Description
This easy banana bread recipe uses oil for a super moist crumb and features a rich spiced maple caramel swirl. It’s perfect for a cozy breakfast or snack and designed for a no-fail baking experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Banana Bread:
- 1.5 cups (180g) all-purpose flour
- 0.75 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon (3g) fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon (2g) ground cinnamon (divided)
- 0.25 teaspoon (0.5g) ground nutmeg (divided)
- 3 medium ripe bananas (about 250g mashed)
- 0.5 cup (120ml) vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
- For the Spiced Maple Caramel Swirl:
- 0.25 cup (60ml) pure maple syrup
- 0.25 cup (50g) light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) heavy cream
- 0.5 teaspoon (1g) ground cinnamon
- 0.125 teaspoon (0.25g) ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Prepare Pan and Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan and line the bottom with parchment paper, allowing overhang for easy removal.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, three-quarters of the ground cinnamon, and one-eighth of the ground nutmeg until uniform.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, combine the thoroughly mashed bananas, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk vigorously until smooth.
- Fold Batter Gently: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula to gently fold until just combined, being careful not to overmix to maintain a tender crumb.
- Prepare Caramel Swirl: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine all Spiced Maple Caramel Swirl ingredients. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring continuously, then reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Layer and Swirl Batter: Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Drizzle half of the warm caramel over the batter and gently swirl with a knife. Pour remaining batter on top, drizzle with remaining caramel, and swirl again. Reserve 1-2 tablespoons of caramel for serving.
- Bake Loaf: Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with aluminum foil for the last 15-20 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature with the reserved caramel drizzled over individual slices.
Notes
To achieve the best results, use very ripe bananas for natural sweetness and moisture. Avoid overmixing the batter, as this develops gluten and can lead to a dense loaf.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: Banana Bread, Quick Bread, Dessert, Baking, Oil, Caramel Swirl, Moist, Spiced, Family Friendly, Breakfast, Snack
