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Caramelized Banana Bread is the ultimate comfort food. It’s an easy quick bread recipe where the bananas are cooked with caramel, making it a salted caramel banana bread recipe you’re going to fall in love with.

sliced banana bread with stack of 3 slices


What is Caramelized Banana Bread?

Basically this is my best banana bread recipe with two differences:

  1. I sautéed the bananas with Challenge Salted Caramel Dessert Snack Spread, giving them a rich caramelized flavor.
  2. I used brown sugar to keep the bread moist and add to the depth of flavor in the recipe.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Not only have I made this bread several times, but it’s my tried and true banana bread recipe so you know it’s going to work AND taste amazing! Jordan said this bread was actually better than my mom’s recipe!

ingredients in banana bread

Ingredients in Caramel Banana Bread

  • Challenge Salted Caramel Snack Spread: This is a new product from Challenge Butter. It’s a creamy salted caramel dip that’s made with real butter and perfect for baking with and using as a spread or dip.
  • Bananas: Be sure to use overripe bananas! The more brown spots the better – no green. They get sweeter as they age and are perfect for baking.
  • Challenge Butter: I always bake with unsalted butter; be sure it’s softened.
  • Brown Sugar: I swapped granulated to keep the bread moist and add a little extra flavor. Be sure to pack your brown sugar when measuring.
  • Milk: You can use buttermilk, sour milk, regular or nonfat milk, or nondairy milk.
  • Vinegar: If you’re not using buttermilk or sour milk, you’ll need to add vinegar to activate the baking soda.
containers of challenge butter

Tip From Dorothy

Use the best butter for best results!

It’s so important to use quality ingredients when baking, which is why I always use Challenge Butter. I grew up with Challenge – it’s the only one my parents use. It comes from happy cows without any added hormones and it’s award winning too!

The new Challenge Snack Spreads are made with real butter and are available in seasoned and sweet varieties (i.e Chocolate, Buffalo and Everything flavors). These spreads mix and match with your favorite foods – use them as a dip, spread or bake with them!

bananas in pan

How to Caramelize Bananas

To start off the bread we have to caramelize the bananas. Melt Salted Caramel Challenge Dessert Spread in a medium pan and add sliced bananas. Cook until the bananas are coated and the mixture is bubbly, then remove from heat to cool.

Banana Bread made with caramelized bananas is EPIC. Using the spread adds such a depth of flavor. Once you make it this way you’ll never go back.

bowl of mashed bananas on counter.
creamed butter and brown sugar in glass bowl on counter with butter and dessert spread.
creamed butter and brown sugar with eggs and baking soda in glass bowl on counter with butter and dessert spread.
banana bread batter with milk in glass bowl on counter with butter and dessert spread.
banana bread batter with flour in glass bowl on counter with butter and dessert spread.
banana bread batter in loaf pan on counter with butter and dessert spread.

How to make Caramelized Banana Bread

  • Once you have your sautéed bananas, add them to a bowl and mash them. Let cool 5-10 minutes.
  • Cream butter and brown sugar.
  • Add eggs, salt and baking soda.
  • Add milk and vinegar along with the bananas and mix until smooth.
  • Mix in the flour.
  • The batter will be nice and thick – add to a 9×5-inch loaf pan and bake 50-60 minutes.
banana bread stack, with halves on top with caramel spread

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to store banana bread: No need to chill the bread; just cover it tightly with plastic wrap and it can sit on the counter 2-3 days (not that it’ll last that long).

Can you freeze banana bread? YES! You can either wrap the whole loaf in plastic and freeze it or slice it and freeze in sandwich bags for easy grab and go breakfast.

challenge butter with canola oil and knife and bread

Serving Sautéed Banana Bread

There are so many ways to serve this! Plain, with peanut butter…but my favorite is a slathering of Challenge Butter Spreadable Butter with Canola Oil. It’s spreadable straight out of the fridge!

Or…spread the bread with even more of the Dessert Snack Spread – you could even use the Vanilla Fudge or Chocolate flavors for topping this quick banana bread recipe.

challenge dessert spread container open with knife inside and bread around

There are 6 flavors of Snack Spread and I love every single one. The Salted Caramel is for sure my favorite!

FAQs

How do you know banana bread is done baking?

Use the toothpick test in the center of the loaf (in the crack, if there is one). The toothpick should come out with just a few crumbs but not be wet.

How long does caramelized banana bread take to bake?

This bread bakes in about 50-60 minutes.

How do you mash bananas for banana bread?

I love using a fork – just mash them in a bowl. You can also use a potato masher or a blender.

How do you keep banana bread moist?

Be sure not to over bake, don’t pack your flour, use brown sugar and be sure to use the sour milk/buttermilk/vinegar!

Why does your recipe call for vinegar?

My mom’s banana bread recipe calls for sour milk (that’s an old term for buttermilk). You can use buttermilk, or sour milk if you have it – but since people don’t usually have either, I add a teaspoon of vinegar with any kind of milk. Really, the vinegar is to activate the baking soda leading to a fluffy moist bread.

What pan is best for banana bread?

This recipe is written for a 9×5-inch loaf pan.

Can you make muffins with this recipe?

This recipe makes 12 standard muffins. Bake time is approximately 15-20 minutes.

sliced banana bread with stack of 3 slices

Caramelized Banana Bread

5 from 34 votes
This Sautéed Banana Bread Recipe uses salted caramel to make caramel banana bread – perfect for breakfast or brunch!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield 10 servings
Serving Size 1 serving
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Ingredients
 

For the Caramelized Bananas:

For the bread:

  • 3/4 cup 150g brown sugar
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 7 tablespoons (103ml) milk (any kind)
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (248g) all-purpose flour
  • Butter and granulated sugar for the pan
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5x3” loaf pan with butter and coat it with sugar. (You do this like you would grease and flour a pan. Grease it first, then add about 2 tablespoons sugar to the pan and move the pan side to side until the bottom and sides are coated with sugar.
  • Slice bananas. Melt spread in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add bananas, cooking until all the bananas are coated and the mixture is bubbly, just a few minutes. Remove bananas to a bowl to cool at least 5 minutes; mash with a fork.
  • Cream butter and sugar with a hand mixer.
  • Add bananas, eggs, milk, vinegar, and baking soda. Mix until combined.
  • Mix in flour until just incorporated. Pour into prepared pan.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs. The edges will be a dark brown and there will be a nice crack down the center.
  • Cool completely before removing loaf from pan, but you can cut slices from the pan after it’s cooled for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Store covered at room temperature. Freeze bread whole (wrapped well) or slices in sandwich bags for up to 3 months.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • If you happen to have buttermilk, you can use that (just omit vinegar).
  • Milk: You can use any kind of milk (any fat content or nondairy)

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 276mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 367IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Author Dorothy Kern

Did you try this recipe? Click the stars to rate the recipe below

This recipe was sponsored by Challenge Butter in 2022. Their new Dessert Snack Spread gave this bread that caramelized banana flavor!

Caramelized Banana Bread is the best banana bread in the world – made with sautéed salted caramel bananas and brown sugar. This is the perfect banana bread recipe – freeze great too!

Favorite Banana Bread Recipes



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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5 from 34 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. We do not have the salted caramel spread in Canada to my knowledge. Can you help me with substitutions please.

    Reply

  2. Can’t wait to try this recipe! If you can’t find the Challenge Salted Carmel Spread, what can you use instead? Brown sugar and butter?

    Reply