How to Easily Make Banana Bread with Walnuts, Banana Slices, and Caramel
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Banana bread is one of the most classic baked goods one can think of- and it’s also the easiest to make. I always find that my family has overripe bananas that would be going to waste, but they are really just waiting to be turned into something tastier. When one smells banana bread being baked, they can’t help but crave it. This recipe is similar to my last banana bread recipe, although I have improved it with a caramel topping, along with a dried banana garnish. This banana bread recipe is simple in both ingredients and the process, as you can do it in no time without expensive kitchen equipment.
Storage:
Like most baked goods, this banana bread can be easily frozen for long-term storage and come out like it was just baked. Wrapping the bread in saran wrap and then in foil, then popping it into the freezer will allow the bread to have the freshness sealed in, and stay good for around 3 months. Defrost the bread in the fridge for a day, and when ready to eat, just microwave a slice and it’s ready to be eaten.
This recipe can be cooked in either a large loaf-pan or can be cooked into cupcake liners. The cupcake banana bread is easy to handle, which makes it perfect for little kids, or for a snack when you’re on the go. For the toppings, I used halved walnuts and dried banana chips, which look good in addition to tasting good along with the homemade caramel drizzle.
When making the caramel, I found using the candy thermometer is very important, as it helped me make sure I was cooking the caramel correctly. Since making caramel is a very precise thing, it’s important to get it to the right temperature, or else your caramel’s consistency might be too thick or too thin.
I find that banana bread’s perfection lies in its simplicity- it’s extremely easy to cook, easy to eat, and can be made for any number of meals. It’s a great light breakfast, is perfect for dessert, can be easily taken as a to-go snack, and is a good bulk food. My son loves to take a couple of loaves to college for snacks during late-night study sessions and for when he doesn’t have time to make breakfast, as it’s as easy as cutting and heating the bread and it’s ready. The bread can also be eaten with toppings, as my young daughter loves to eat banana bread with Nutella on it as a dessert or an after-school snack. This recipe can also be baked into muffins, by using a muffin pan instead of a loaf pan. If you have a bunch of bananas that seem like they are going to waste, it’s easy to make them into three or four loaves of banana bread that you and your family will love.
Caramel-Topped Banana Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2-3 overripe bananas Peeled
- ⅓ Cup Butter Melted
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 Pinch Salt
- ¾ Cup Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 ½ Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Walnuts Chopped
Caramel
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- ¼ tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ Cup Water
- ¼ Cup Heavy Cream
- 4 tbsp Butter Cubed
Garnish
- 1 bag Banana chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F
- Butter a 4 inch by 8 inch loaf pan.
- In a large bowl, mash the peeled bananas until completely smooth.
- Stir the butter into the bowl.
- Beat the egg in a small bowl.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, mixing for 1 minute between each addition.
- Fold the walnuts into the dough mixture.
- Pour the mixture into the buttered loaf pan, and bake for 50 minutes to an hour.
- Remove the pan and let the loaf cool in the pan, then remove the loaf from the pan and let until completely cool to serve.
Caramel
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, add sugar and salt, and cover with water.
- Bring to a summer, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved, for about 5 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium-high, and cook until deeply golden without stirring. If you have a candy thermometer, the caramel should reach 350°F.
- Once the caramel is a deep copper color, turn off heat and stir in the cream and butter.
- Let cool slightly in pan, then transfer to a container.
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