The Ultimate Treat: Discover How to Make Decadent Caramel Banana Bread

Photo byAngie Bright

There's something magical about the combination of banana and caramel. It's a match made in dessert heaven, where the natural sweetness of ripe bananas pairs perfectly with the rich, buttery depth of caramel. When this duo is baked into a loaf of banana bread and topped with a velvety salted caramel glaze, it transforms a simple, nostalgic treat into a luxurious dessert experience.

This Caramel Banana Bread isn't your average banana bread. It's moist, flavorful, and the perfect balance of sweet and salty. The ripe bananas provide a soft texture and rich flavor, while the caramel glaze adds a touch of indulgence. Whether you're making it for a weekend brunch, a special dessert, or just to use up those overripe bananas on your counter, this recipe will not disappoint.

A Recipe to Delight Your Senses

The base of this recipe starts with classic banana bread ingredients but with a few key enhancements to elevate the flavor. Brown sugar gives the bread a deeper, caramel-like sweetness, while sour cream adds an extra layer of moisture that ensures every bite is soft and tender. The addition of cinnamon brings a hint of warmth and spice, making it the perfect companion to a morning cup of coffee or an after-dinner treat.

What really sets this banana bread apart, though, is the salted caramel glaze. The glaze is silky, sweet, and has just the right amount of salt to cut through the richness. Poured over the warm banana bread, it soaks into the loaf, creating a sticky, gooey layer that you’ll find impossible to resist.

Recipe: Caramel Banana Bread with Salted Caramel Glaze

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

Ingredients 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

Step-by-Step Guide:

Preheat and Prepare:
Start by setting your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan and set it aside for the batter.

Dry Ingredients:
In a medium-sized bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. This will help ensure that all the dry ingredients are evenly distributed.

Creamy Base:
In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Once the mixture is creamy, add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next.

Mix Wet Ingredients:
Next, stir in the sour cream, mashed bananas, and vanilla extract until everything is fully blended. The bananas add natural sweetness and a soft texture that makes this bread so moist.

Combine Wet and Dry:
Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir just until combined—overmixing can result in dense bread, so stop as soon as you don’t see any more flour streaks.

Bake:
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Salted Caramel Glaze:
While the bread cools, make the glaze. In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar and butter over medium heat until the sugar has completely dissolved, about 1 minute. Remove from heat, then stir in the heavy cream. Finally, whisk in the powdered sugar and kosher salt until smooth.

Finish the Bread:
Let the glaze cool for 5 minutes to thicken slightly, then pour it evenly over the cooled banana bread. The caramel will seep into the bread, adding an irresistible sticky sweetness.

A Slice of Heaven

Whether you serve this Caramel Banana Bread warm from the oven or save it for a late-night snack, it’s guaranteed to become a favorite. The moist, banana-filled bread paired with the rich, salted caramel glaze creates a balance of flavors that’s both comforting and decadent. Share it with friends and family, or keep it all to yourself—either way, this recipe will quickly find its way into your regular baking rotation.

Here are some reliable sources for your Salted Caramel Banana Bread recipe:

1. Insanely Good Recipes provides a detailed guide on making Salted Caramel Banana Bread, with tips on layering the caramel sauce and ensuring the perfect bake. It also offers storage suggestions for keeping the bread fresh and some helpful baking hacks​(Insanely Good Recipes).
2. Allrecipes features a simple yet rich version of this recipe, outlining steps to make the bread and the glaze from scratch. Their recipe focuses on balancing the caramel’s sweetness with a pinch of kosher salt, which gives the bread its signature salted caramel flavor​(Allrecipes).
3. Tastes of Lizzy T includes detailed instructions for ensuring the bread is properly baked, as well as tips for drizzling the caramel and checking doneness with a thermometer to prevent overbaking​(Tastes of Lizzy T).
4. Confessions of a Baking Queen emphasizes a swirl technique for adding the caramel, ensuring every bite is infused with a rich, salty-sweet flavor. They also provide advice on avoiding dense banana bread by controlling the mixing process​(Confessions of a Baking Queen).