caramelized banana bread

Platte City, MO
Updated on Jan 24, 2018

I love banana bread and am ALWAYS playing with and revising recipes hoping to finally hit upon the perfect texture, crumb, and wow factor. This recipe will not disappoint. Caramelizing the bananas brings out the depth and intensifies the flavor. The brown sugar and butter work together well to further the caramel flavor.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Caramelizing the bananas before baking this banana bread adds a richness that's hard to describe. The smell during the caramelizing process is intoxicating. It really brings this simple bread to a whole new level of yumminess. One bite you know this isn't an ordinary banana bread. It's tender, rich, and delicious. The top forms a sugary crust but the rest of the bread is fall-apart tender and full of banana flavor.

prep time 15 Min
cook time 25 Min
method Bake
yield 8 mini loaves

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ripe bananas, peeled
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar, divided
  • 10 tablespoons butter, softened & divided
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 - egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup toasted pecan pieces (optional)

How To Make caramelized banana bread

Test Kitchen Tips
We made 4 mini loaf pans (instead of 8) so we had to cook ours a bit longer than 20 minutes. Just keep an eye on them and cook until the tester comes out clean.
  • Step 1
    Preheat oven to 350. Grease loaf pan(s).
  • Caramelizing bananas with butter and sugar.
    Step 2
    In a large frying pan over medium heat, add sliced bananas, 2 Tbsp butter, and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Allow bananas to brown slightly stirring often.
  • Adding cinnamon and nutmeg.
    Step 3
    Add cinnamon and nutmeg.
  • Continuing to caramelize bananas.
    Step 4
    Continue cooking 3-5 minutes.
  • Adding vanilla extract to bananas.
    Step 5
    Add vanilla extract and remove from heat.
  • Butter and brown sugar in a bowl.
    Step 6
    To a large bowl add remaining 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup brown sugar.
  • Creaming butter and brown sugar together.
    Step 7
    Beat until smooth (2-3 min).
  • Adding an egg, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
    Step 8
    Add egg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
  • Adding buttermilk to the batter.
    Step 9
    To mixture, add buttermilk and alternately add flour and caramelized bananas beginning and ending with flour.
  • Mixing well to incorporate ingredients.
    Step 10
    Mix well between additions.
  • Stirring in toasted pecans.
    Step 11
    Stir in toasted pecan pieces.
  • Pouring batter into loaf pans.
    Step 12
    Pour batter into prepared loaf pan(s).
  • Baking caramelized banana bread in the oven.
    Step 13
    Bake at 350 for 40 min if using 9 X 5 loaf pan or 20 min if mini loaf pans, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
  • Allowing caramelized banana bread to cool.
    Step 14
    Allow to cool slightly.

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