A delicious way to fancy up a loaf of banana bread, this Banana Bread Recipe is a moist, delicious banana bread that is covered in a sweet caramel icing.
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I don’t know what it is about banana bread, but I can never have too many versions. I think my kids agree, as well, as a loaf usually doesn’t even last a day around our house.
I came up with this version years ago after making our favorite Buttermilk Pound Cake with Caramel Icing, and realizing that I just wanted to add that icing to everything. And sure enough, topping a loaf of banana bread with the caramel icing was just as good as I had hoped for.
How to Make this Banana Bread Recipe with Caramel Icing
This banana bread recipe doesn’t have much more to it than regular banana bread, but you’ll love the extra layer the caramel icing brings!
- To make the banana bread, combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add in the mashed banana and the milk and mix it all completely. Add the eggs, then pour the mixture into a prepared loaf pan. Bake until the bread is cooked through.
- Let the banana bread cool completely, then remove it from the baking pan.
- To make the icing, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the brown sugar and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it’s boiling, remove it from the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Whisk the cream and the powdered sugar into the butter mixture until no lumps remain.
- Immediately pour the icing over the banana bread. It sets up very quickly, so you need to pour it quickly.
- Let the icing set up before slicing and serving.
Tips and Tricks
- My number one word of advice for banana bread is to never over bake it. This banana bread is pretty moist, but will dry out if it is baked too long. I like to keep long skewers on hand to test the bread for doneness.
- While I recommend making the icing, this banana bread recipe is pretty darn good all on its own, as well.
- The icing is not too tricky, but it can be ruined pretty easily if you don’t follow the steps. Make sure to turn the heat off as soon as it starts boiling. Don’t walk away – if it boils for too long, the icing will set up even faster and you won’t even be able to pour it over the bread.
- When you are pouring the caramel icing on the bread, pour it where you want it to go as you won’t be able to spread it around much after it’s on the bread.
- This bread doesn’t save really well, as the icing will start to get a little wet and gooey, and sometimes grainy. It is best eaten the day it is made.
- If you do have some you want to save, I still store it in an almost airtight container. Just know it will be a little gooey the next day. (But this has never stopped us from eating it!)
More Banana Bread Recipes
Peanut Butter Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips
Peanut Butter and Jelly Banana Bread
Blueberry Coconut Banana Bread
Banana Oat Bread
Citrus Glazed Coconut Banana Bread
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Banana Bread Recipe with Caramel Icing
Ingredients
For the Banana Bread:
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 large mashed very ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 eggs
For the Caramel Icing:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons heavy cream
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
Make the banana bread:
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan by spraying it generously with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well.
- Add the mashed bananas and milk and mix with a hand mixer for 2 minutes.
- Add the eggs and mix just until combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and cook until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
- Cool completely, then remove the bread from the baking pan.
Make the caramel icing:
- In a saucepan, melt the butter, then add the brown sugar. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Whisk in the cream and the powdered sugar until no lumps remain.
- Immediately pour the icing over the loaf of banana bread. (It sets up very quickly, so you must pour quickly.)
- Cut into slices to serve.
Beth says
I absolutely love this recipe!! I made 4 loaves and they were gone in less than 2 days!!
Deborah says
So glad you loved it!! 🙂
Ansa says
This banana bread turned out wonderful.
The caramel glaze was waaaaaaay to thick after adding the powder sugar so instead of 2 teaspoons…..I added more heavy cream and after 2 tablespoons it was creamy enough to be poured over the bread.
Deeeeeeeeelicious!
ansa
Mel V says
I made this today and it is not as sweet as i thought it would be and it was a little dense but the caramel glaze definitely made it worth it!
Deborah says
Mel – I’m glad you liked the caramel! I agree – this is not a super sweet bread, but I don’t know if I would have wanted a really sweet bread with the glaze. The glaze definitely does make it!
Jun says
Caramel glaze on banana bread? Very very exciting!!!
grace says
the unfortunate part about this is that the caramel glaze would never ever make it to the bread, at least in its entirety. caramel sauce is something i can never resist eating with a spoon. 🙂
susan says
that glaze is so utterly and completely gorgeous!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
That is one of the most delicious looking banana bread loaves I’ve ever seen!
Kate says
Ohhhhhhhh LORD this is going to be bad for me. I usually say “meh” to Banana Bread but like you, make it when the bananas go bad. One of my favorite cake frostings is a cooked caramel frosting. I never thought to top my quick breads with it. I can see this on banana bread, pumpkin bread, even zucchini bread. As I said. This is going to be badddddddddddddddd. I kind of hate you for this. And love you.
judy says
For the flour, should I use bread flour or all-purpose flour?
Deborah says
Judy, I used all-purpose flour.
Jay says
absolutely hearty n delicious..
Tasty Appetite
Katrina says
Yum! Love this recipe 🙂
Nicole Hutchison says
Would it be bad if I made just the glaze and ate it with a spoon?! WOW….I’ve never had banana bread because I’ve only seen it with nuts ~ yuck! ~ but I’m trying this very soon (as soon as the bananas on the counter are over-ripe). Until then, the bowl of glaze and a spoon are calling my name!
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
christine says
I hate banana bread, but this glaze looks awesome. I’m thinking over something pumpkin-flavored like cupcakes or cookies.
Jessica says
Oh man. I am dying here! This sounds and looks amazing! All that delicious caramel? yummmmm 😉
Marla says
You certainly kicked up the usual banana bread with all that caramel. Looks amazing!
Teresa says
This is genius. I’m going to make this right away. Thank you so much for this recipe!