Dulce De Leche Banana Bread

Traditional banana bread gets an update and flavor infusion with this Dulce de Leche Banana Bread. Infused with caramelized bananas and a sweet dulce de leche glaze, this banana bread is going to knock your socks off!

Who doesn’t love banana bread? I know I sure do, but I get tired of the same old recipe. I was inspired by the very ripe bananas sitting on the counter, and wondered what it would taste like if you jazzed up the bananas by caramelizing them first – not just mashing them – and then topped the loaf with dulce de leche?

Wow! It turned out better than I could ask for! After a few more tweaks and several more loaves of banana bread, the recipe was perfect. And now, I’m sharing my new favorite Dulce De Leche Banana Bread with you! 

This easy banana bread recipe is moist and so packed full of banana flavor. Bananas get even more banana-y after being caramelized, and that bumps up the banana-ness in this bread. Then, a drizzle of dulce de leche on top – amazing! I hope you love this banana bread with dulce de leche glaze as much as my family and I do!

Ingredients

• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Ripe bananas – 3 medium or 2 large bananas will be enough.
• Buttermilk
• Vegetable oil
• Vanilla extract – Pure or artificial.
• Eggs
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Sweetened condensed milk – 1 14-ounce can.

How To Make the Best Dulce de Leche Banana Bread Ever!

Bananas and dulce de leche are a perfect flavor combination! And while there are a few steps to making this amazing banana bread recipe, it’s well worth the effort. You can, however, make the dulce de leche glaze ahead of time or just buy a can of it at your grocery store.

1. Slice the bananas into coins and add them to the butter in a skillet. Then, sprinkle the brown sugar over the top and cook them over medium heat for about 10 minutes.
2. Add the bananas and butter to a mixing bowl and puree them with a whisk or mixer.
3. Mix the buttermilk, oil, vanilla extract, and egg in a small bowl. Set this aside.
4. Whisk the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt together in another bowl.
5. Add half the flour mixture to the bananas, then half the buttermilk mixture. Repeat, ending with the flour. Mix on low speed until just combined.
6. Pour half the batter into a greased loaf pan, then sprinkle on more brown sugar – because more caramelized flavor is awesome! 
7. Add the remaining batter on top, then bake in a preheated 350-F oven until the banana bread is golden brown on top and set in the middle.
8. Remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. 
9. Drizzle the dulce de leche over the top and dig in!

How To Make The Dulce De Leche Glaze

The dulce de leche glaze in this banana bread recipe cooks at a different temperature than the banana bread, so it’s a good idea to make it ahead of time, or while the banana bread is cooling.

1. Pour a can of sweetened condensed milk into a glass pie dish and cover it with foil.
2. Set the pie dish into a larger dish (like a roaster) and add enough hot water to the larger dish so that the water comes halfway up the side of the pie dish.
3. Bake this at 425-F for about an hour or until the sweetened condensed milk is brown and caramelized.

How Do You Know When Banana Bread Is Cooked?

Moisture is key to making great banana bread, and yes, you can overcook it! When you insert your toothpick, crumbs are good! If there are a few crumbs clinging to the toothpick, you know it’s done. If there’s still gooey batter on the toothpick, it’ll need a bit more time.

Storage

Dulce de Leche Banana Bread will keep in the fridge for a few days in an airtight container. You can also freeze any leftover bread. I like to slice it and then freeze it, that way I can just thaw a slice to enjoy with a cup of coffee. If you have leftover banana bread, make French toast with it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Print Pin

Caramelized Banana Bread with Dulce de Leche Glaze

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar + 2/3 cup brown sugar divided
• 3 medium ripe bananas or 2 large
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9×5″ loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• Slice the bananas. Over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the bananas and brown sugar and saute for 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
• Place the banana mixture in a large bowl & beat with an electric mixer (or by hand with a whisk) on medium speed until smooth.
• Mix the the buttermilk, oil, vanilla extract, and eggs in a small bowl. Set aside. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Beginning and ending with the flour mixture, alternately add it to the banana mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined.
• Pour half the batter into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle on 1/3 cup brown sugar. Top with remaining batter, then sprinkle on the other 1/3 cup brown sugar.
• Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown on top and a pick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it. Cool for 10 minutes in the loaf pan. Remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, make your dulce de leche. Pour the can of sweetened condensed milk into a glass pie dish & cover with foil. Place that pie dish in a larger dish (like a roaster) and pour enough hot water in to where it comes up halfway on the pie dish. Bake at 425 degrees for 1 hour.
• Drizzle the warm dulce de leche over the cooled banana bread. Reserve any extra dulce le leche to spread on individual slices of bread.

More Banana Recipes:

• No Bake Banana Pudding Cheesecake
• Healthy Banana Oat Muffins
• Banana Berry Fruit Kabobs