These delightful Salted Caramel Banana Bars are a symphony of sweet and salty flavors, with a tender, moist base, a luscious layer of caramel, and a sprinkle of sea salt. This easy dessert is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or sharing with friends and family.
These irresistible Salted Caramel Banana Bars are the ultimate treat, offering a perfect blend of textures and tastes in every bite.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A delightful balance of sweet banana, rich caramel, and a hint of salt.
- Textures: The bars have a moist, tender crumb, a gooey caramel layer, and a slightly crunchy salt topping.
- Total Time: Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, with about 15 minutes of active preparation.
- Difficulty: Beginner-friendly; a straightforward recipe that’s easy to follow.
What You’ll Need
These Salted Caramel Banana Bars are made with a simple, pantry-friendly list of ingredients. You’ll need ripe bananas for the moist base, a combination of flour, sugar, and eggs to create the perfect texture, and, of course, caramel, with sea salt bringing it all together.
Ingredient Notes
- Bananas – Ripe bananas are essential for the best flavor and moisture in your bars. Look for bananas that have plenty of brown spots.
- Butter – Softened unsalted butter will help create a tender crumb. Be sure to soften it to room temperature.
- Caramels – Use your favorite brand of caramels for this recipe. They melt into a luscious, gooey layer.
- Flaky Sea Salt – This adds a wonderful contrast to the sweetness of the caramel, so don’t skip it!
Add-ins and Substitutions
Want to customize your banana bars? Here are a few ideas:
- Chocolate Chips: Add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to the batter before baking for an extra chocolatey treat.
- Nuts: Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans on top of the caramel layer before baking for added crunch.
How to Make Salted Caramel Banana Bars
Let’s get baking! Here’s how to create these delicious Salted Caramel Banana Bars, step-by-step:
- Prep the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. This will prevent the bars from sticking and help them bake evenly.
- Whisk the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. An electric mixer works best for this step; you’ll want to beat it until a nice, light, and airy consistency is achieved.
- Add the Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract and mashed bananas. The batter may look a little lumpy at this point, but that’s okay.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
- Bake the Base: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Make the Caramel: While the base is baking, unwrap the caramels and place them in a medium saucepan with the heavy cream. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the caramels are completely melted and the mixture is smooth and combined
- Add the Caramel and Bake Again: After 20 minutes of baking, remove the pan from the oven. Evenly pour the warm caramel over the baked base. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the caramel is bubbly and the edges of the bars are set.
- Cool and Sprinkle: Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan. Sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt before slicing and serving.
Pro Tip: Be sure to let the bars cool completely before cutting. This will allow the caramel to set, making it easier to slice and serve.
Recipe Tips
Here are a few tips to help you make the perfect Salted Caramel Banana Bars:
- Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter can lead to tough bars, so mix until the ingredients are just combined.
- Check for Doneness: Use a toothpick to check if the base is cooked through.
- Cool Completely: Allowing the bars to cool completely helps the caramel set properly.
- Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: This helps the ingredients combine smoothly and evenly.
- Quality Salt: Use good-quality flaky sea salt for the best flavor and texture.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you along the way:
- Can I use overripe bananas?
Yes! Overripe bananas are perfect for this recipe. The riper the banana, the sweeter and more flavorful the bars will be. - How do I store these bars?
Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. - Can I freeze these bars?
Yes, you can freeze the bars. Wrap them individually or in a sealed container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Serving Suggestions
These Salted Caramel Banana Bars are delicious on their own, but here are some serving ideas to elevate your dessert:
- Whipped Cream: Add a dollop of fresh whipped cream.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve warm banana bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Coffee: Enjoy a bar with a warm cup of coffee.
- Nuts: Add drizzled chopped nuts as a topping.
Make This Recipe in Advance
You can prepare the batter or caramel a day in advance! Simply store them in the refrigerator, and assemble the bars just before baking. The baked bars can also be made ahead and stored for enjoying later.
Print
Salted Caramel Banana Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Yield: Varies
Description
These delightful Salted Caramel Banana Bars are a symphony of sweet and salty flavors, with a tender, moist base, a luscious layer of caramel, and a sprinkle of sea salt. This easy dessert is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth or sharing with friends and family.
Ingredients
Cake
2 1/2 c almond flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 c coconut oil melted
2 ripe bananas mashed
1/4 c maple syrup
1/4 c honey
2 eggs room temperature
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
12 oz cream cheese room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp – 1/4 c maple syrup to taste
Salted Caramel Sauce
1/2 c almond butter
1/4 c maple syrup
1/4 c coconut oil melted
1/4 tsp coarse salt
Instructions
Cake
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8 or 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl, mix melted coconut oil, mashed bananas, eggs, honey, maple syrup, and vanilla.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing until a batter forms.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the top.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, until browned and firm.
Let it cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
In a mixer, beat cream cheese, vanilla, and maple syrup until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Start with a little maple syrup and add more to taste.
Spread the frosting on the cooled cake.
Salted Caramel Sauce
Mix all the ingredients for the sauce until smooth. Drizzle it over the frosted cake, and serve
Notes
Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter can lead to tough bars, so mix until the ingredients are just combined.
Check for Doneness: Use a toothpick to check if the base is cooked through.
Cool Completely: Allowing the bars to cool completely helps the caramel set properly.
Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: This helps the ingredients combine smoothly and evenly.
Quality Salt: Use good-quality flaky sea salt for the best flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
