Joy the Baker

Gluten-free Banana Bread with salted caramel

by 53 Comments

Gluten-free Banana Bread with salted caramel

Some days just feel like good days to turn on the oven.  The kind of day when you think you might-could crank up the heater, but instead you let the oven do the work… and maybe throw in a simple, fragrant loaf of banana bread.  It’s a win-win-win:  warmth, aroma, and actual fresh banana bread.  

Gluten-free Banana Bread with salted caramel

I made this loaf of banana gluten-free using an all-purpose 1-for-1 flour mix.  I really like King Arthur Gluten-Free Multi Purpose flour because it tastes clean.  Bob’s Red Mill is also good but has more of a bean flavor.  Glutino, also found in many grocery stores is a great option.  

I should do a baking test of gluten-free flours, shouldn’t I?  Yes.  

First, banana bread. 

Gluten-free Banana Bread with salted caramel

Banana bread is supposed to be fast and loose.  We can bend the baking rules.  Thank goodness!

Bending the baking rules sometimes means mashing together bananas and brown sugar in a large liquid measuring, because… I mean, a bowl is a bowl.  

I’d also like you to know that I dropped this measuring cup on the floor while trying to wash it.  It broke into 1 million tiny pieces.  RIP sturdy measuring cup.  You were a good one.  Thank you for your great service.  You will be missed.

Gluten-free Banana Bread with salted caramel

Browned butter, mashed banana, brown sugar, and vanilla are whisked together with eggs  before they’re mixed with the dry ingredients.  

We’re building flavors one ingredient at a time.  Brown butter and brown sugar are the heavy hitters.  Anything browned.  Anything molasses-y.  That’s what we want.  

Gluten-free Banana Bread with salted caramel

I always want a crumble on a quick bread.  

It’s a wonder I don’t just slice the top half of the entire loaf off and eat it myself.  Like a muffin-top bandit but for entire quick breads.  It’s the buttery oat topping.  Irresistible and crisp.  

Gluten-free Banana Bread with salted caramel

Baked to golden.

You’ll know it’s done when your kitchen smells impossibly good.  Like comfort and success and bananas and weekend.  Exactly like that.  

Gluten-free Banana Bread with salted caramel

This bread is so tender, moist, and light I nearly forgot it was free of fluffy gluten.  It’s amiable, not overly nutty or beany (as some gluten-free flours can be), and it’s just comforting and delicious. 

I topped the bread with a drizzle of salted caramel because (as always) it seemed like the right, decadent, ridiculous, smart thing to do.  

Oven, cranked.  Happy Baking! 

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Gluten-free Banana Bread with Salted Caramel

  • Author: Joy the Baker
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 40
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 1 1x

Ingredients

Scale

For the Banana Bread

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted, browned and cooled slightly
  • 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (I used King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cup mashed banana (from about 3 medium bananas)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk

For the Crumble

  • 3 Tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • scant 1/2 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons old-fashioned oats

For the Salted Caramel

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan and set aside.
  2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Butter will begin to foam and crackle as it melts. When the crackling subsides, the butter will begin to brown. Swirl the pan as the butter cooks. When the butter browns and begins to smell nutty, remove the pan from the flame and transfer the butter to a small bowl. Taking the butter out of the hot saucepan will stop the butter from overcooking and burning. Set aside to cool.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, mashed bananas, vanilla extract, and buttermilk.
  5. When butter has cooled, whisk in the browned butter.
  6. Add the wet ingredients, all at once to the dry ingredients. Fold together, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to reveal any hidden pockets of flour. Fold together ingredients, but try not to over stir.
  7. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
  8. To make the topping combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and rub together with your fingertips until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the batter in the bread pan.
  9. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to rest in the pan for 15 minutes, before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  10. Bread will last 4 days, well wrapped at room temperature. This loaf also freezes well. Just before ready to serve, drizzle with salted caramel.
  11. To make the caramel, add sugar, water, and corn syrup to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring once or twice. Bring to a boil and allow to brown. Once sugar has browned to a medium amber color, remove from heat and immediately add heavy cream and butter. Mixture will boil and foam. Stir well. Add salt and stir well to incorporate. Caramel may seem thin… that’s ok. Allow to cool in the refrigerator to thicken, or drizzle warm and loose over your banana bread. Your choice! You can’t go wrong.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen Dawson

    Hi there. I am new to gf baking and I would rather not use xantham gum. Can you suggest an alternative please? Much thanks!

    Reply

  3. Deepika

    Hi, I tried this and sadly the crumble on top just didn’t cook – the sugar didn’t event melt! The flour was loose and raw. Any ideas?! What am I doing wrong?

    Reply

  5. Kelsey

    So I made this recipe recently after entering myself in informal impromptu “Banana Bread Bake-Off” between a few co-workers and myself. I had never made banana bread before (I generally don’t like bananas), but love any excuse to bake and knew just where to look for a guaranteed yummy recipe. After a blind taste test of 6 different entries, my bread got 4 out of the 7 votes! My co-workers weren’t too happy a banana bread newbie won, but they were delighted to take home some leftovers. Thanks for the winning recipe! :)

    Reply

  6. tammyw5456

    If I don’t want to go gluten free, what amount of all purpose flour do I use for this recipe? Any other changes?

    Reply

  9. Blackbird

    Oh, Alice, these are the comments I love. “Did you use gluten free oats also?” Of course she did, just like she uses gluten free bacon and gluten free butter. Anyone who actually had celiac disease would know where you find gluten, and unless you or someone you bake for does you wouldn’t care. Please, please, people, educate yourselves on what you eat.

    Reply

  13. Paulette

    King Arthur has a baking flour besides the multipurpose flour. Haven’t tried it yet. Thanks for the gluten free recipe since I am gluten sensitive its a god send. Paulette

    Reply

  16. Jenna

    This looks delicious! Can’t wait to make it! If you do substitute all-purpose flour for the gluten-free flour, do you still need the xanthan gum?

    Reply

  17. Angela - Patisserie Makes Perfect

    This looks lovely. I can imagine the taste of the caramel against that crunchy topping. I wondered, what does the xantham gum add to the final recipe? Does this have something to do with the acidity of the bananas? Or is it more of a texture issue?

    Delicious looking cake.

    Reply

  18. Jordan the oven guy

    Salted caramel is always appealing and when there’s a banana in the mix it will be a whole another story. This will be perfect for a lazy Saturday – a simple treat. A glass of flavoured milk alongside a piece of that goodness and you can die happily :D

    Reply

  25. dessertfortwo

    That little sliver of sunshine in the corner of your first photo makes me want to crawl up in your warm kitchen and bake with you :) Can we wear chunky sweaters and sip big mugs of chai while we bake? Of course we can! We are adults!

    Reply

      • joythebaker

        No, oats can be manufactured where wheat is processes, but they themselves do not include gluten. Bob’s Redmill has gluten free oats that are packaged/manufactured in a gluten free environment.

        Reply

  28. Tanzi

    This bread looks absolutely amazing! Cup 4 Cup GF flour is amazing! We’ve seemingly tried them all & this blend wins every time. You won’t be disappointed. :)

    Reply

  29. Kate

    I can’t wait to make this! My little girls are going to love it too! Just so you know, Bobs red mill has a new 1-1 baking flour (blue bag not their a.p. In the red bag) that tastes exactly like normal flour! I only know this because I have to use it all the time :)

    Reply

  31. Elizabeth

    When you try and compare different gluten free flours, please try “Gluten Free Girl” flour. I think you need to buy it off their website. Her blog is one of the best ever and I don’t know of a couple who are more committed to sharing gluten free delicious food to those who actually need it.

    Reply

  32. Judy

    Lovin’ your blog sooo much. Have been following you for years! Delightful!
    Could I substitute AP flour for the gluten-free on a 1:1 basus?

    Reply

  38. adina

    This looks perfect, I could eat this instantly although I am not gluten intolerant either. I suppose the recipe would work as well with just all-purpose flour and without the xantham gum.

    Reply

  40. Kristina

    I need this! I want this! Oooh breakfast with this banana bread with some cream cheese on it. It would be a wonderful start of the day. Luckily I am not gluten intolerant, but it’s awesome that is gluten-free for all the poor souls out there.

    Reply

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