Bananas Foster Bread marydukecooks.com
I’m always looking for creative ways to use ripe bananas. This recipe takes banana bread to another level utilizing the same cooking method used when making bananas foster. Cooking bananas with butter and brown sugar caramelizes them, giving the bread a rich caramelized flavor. Enjoy!
Bananas Foster Bread
Caramelized Bananas
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup dark brown sugar, packed
3 ripe bananas, peeled, sliced, and slices cut in half
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray 3 mini-loaf pans (5 ¾ long X 3 ⅛ wide X 2” high) with non-stick spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper. Spray paper and set aside.
Melt butter in a 12-inch skillet. Add brown sugar and bananas. Bring mixture to a fast simmer then reduce heat and gently simmer 3-5 minutes. Stir frequently. At first it will seem that there is not enough liquid but the bananas will release moisture as they cook. Bananas will become mushy. Remove from heat, add vanilla, and set aside to cool while making batter.
Bananas Foster Batter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon iodized salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ cup whole buttermilk
1 cup toasted pecan pieces, optional (Toasted in a 350ºF oven 3-5 minutes.)
In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar with a mixer for 2-3 minutes. Add egg.
Stir flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon together in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture alternating with buttermilk like this: ½ flour mixture, all the buttermilk, and ½ flour mixture. Scrape down sides of bowl, add bananas and mix again. Add pecans (optional). Divide batter equally between prepared pans. Level top of batter.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs on it. Remove pans from oven and immediately remove bread from pans. Remove parchment paper and wrap in plastic wrap. Set aside to cool. Makes 3 mini-loaf pans.
Tip: this recipe can also make 1 regular loaf (increase cooking time for one loaf). To decorate: Cut decorative napkins to make a band circling the middle of the bread. Tie with curled ribbon.
Published in The News and Neighbor on March 28, 2018.
Mary Duke Cooks! 