Salted Caramel Banana Bread: A Sweet and Salty Twist on a Classic Favorite – All Recipes Healthy Food

Salted Caramel Banana Bread: A Sweet and Salty Twist on a Classic Favorite

How to Make Salted Caramel Banana Bread

1. Prepare the Oven and Baking Pan

  • Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter or cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal of the bread.

2. Make the Salted Caramel Sauce

  • In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
  • Add the brown sugar, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir frequently, allowing the sugar to dissolve and the mixture to thicken slightly.
  • Once the sugar has dissolved, carefully pour in the heavy cream. Continue to stir and let the mixture simmer for about 3-4 minutes, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
  • Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and sea salt. Let the caramel cool slightly.

3. Mash the Bananas

  • In a large bowl, mash the bananas using a fork or potato masher. You should have about 1 1/2 cups of mashed bananas. Set aside.

4. Prepare the Banana Bread Batter

  • In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Stir until just combined.
  • Gently fold in the mashed bananas.

5. Assemble the Banana Bread

  • Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  • Drizzle half of the salted caramel sauce over the batter. Use a toothpick or knife to swirl the caramel into the batter.
  • Add the remaining banana bread batter on top and drizzle with the remaining salted caramel sauce. Swirl again to combine.

6. Bake the Banana Bread

  • Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean (or with a few crumbs). If the top is browning too quickly, cover the loaf with aluminum foil and continue baking until fully cooked.

7. Cool and Serve

  • Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Once cooled, slice and serve. Enjoy the rich caramel flavor paired with the softness of the banana bread!

Tips for the Best Salted Caramel Banana Bread

  • Use ripe bananas: The riper your bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be. Overripe bananas are perfect for baking!
  • Make the caramel ahead of time: If you’re short on time, you can prepare the salted caramel sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. Just reheat it slightly before using.
  • Adjust the salt: If you prefer a stronger salty flavor to balance the sweetness, feel free to add more sea salt to the caramel.
  • Add mix-ins: For extra texture and flavor, consider adding chopped walnuts, chocolate chips, or even a bit of cinnamon to the banana bread batter.
  • Serve warm: For a cozy treat, serve the banana bread slightly warm with an extra drizzle of salted caramel on top.