Lightened-Up Chocolate Peanut Butter Upside Down Banana Cake
I made you a cake and I flipped it up side down.
And between the peanut butter in my hair (this took forever to get out), spilled milk in the fridge and ah hello, the snow (yes, it is still snowing. Sun, please come back and warm my bones!) it was the highlight of my day.
Oh, and please do not tell me you are sick of bananas or peanut butter. Cause I know it seems like half the things I post contain at least one of these two ingredients. There is the super healthy Coconut Banana pancakes, the Chocolate Chip Cookie Banana muffins (that are the best cookie/muffin creation), oh geez and the Peanut Butter Oreos, the Double Chocolate Peanut Butter stuffed Truffle Cookies (my Dad swears these are the best cookies he has ever eaten), the Pomegranate Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins and of course a Gerard family favorite Special K-Bars.
I know, I have a problem and actually, there are still MORE.
Really though what is not to like? Bananas keep things moist and naturally sweet so I can use less butter and sugar. Peanut butter on the other hand, is well – just plain addicting. And hey, it’s packed with a whole lot of protein, another bonus! Note – if you have a peanut allergy, I am sorry, but you can swap in almond or really any other nut butter into any of these recipes.
Seriously, the moment I flipped this cake out of the pan to reveal its caramelized deliciousness, I knew it was going to be good. Then when I drizzled the peanut butter caramel sauce over the top, I just about jumped for joy at this cake’s amazingness.
No really, I jumped for joy. Like I have said before I need a life, and this was exciting!
Flipping cakes upside down is awesome! This is my first upside down cake and I now have like a million more in the works. Prepare yourself.
Ok, so here is the thing. I had every intention to make this cake a healthy one. Full of bananas, peanut butter, coconut oil and whole wheat flour. And for the most part this cake is super healthy and I would totally consider this a well-rounded snack or even serve it at Easter brunch for something sweet. But, then I started adding butter……
Then things went a little down hill.
But, only just a little. See, I just HAD to add some brown sugar to help caramelize the bananas and then the whole sauce thing just had to happen. I mean it definitely makes the cake. Hey, don’t look at me that way. I tried, and like I said, three-fourths of the cake is totally healthy.
Three-fourths is good enough for me.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Upside Down Banana Cake
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana, cake, cakes
The moment I flipped this cake out of the pan to reveal its caramelized deliciousness, I knew it was going to be good. Then when I drizzled the peanut butter caramel sauce over the top, I just about jumped for joy at this cake's amazingness.
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup chunky peanut butter
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 banana sliced
Peanut Butter Carmel Drizzle
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease or butter the sides of a 9×13 inch glass baking dish.
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In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until smooth. Add in the milk and melted coconut oil, whisking until combined. Stir in mashed bananas and vanilla until mixed. Slowly stir in dry ingredients and mix until just combined (this can also be done with a stand mixer). Fold in the chocolate chips.
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In a small bowl, blend the 4 tablespoons of butter with the brown sugar and spread it in the baking dish. Arrange the sliced bananas in the dish. Spoon dollops of the peanut butter into the dish and fill in the gaps with the chocolate banana cake batter. Bake for about 45-55 minutes.
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Let the cake cool for 10 minutes, then loosen the edges with a knife and invert onto a platter. Let the cake cool slightly, then cut into squares and serve with the peanut butter carmel sauce.
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While the cake cake cools make the peanut butter carmel sauce. Mix 4 tablespoons of butter with 1/4 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoon peanut butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla, then melt it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each interval, for a total of 1 minute. Pour the warm sauce over the cake.
Definitely.
Shared with: Inside BruCru Life, Lil Luna, Chef In Training, Buns In my Oven, Foodie Friday Friends, Tidy Mom, Taste and Tell, Cheerios and Lattes, Somewhat Simple, Mom on Timeout, I Heart Nap Time, Fine Craft Guide, The Country Cook, Whipperberry, Chef In Training, Thursday’s Treasures
This is totally being done at my next paleo dinner party. By the way, thanks to my very hyper four year old I have found that if you put conditioner in your hair first, let it set for a few minutes and then shampoo (without washing out the conditioner) that the peanut butter comes right out. Or at least it worked with the almond butter, the soy nut butter and the sun butter (she has a peanut allergy).
I just discovered this site today thanks to PaleOMG and it is getting bookmarked. I am determined to get my MIL eating sweet potatoes and there are at least 3 recipes on here that she said she would at least ‘try’. This is a woman who has grape juice and Peppridge Farms Chessman cookies for breakfast. So thank you for those!
Ha, I love this!! I am for sure trying you tip! And I love that I might get your MIL to try some sweat potatoes! Man she needs to find out what she is missing! Good luck and let me know how it goes!
Mmm this cake sounds delicious. I love upside down cakes!
Thanks Elizabeth!
Stop it – this looks too incredible. Holy delicious goodness!! I’m drooling over here.
Yes! Drooling is what I go for!
Oh yum, your cake looks so delicious!
Thank you!
I’m sorry, what now? Peanut butter, bananas, chocolate, and cake? SOLD.
I know, the best flavors!
What would the 3 mashed bananas equal, 1 cup, 1 1/2 cups?
Yeah, that is about right. I had medium size banana’s. I hope you enjoy these!
Wow im drooling! I wish I had these tonight!
Stop by my blog when you can!
I love making people drool!
Looks yummy and I like that it’s 3/4ths healthy. I will have to try this!
Thanks you and I love the 3/4 healthy!! That totally fits this cake!
DELICIOUS looking!!
Hard to believe this cake is light, as it looks moist and very rich 🙂
I’d looooooooooove a piece of two to eat now
I know, but I promise it is moist, rich, peanuty and delicious!
This sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!
This looks delicious. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!
Wow this looks really good!! I’m going to have to try this out.
Ohhh gooey delight! Thanks so much for coming to (link) party with me… I hope you’ll come again next week to Super Saturday Show & Tell! http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com xoxo~ Ruthie
Pinned! oh my – YES! I want some, NOW! Thanks so much for linking up to Two Cup Tuesday at Pint Sized Baker. I look forward to coming back on Monday Night!
Yum. Just yum. That is all.
Oh, and thanks for sharing. You’ve made this chocolate-banana-peanut-butter loving lady very VERY happy. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning!
seriously… drooling. Thank you.
Thats my goal!
I’m going to completely ignore the fact that I have drool allover my keyboard. These look and sound incredible! I’m featuring you at this week’s Thursday’s treasures, can’t wait to see what you bring next!
I love making people drool! Although I hope your computer is till working! LOL! Thanks so much for featuring these!
Bananas, PB, chocolate, moist and gooey cake, the whole thing is right up my alley! An making upside down cakes and then flipping can be tricky but you nailed it!
Not sure I nailed, but thanks Averie!!
Yum! So if it’s 3/4 healthy then I can eat 3/4 of it before I need to worry right!?!?! 😉
RIGHT!
This looks nothing less than amazing! I’m so hungry now!!!!!!
I’m pinning this, for sure. 🙂
thank you and thanks for pinning!
Oh Baby! This looks wonderful let alone healthy. Thank you for sharing. Pinned!
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-strawberry-cream-omelet/
Thanks for pinning!
I am excited to co-host this weeks marvelous mondays link up. What a yum idea.
Thank you!
This looks so moist and to die for! Thanks for sharing at Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s!
Thank you!
Even on a perfect day this would probably still be a highlight. YUM!!!
Thank you!
Oh my goodness, this looks sooo yummy! I can’t wait to try it… If you like pb & banana you should take a look at the Banana Bread Brownies topped w/ Chocolate Peanut Butter that I made a while ago! My only complaint was that they turned out super dense. Any tips or suggestions would be awesome!
Here’s the link: http://lifeisfantasmic.blogspot.com/2012/10/banana-bread-brownies-topped-w.html
Those brownies look great! I am not sure though about them being dense! They look great to me!
I am totally not sick of pb or bananas! And this looks amazing, thanks so much for linking!
Thank you!
This looks so amazing! Three of my favorite flavors in one!
Thank you!
This cake is FANTASTIC! Made it a few weeks ago and my boyfriend and I ate the whole thing over the course of the week (sadly) I was out of cocoa and used double chocolate chips. It was still good 🙂 Making it the proper way tonight!
Ya!! Thanks so much for making this. I am so happy you loved it! Hope it turns out better the second time!
Can I make this ahead of time? I want to make it for Saturday but I don’t have time to make this cake the day of. If not, can you think of any other cakes that are good make aheads? Thanks Teighan, I love all your recipe!!
Hey Natalie, I am so sorry I am late to answering this. Yes, this can be made in advanced. Hope you enjoy!
Hi Tieghan! Is there any reason I couldn’t use creamy peanut butter instead of the chunky? Looking forward to making this!
Hey Rachel,
You can definitely use creamy:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan