Salted Caramel Cottage Cheese Banana Bread
This banana bread is what happens when you’re craving something cozy but also want to feel somewhat put together about it. The salted caramel banana bread base is super moist from the cottage cheese and mashed banana, sweetened naturally with maple syrup (or honey), and gets this gooey, sticky salted date caramel drizzle that feels way fancier than it is.
It’s great on its own, even better with chocolate chips or walnuts, and honestly perfect for freezing—if you don’t eat the whole loaf first. This kind of banana bread with salted caramel will have you reaching for more.
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Recipe Tips
Blend your cottage cheese if you care about texture: It gives a super smooth finish, especially if you’re using small curd or chunky-style cottage cheese.
Don’t overmix the batter: Fold the dry ingredients in gently—this keeps the loaf tender and fluffy, ensuring that caramel and banana flavors are well blended.
Use ripe bananas: The spottier, the better. They give natural sweetness and moisture to your salted caramel banana bread.
The drizzle thickens as it cools: If it’s too thick to pour, just stir in a splash of almond milk to loosen it up, allowing the caramel to spread nicely over the banana bread.
Sprinkle flaky salt at the end: It balances the sweetness and makes the whole thing feel like a bakery situation, enhancing the salted caramel banana bread flavors.
Ingredient Swaps: No cottage cheese ? Use Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt if needed. No maple syrup ? Honey works great here too. Need it dairy-free ? Use plant-based milk and a vegan yogurt swap. No whole wheat pastry flour ? A gluten-free 1:1 mix or regular all-purpose works fine. Want mix-ins ? Fold in chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, or both. No dates for drizzle ? Try a store-bought date syrup or skip the caramel altogether—it’s still good on its own.
Room Temp: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days, keeping your salted caramel banana creation fresh.
Fridge: Store for up to 5–7 days. (Cottage cheese helps keep it moist longer!) The caramel flavor continues to meld into the banana bread over time.
Freezer: Wrap individual slices in plastic or store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temp or microwave for 20–30 seconds to reheat, bringing back the taste of salted caramel banana bread goodness.
More Banana Bread Recipes:
Salted Caramel Cottage Cheese Banana Bread
Ingredients
For the Banana Bread:
- 2 large bananas ripe and mashed (about 1 cup)
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese small curd or blended for smooth texture
- 2 large eggs or flax eggs for vegan: 2 tbsp flaxseed + 5 tbsp water, let sit 5 minutes
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips or chopped walnuts
For the Salted Caramel Drizzle:
- 8 Medjool dates pitted
- 1/4 cup hot water
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a loaf pan
- If you prefer a smoother texture, blend the cottage cheese until creamy (optional step)
- In a large bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, cottage cheese, eggs, maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla until smooth
- In another bowl, mix whole wheat pastry flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined
- If using chocolate chips or walnuts, gently fold them in now
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan
- Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan before transferring to a cooling rack
- While the bread bakes, blend the pitted dates, hot water, almond milk, vanilla, and sea salt in a blender or food processor until smooth; add more almond milk if needed for a drizzle-able consistency
- Once the bread has cooled, drizzle the salted caramel on top
- Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt for extra flavor if desired
- Enjoy!!!
