Caramelized Banana Bread

I Found this recipe and decided to give it a try, with a few changes. It looked like such a good idea, and it tastes even better. I love the smell of the bananas cooking in the butter and sugar! This recipe makes one 9" x 5" loaf, so double the recipe for two loaves.

Caramelized Banana Bread

 I'm out of wheat flour once again; I made this with the unbleached flour I had, but if I used wheat in place of the white flour, I would have used 2 1/2 cups. The next time we need company dessert, I might double this and bake it in a Bundt pan.

Slice 3 medium ripe bananas into 1/4" slices. In a non-stick skillet, melt together 4 tbsp. unsalted butter and 3/4 cup packed brown sugar over medium-high heat. Add the sliced bananas and saute` for 4-5 minutes.

Scrape the banana mixture into a mixer and beat on high speed for 1 minute. Let mixture cool for 5 minutes. Now add:
2 tbsp. sunflower or vegetable oil

1/2 cup half & half
2 large eggs

2 tbsp. golden rum (optional)

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix again until well combined and creamy, about 30 seconds. Add:

2 1/4 cups unbleached flour

1 tsp. sea salt

3/4 tsp. baking soda

Mix just until combined and the batter is smooth. Pour into a greased 9" x 5" glass loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack, then remove cake from pan to finish cooling. Top with glaze while still warm. 

Brown Butter Glaze

In a small saucepan heat 2 tbsp. unsalted butter over medium heat. Cook butter until just until butter is beginning to brown. Watch carefully, the butter will burn quickly!

Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 2 tsp. half & half, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth. Drizzle glaze over bread.  

Enjoy the recipe! Blessings, Jessica