On Saturday nights as a small child, my mother would make mashed bananas for tea. She would turn them into a sweet sticky puree by simply squishing them with a fork, it seemed miraculous to me. Then she’d add a little brown sugar and spread it on slices of brown bread topped with unsalted butter. The light brown bread with the sweet bananas and the creaminess of the the butter made a perfect mouthful. It was my most favourite meal.
This banana bread combines all of those delicious ingredients, to create a sweet loaf with a slightly caramalised crust. Perfect sliced straight from the oven or lightly toasted.
Wrapped Slice. Picnic Perfect
Caramelised Banana Bread
For the caramalised bananas
- 150g caster sugar
- 50mls water
- 250g ripe bananas cut into 1cm pieces
- 25g unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla paste
For the banana bread
- 100g soft unsalted butter
- 175g caster sugar
- 225g self raising flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons milk
Stack Of Banana Bread
Method
- Preheat the oven to 180c
- Grease a loaf tin and line with baking parchment
- First make the caramelised bananas, put the sugar and water into a frying pan. Tip the pan to ensure the water covers all the sugar
- Bring the sugar water mixture to the boil and then let it cook until it turns a golden colour
- Add the chopped bananas, vanilla paste and butter and stir
- Reduce the heat to low so that the caramel just bubbles and the banana starts to disintegrate in the mix
- Once the bananas have completely broken up, remove from heat and scrape onto a plate to cool. Set aside
For the banana loaf
- Place all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix together
- In a second bowl whisk the butter and sugar together until smooth and fluffy
- Add the eggs and whisk until combined
- Add the flour and stir until completely combined
- Stir in the cooled caramelised banana till just swirled through the banana bread mixture
- pour into the lined loaf tin and scrape the bowl to get the last bit of mixture into the tin
- Place in the centre of the oven to cook for about 45 minutes. The outside will be quite dark before the middle is cooked, if you are concerned about burning use some foil to protect the top
- Remove from the oven when a skewer comes out clean. Don’t allow it to overcook as it will be dry
- Leave to cool for about 5 minutes and then remove from the tin to a cooling rack
- Once cooled to luke warm, slice with a sharp knife and enjoy the caramel banana wirls
Delicious Banana Bread
Love the look and sound of this banana bread. The ‘get beachware ready’ advert on the same page made me laugh, though!
Yes, they don’t really go together do they? This is for eating in moderation otherwise you’d have to give up on beachwear altogether! GG
That’s a delicious looking banana bread. My mother used to make me mashed banana sandwiches and she’d sprinkle the bananas with raw sugar. They were my favourite sandwiches! xx
Did you make then for your children? They seem to be something mothers make but we don’t make for ourselves. The banana bread is well worth a try. GG
This banana bread looks particularly luscious. I must taste smashed banana sandwich one day. They sound like a simple, but fantastic sweet treat.
If you’ve never had one you have to try it. So simple. So delicious. GG
Love the swirl in this banana bread. Mashed bananas on bread was always a childhood fav.
There’s something very comforting about those banana sandwiches, even now. GG
Your mum’s recipe sounds interesting, like a literal definition of banana bread!
And by the way, pretty napkin with the floral border! 
The napkins are from a British textile designer, Cath Kidson, who’s strongly influenced by vintage. GG
How delicious. I’ve never heard of caramelising the bananas first, that’s a great idea.
It makes all the difference. GG
I make banana bread all the time…it never looks as good as this! Great job…and your mother’s unique concoction sounds divine.
I hope you are having a great weekend so far!
It’s the toffee like outer that makes this banana bread so delicious. GG
Sounds like an idyllic childhood! :-p I have the reverse, my daughter makes Banana bread for me, I will have to pass on your receipe GG
Do! I know she’ll make a wonderful job of it, but does she really share!? GG
i LOVE banana bread
I really like how your mum makes the banana puree first hehe YUM!
Thank you, give it a try. GG