Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake

Bananas Foster Upside-Down Cake

Sauce

4 bananas, halved lengthwise

¼ cup butter

1 cup packed dark brown sugar

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ cup dark rum

Cake

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ cup sugar

½ teaspoon sea salt

3 eggs, yolks & whites separated

½ cup whole milk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup butter, melted

Vanilla Ice cream and ground cinnamon, to serve

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Grease a high-sided 11×7 pan. Arrange the bananas, cut side down in the prepared pan and set aside. Easy. 
3. Sauce time. Heat a high-sided non-stick skillet over medium-heat, and add the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stirring constantly, cook until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved. Still stirring constantly, slowly stream in the rum until combined, and cook for 1 minute. Using a lighter, stand at a distance and carefully light the rum. **It’s fun. Fire is fun. But safety first here, friends.** Give the pan a shake or two, and when the fire subsides, remove from the heat and pour the sauce over the bananas. 
4. Cake time. Grab a large mixing bowl. Combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt, and mix well.
5. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks on medium-high speed until frothy, about 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer to low-speed, and add the milk and vanilla extract. Slowly stream in the butter until completely incorporated. Awesome.
6. With the mixer running on low, gradually add the flour mixture to the egg mixture until completely incorporated and smooth.
7. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Using a spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the batter until incorporated. Perfect.
8. Using a spatula, spread the batter overtop of the bananas, covering the fruit completely. Transfer to the oven and bake for 25 – 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave in the pan for 15 minutes. Run a knife along the edge of the pan, to loosen if necessary.
9. Upside Down time! Invert the cake onto a platter (quick & confident is key here), then top with ice cream & a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve! So delicious!