicing bananas
  • Line up slices of banana (cut side down) on the bottom first touching the caramel, and then cover all sides.
  • Save banana scraps for the banana mixture.

Banana Puree

  • In a narrow and tall container, gather the previously frozen and thawed ripe bananas, dried bananas, scraps, sugar, nutmeg, lemon juice and rum.
  • Mix with the immersion blender thoroughly until it gets smooth.
    banana mixture

Cake Batter

  • Combine and sift together: flour, baking powder and baking soda. In the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter along with sugar and salt. Add one egg, and continue whipping. If the mixture looks grainy or separates, quickly warm up the mixing bowl over a bain-marie or use your kitchen blowtorch. Once the mixture comes together, add about a quarter of the sifted powders. Incorporate the remaining egg, and the banana mixture.
  • Add the remaining sifted powders. Scrap down the sides of the mixing bowl, and continue mixing on low speed until the batter comes together.
    banana bread batter
  • Preheat fan oven to 330ºF/160ºC. Fill prepared pans 2/3 full (≈700g batter).
  • Feel free to use leftovers batter to make banana bread bites…

Baking

  • Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 55 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool in pan for 20 minutes, and place in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
    baked bananas foster upside down
  • Trim off the top with a serrated knife.

De-molding Procedure

  • Freeze the chilled cake for an hour. Run an offset spatula around the edges. Invert banana bread onto a serving platter. Heat up bottom mold with the kitchen blowtorch, and carefully remove the mold.
  • Enjoy banana bread at room temp or slightly warm. It can also be served with whipped cream or a quenelle of vanilla ice cream and decorate with dried vanilla pods.
    bananas foster upside-down banana bread
  • Cut into desired portions.

Storing

  • Store your banana bread wrapped in plastic film for up to 3 days at room temperature. It can also be kept frozen for up to 3 months.
  • Bananas foster upside-down banana bread heart.

Nutrition

Serving: 150g | Calories: 375kcal
Print Recipe

2 thoughts on “Bananas Foster Upside-Down Banana Bread”

  1. Shannon Joseph

    Can you elaborate on what “soft dried banana bars” are? In the video, it looks like a very ripe banana that was in a fridge. But online, “Soft dried bananas” all I can find are banana chips. Please provide more details on what a soft dried banana is so that i can find it because this recipe looks amazing! Thank you !

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