Name: Banana Upside-Down Cake
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 2 hr (includes cooling)
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients: 3/4 stick unsalted butter; 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar; 2 tablespoons dark rum; 3 large just-ripe bananas, halved lengthwise and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces; 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 stick unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 1 tablespoon dark rum; 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 3/4 cup whole milk; a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet

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Banana Upside-Down CakeRomulo Yanes

Bananas, brown sugar, and rum have a natural affinity for each other (think of their shared tropical background), so it's no surprise that they make a wonderful crown for this homespun dessert. The spicy rum flavors of the topping are echoed in the cake itself, making the whole production darker and more interesting than your usual pineapple upside–down affair. Be sure to use just–ripe bananas for this recipe; if you use overly ripe ones, they will dissolve into the cake.

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