Banana Caramel Spice Bread

Golden Banana Caramel Spice Bread sliced to reveal moist crumb and caramel swirls, styled on white marble with bananas, caramel, and cinnamon in the background. — Homemade Banana Caramel Spice Bread with ribbons of caramel and warm spice flavors, perfect for cozy baking days.

Banana Caramel Spice Bread is everything you love about classic banana bread, but elevated with rich dulce de leche swirls and a warm spice blend that feels like a cozy hug. With each bite, you’ll taste the perfect harmony of ripe bananas, velvety caramel, and cinnamon-laced warmth.

This bread is irresistibly soft and moist, thanks to sour cream in the batter, while the dulce de leche ribbons create a stunning marbled effect that makes every slice a little different from the last. Perfect for breakfast, afternoon coffee, or even as a dessert, it’s as versatile as it is beautiful.

Interestingly, dulce de leche originated in Latin America and has been treasured for centuries as a sweet indulgence made by slowly heating sweetened milk until it caramelizes. Pairing it with banana bread isn’t just delicious — it’s pure genius.

Bake it once, and you’ll see why this recipe is destined to become a favorite for both casual bakers and seasoned pros.

Recipe Yield: 10 slices

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large)
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup dulce de leche, plus extra for swirling
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground allspice
¼ tsp salt
½ cup sour cream

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat and prepare:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.

2. Mix wet ingredients:
In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in mashed bananas and dulce de leche until combined.

3. Combine dry ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.

4. Make batter:
Add dry ingredients to wet mixture in two additions, alternating with sour cream, beginning and ending with dry. Stir gently until just combined — do not overmix.

5. Swirl for flavor:
Pour half the batter into the prepared pan. Drop small spoonfuls of dulce de leche on top, swirl lightly with a knife. Add remaining batter and repeat swirl on top for a beautiful marbled look.

6. Bake and cool:
Bake 55–65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Helpful Tips to Perfect This Recipe

Choose Extra-Ripe Bananas: Black-speckled bananas add natural sweetness and depth to the bread.
Don’t Over-Swirl: Too much swirling will blend the dulce de leche into the batter instead of creating visible ribbons.
Measure Flour Correctly: Lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off to avoid a dense loaf.

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