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

Image may contain Food Bread Cutlery Fork Confectionery Sweets Cornbread and Dessert

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.

Recipe notes

Classic French Bouillabaisse With Rouille

This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.