Salted Caramel Banana Bread is a delightful twist on the classic banana bread recipe, combining the rich, comforting flavors of ripe bananas with a luscious salted caramel glaze. This moist and flavorful bread is perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert. Let’s dive into the recipe and see how to create this mouthwatering treat step-by-step.
Ingredients
For the Banana Bread:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 4 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the Salted Caramel Glaze:
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Banana Bread
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Eggs: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the sour cream, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 2: Prepare the Salted Caramel Glaze
- Melt Butter and Sugar: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the brown sugar and butter together, stirring constantly until smooth.
- Add Cream: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Return to the heat and bring to a gentle boil, cooking for 1-2 minutes.
- Combine and Cool: Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool for about 5 minutes.
- Add Sugar and Salt: Whisk in the powdered sugar and kosher salt until smooth and well combined.
Step 3: Glaze the Banana Bread
- Pour Glaze: Once the banana bread is completely cooled, drizzle the salted caramel glaze over the top, allowing it to drip down the sides.
- Set: Let the glaze set for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Cooking Notes
- Bananas: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be. Look for bananas with brown spots.
- Sour Cream: Sour cream adds moisture and richness to the banana bread. You can substitute it with Greek yogurt if desired.
- Glaze Consistency: If the glaze is too thick, add a little more cream. If it’s too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I add nuts or chocolate chips to the banana bread? A: Absolutely! Feel free to fold in a cup of chopped nuts (like walnuts or pecans) or chocolate chips into the batter before baking.
Q: How do I store leftover banana bread? A: Store leftover banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can refrigerate it for up to a week or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Q: Can I use a different type of sugar for the glaze? A: You can substitute light brown sugar for dark brown sugar in the glaze, but the flavor will be slightly different. Dark brown sugar provides a richer caramel flavor.
Keto/Low Carb Version
To make a keto or low-carb version of Salted Caramel Banana Bread, follow these modifications:
- Flour: Replace the all-purpose flour with almond flour or a low-carb flour blend.
- Sugar: Use a keto-friendly sweetener like erythritol or monk fruit in place of the brown sugar and powdered sugar.
- Bananas: Use banana extract instead of bananas to significantly reduce the carb count.
- Sour Cream: Ensure the sour cream used is full-fat and has no added sugars.
Salted Caramel Banana Bread is a delicious and indulgent twist on a classic favorite. The combination of moist, flavorful banana bread with a rich, salted caramel glaze is simply irresistible. Perfect for any time of day, this bread is sure to become a new favorite in your household.
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