Active Time

　　30 min

　　Total Time

　　2 hr (includes cooling)

　　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.

　　

Ingredients

Makes 6 to 8 servings

　　

For topping:

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

　　

For batter:

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

　　

Special Equipment

a well-seasoned 10-inch cast-iron skillet

　　

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

　　

Step 2

Melt butter in skillet over medium heat, then stir in brown sugar, rum, and a pinch of salt and simmer, stirring, 4 minutes. Remove from heat and arrange bananas on top of sugar mixture in concentric circles, fitting in as many pieces as possible.

　　

Step 3

Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in rum and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour, mixing until just incorporated.

　　

Step 4

Spoon batter over bananas, smoothing top, and bake until top is golden and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.

　　

Step 5

Let cake stand in skillet 5 minutes. Invert a plate over skillet and invert cake onto plate (keeping plate and skillet firmly pressed together). Replace any banana stuck to bottom of skillet.

　　

Step 6

Serve cake slightly warm or at room temperature.