Caramelized Banana Finish

Oct 13, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Frostings fillings toppings Vanilla: Extract Easy

Banana slices cooked in butter and brown sugar until glossy, with vanilla. For banana cake, chocolate, caramel and peanut butter desserts.

Prep 10 min

Cook 6 min

Total 16 min

Servings 12

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

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servings

3.0 (350.0 g)ripe but firm bananas
2.0 tbsp (28.0 g)unsalted butter
3.0 tbsp (40.0 g)light brown sugar, packed
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
pinch of fine sea salt

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Instructions

Peel the bananas and slice them 1/2 inch thick on the diagonal.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, add the brown sugar and stir until it bubbles.
Add the banana slices in one layer and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side until glossy and golden; stir in the vanilla and salt off the heat.
Cool 5 minutes, then spoon over the dessert while still slightly warm.

Tips

Slightly underripe bananas hold their shape in the pan.
Spoon the pan syrup over the top too.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make caramelized banana finish?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 6 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes tops one cake, 12 cupcakes or doughnuts, or a cheesecake.

How should I store caramelized banana finish?

Serve within 2 hours; the bananas soften as they sit.

Can I make caramelized banana finish ahead?

Cook them just before serving; they do not keep.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Banana slices cooked in butter and brown sugar until glossy, with vanilla. For banana cake, chocolate, caramel and peanut butter desserts.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

56 Calories / serving

2.0g Fat

10.0g Carbs

0.3g Protein

6.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~672 cal · 24g fat · 120g carbs · 4g protein · 82g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.