Introduction
A delicious twist on a plain banana bread with a salted caramel layer, Salted Caramel Banana Bread is the ultimate mixture of moist and sweet tastes. This alternative to traditional banana bread is great for breakfast, dessert or even as a snack.
Ingredients
Banana Bread:
3 bananas (ripe), mashed
2/5 cup melted butter
12/13 cup brown sugar
1 big egg, beaten
1 vanilla extract teaspoonfuls
Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) teaspoonfuls -1
Pinch of salt – 1
1-½ cups all purpose flour
Salted Caramel Topping:
White granulated sugar – 1 cup
6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature, softened
½ cup heavy cream at room temperature
Instructions
For the Salted Caramel:
In a medium pan, heat sugar over medium heat until it melts and turns dark brown.
Drop in butter and continue stirring.
Continue stirring while adding heavy cream gently and then remove from the source of heat before adding sea salt and keeping it aside to cool.
Make the Banana Bread:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray or butter.
Take a large mixing bowl and mash bananas in it using either a fork or potato masher.
Introduce the melted butter into the bowl, together with mashed bananas.
Then add brown sugar, vanilla extract, beaten egg among other ingredients into your mixtures.
Sprinkle baking soda plus salt on top of your mixture just before you mix them thoroughly; this is followed by addition of flour which should be stirred up to when there are no more dry spots; hence forming nice batter for you to use in preparing your muffins
Put flour into another container and add banana mixture to form dough that will not be overbeaten; pour half of banana bread batter into greased loaf pan
Drizzle half of salted caramel over batter in pan
Afterwards scatter on top half of remaining cake mixture after which knife is used in swirling caramels through whole cake for marble effect
Bake at 60-70 minutes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack
Serving and Storage Tips
Serve warm or at room temperature, with additional caramel sauce served on top if desired.
Keep bread in a sealed container at room temperature for up to three days; otherwise refrigerate for one week.
For longer storage, tightly wrap the bread with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil and freeze it for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Tips for Success
Ensure that bananas are very ripe to get the best taste and texture.
To avoid it seizing, use ingredients that have been allowed to reach room temperature while making the caramel.
Don’t over mix the dough; instead, stir until everything is just combined together.
Check the doneness of your mouth watering loaf of bread using a toothpick – it should come out clean apart from some few moist crumbs meaning your baked good is done perfectly well!
Health Benefits
Bananas: Packed with potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C contents are high in this fruit.
Whole Wheat Flour (if substituted): It brings fiber and other nutrients into your baking process when used as a substitute for white flour.
Homemade Caramel: In comparison to store-bought versions, homemade caramel has no additives or artificial sweeteners among other things that can be harmful when consumed in such large amounts.
Nutritional Information (per slice, assuming 12 slices)
Calories: 250
Fat: 10g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 2g
Sugars: 25g
Protein: 3g
Variations and Substitutions
Nutty Twist: Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter.
Chocolate Delight: Mix in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips or chunks.
Gluten-Free: Sub with a gluten-free flour blend.
Healthier Option: Use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour and replace brown sugar with coconut sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use frozen bananas? Yes, just thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before mashing.
Can I make this bread vegan? Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoons water) instead of an egg, and use a plant-based butter and cream for the caramel sauce.
What should I do if my caramel hardens? Gently reheat it on low heat until it is pourable again.
Conclusion
The salted caramel banana bread is an appetizing and luxurious treat that merges the flavorsome banana bread with the luxuriousness of a caramel topping. Made from few ingredients, it is easy to make and will soon become a preferred recipe. Thus enjoy its richness and share the experience of baking it with your friends or family!
