This is what happens when banana bread grows up, gets a little dramatic, and adds caramel.
It’s:
- Soft + custardy on the inside
- Golden + slightly crisp on top
- Sweet but balanced (thank you, salt)
- Crowd-friendly in a dangerous way
Also: it makes your house smell like you absolutely have your life together.
Ingredients
For the bread pudding:
- 8–10 cups brioche or challah, cut into 2-inch cubes
- 4 cups half-and-half (or whole milk)
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 5 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ cup (12 tablespoons) butter, melted
- 1¼ cups brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
For the salted caramel:
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
Instructions
1. Prep the situation
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Place the cubed bread in a large bowl.
(Slightly stale bread is ideal—fresh bread just turns… mushy. We said what we said.)
2. Make the custard
In a bowl, whisk together:
- Mashed bananas
- Half-and-half
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
Pour over the bread and gently toss until everything is soaked but not falling apart.
Transfer to your baking dish.
3. Add the butter-sugar magic
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Remove from heat and whisk in:
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
Until smooth and glossy.
Pour this all over the bread mixture and gently press/toss so it distributes.
(This is where things start getting serious.)
4. Bake it right
Cover with foil and bake for 45–55 minutes.
Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until:
- The top is golden
- The center is set but still soft
Let it sit while you make the caramel (important—don’t rush this).
5. Make the salted caramel (your new personality)
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
Remove from heat and whisk in brown sugar until smooth.
Stir in:
- Heavy cream
- Sea salt
Whisk until glossy and pourable.
6. Finish like a professional
Pour the warm caramel over the bread pudding.
Serve warm with:
- Fresh whipped cream (highly encouraged)
Extra drizzle of caramel (non-negotiable)
Pretty Together Tips (aka how to not mess this up)
- Bread matters
Brioche = richer
Challah = slightly lighter
Sandwich bread = absolutely not - Don’t skip the rest time
If you cut into it immediately, it will collapse emotionally and structurally. - Make-ahead friendly
- Assemble the night before
- Bake the next day
- Make caramel fresh (always)
- Want to elevate it?
- Add dark chocolate chunks → now we’re talking
- Add bourbon to the caramel → now it’s an event
- Add toasted pecans → texture queen
How to Serve This (because this is a moment)
Serve straight from the baking dish or transfer to a platter and:
- Drizzle caramel dramatically
- Add a loose cloud of whipped cream
- Finish with a pinch of flaky salt
When to Make It
- Mother’s Day brunch (this is your closer)
- Holiday mornings
- Any time you want people to text you after and ask for the recipe
