There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked banana bread filling your kitchen — warm, comforting, and sweetly nostalgic. This Maple Glazed Banana Bread takes the classic banana bread you know and love and elevates it with a luscious maple glaze that adds a rich, buttery sweetness and a beautiful glossy finish.
Every slice is moist, tender, and bursting with banana flavor, balanced perfectly by the caramel-like depth of pure maple syrup. It’s the ultimate comfort bake — perfect for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon coffee treat.
Why I Love This Recipe
I love this recipe because it combines the simplicity of traditional banana bread with the decadence of a bakery-style glaze. The maple syrup not only sweetens the loaf naturally but also adds a warm, rich flavor that pairs beautifully with ripe bananas and a hint of vanilla.
The texture is what truly makes it special — soft and moist on the inside, slightly crisp around the edges, and topped with a silky glaze that seeps into the loaf just enough to make every bite perfect.
Why It’s a Must-Try Dish
This Maple Glazed Banana Bread is a must-try because:
- It’s ultra-moist and flavorful thanks to ripe bananas and a touch of brown sugar.
- The maple glaze adds richness and elegance without being overly sweet.
- It’s simple and foolproof, perfect for everyday baking.
- It’s versatile — delicious warm, cold, plain, or dressed up with nuts or chocolate.
- It makes a wonderful gift — beautifully glazed and wrapped, it’s perfect for holidays or housewarmings.
This recipe is comfort and sophistication in one slice — a timeless treat that never fails to delight.
Preparation and Cooking Details
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooking Time: 55–60 minutes
- Cooling Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Servings: 10 slices
- Calories: Approximately 290 kcal per slice
- Course: Breakfast / Dessert / Snack
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the Banana Bread:
- 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 ½ cups)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ½ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
For the Maple Glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- 1–2 teaspoons milk (adjust for consistency)
- Pinch of salt
Cooking Directions
- Preheat your oven:
Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper. - Mash bananas:
In a large mixing bowl, mash ripe bananas until mostly smooth with a few small lumps. - Combine wet ingredients:
Add melted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined. - Mix dry ingredients:
In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. - Combine wet and dry mixtures:
Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and stir gently until just combined — do not overmix. - Add nuts (optional):
Fold in chopped walnuts or pecans for texture. - Bake:
Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. - Cool:
Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing. - Make the glaze:
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, milk, and a pinch of salt until smooth and pourable. - Glaze the bread:
Drizzle or spread the maple glaze over the cooled banana bread. Let it set for about 10 minutes before slicing.
Step-by-Step Preparation Method
- Preheat & prep: Line or grease your loaf pan.
- Mash bananas: Use a fork or potato masher until smooth.
- Mix wet ingredients: Combine bananas, butter, sugar, syrup, eggs, and vanilla.
- Mix dry ingredients: Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Combine: Gently fold dry into wet until no dry streaks remain.
- Pour & bake: Add batter to loaf pan and bake 55–60 minutes.
- Cool: Allow to cool before adding glaze.
- Glaze: Mix ingredients until smooth and drizzle over loaf.
How to Serve
Maple Glazed Banana Bread is delicious served:
- Warm with butter: A cozy breakfast or afternoon snack.
- With coffee or tea: The glaze adds just enough sweetness to pair perfectly.
- Toasted: Lightly toast a slice and drizzle with a little extra maple syrup.
- As dessert: Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a simple but elegant treat.
For presentation, slice and serve on a wooden board with extra glaze drizzled over the top — it looks rustic and inviting.
Recipe Tips
- Use overripe bananas: The darker the peel, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread.
- Don’t overmix: Overmixing can make the bread dense instead of soft.
- Line your pan: Makes removal easier and keeps the loaf intact.
- Cool before glazing: Warm bread will melt the glaze instead of setting it.
- Add-ins: Mix in chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit for extra flavor and texture.
Variations
- Maple Pecan Banana Bread:
Add ½ cup chopped pecans to the batter and sprinkle some on top before baking. - Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:
Mix in ½ cup mini chocolate chips and skip the glaze for a kid-friendly twist. - Maple Cream Cheese Frosted Banana Bread:
Replace glaze with a maple cream cheese frosting for a decadent dessert version. - Whole Wheat Banana Bread:
Substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a heartier loaf. - Vegan Maple Banana Bread:
Use coconut oil instead of butter and flax eggs (2 tbsp flaxseed + 5 tbsp water) instead of eggs.
Freezing and Storage
- Room Temperature:
Store glazed banana bread in an airtight container for up to 2 days. - Refrigeration:
Keeps well in the fridge for 5–6 days. Warm slightly before serving. - Freezing:
Wrap tightly (without glaze) in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw overnight at room temperature and glaze before serving.
Special Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- 9×5-inch loaf pan
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Cooling rack
Conclusion
This Maple Glazed Banana Bread is everything homemade baking should be — easy, cozy, and irresistibly delicious. The moist banana loaf is enhanced by the buttery sweetness of the maple glaze, creating a bakery-quality treat that’s simple enough for everyday enjoyment.
It’s a perfect recipe for using up ripe bananas, and once you taste that glossy maple topping, you’ll never go back to plain banana bread again. Each slice is sweet, tender, and comforting — a true taste of home.
Maple Glazed Banana Bread
Description
There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked banana bread filling your kitchen — warm, comforting, and sweetly nostalgic.
Ingredients
For the Banana Bread:
For the Maple Glaze:
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
-
Mash bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash ripe bananas until mostly smooth with a few small lumps.
-
Combine wet ingredients: Add melted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
-
Mix dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
-
Combine wet and dry mixtures: Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and stir gently until just combined — do not overmix.
-
Add nuts (optional): Fold in chopped walnuts or pecans for texture.
-
Bake: Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 55–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
-
Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before glazing.
-
Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, maple syrup, melted butter, milk, and a pinch of salt until smooth and pourable.
-
Glaze the bread: Drizzle or spread the maple glaze over the cooled banana bread. Let it set for about 10 minutes before slicing.
