Salted Caramel Banana Bread
Caramel Sauce
- 1 cup Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Banana Bread
- 2 cups all-purpose flour*
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about 3 large bananas)
- 1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
- 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts, optional
- For Caramel Sauce, in a medium saucepan, add granulated sugar, salt, and water. Swirl to cover sugar and salt mixture with water.1
- Over medium heat, bring sugar mixture to a simmer. Do not stir. Allow to simmer for about 5 minutes or until sugar turns an amber color. Pot can be gently swirled once or twice during this process. Be careful not to burn sugar mixture. If using a candy thermometer, cook until 350°F.2
- Once sugar mixture is ready, remove from heat and immediately add cold butter and heavy cream. Beware: mixture will bubble violently, but whisk through this, it will subside.3
- Once butter and heavy cream are fully incorporated into sugar mixture, set aside and allow to cool.4
- For Banana Bread, preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal.5
- In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk together and set aside.6
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to cream butter and sugar together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.7
- Add eggs one at a time and mix for about 1 minute between each addition. Next, add milk and vanilla and mix until combined.8
- Pour flour mixture into butter/sugar mixture. Using a spatula, mix until batter is almost combined. Add mashed bananas and caramel sauce. Fold together a few more times until no more dry flour remains. Fold in walnuts now if using nuts.9
- Immediately pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Place loaf pan on a baking sheet. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool. Using a butter knife gently run knife around loaf pan. Flip loaf pan onto a serving dish, slice and drizzle with leftover caramel sauce.