Slow Cooker Banana Bread Cake with Brown Sugar Sauce — Soft, tender CrockPot banana bread with a caramely, brown sugar sauce that develops while the bread cooks!! If you’ve never made a slow cooker dessert, start with this easy recipe!!
CrockPot Banana Bread Recipe
I’ve never made a slow cooker dessert until now, and it certainly won’t be the last. But I’m trying to think of this as banana bread with a sauce rather than as a banana dessert or cake.
It sounds healthier so you don’t feel too badly when you’re eating it by the warm spoonful straight from the slow cooker with tons of sweet, juicy sauce in every bite like I did. This CrockPot banana bread is soft, tender, full of rich banana flavor, and the sauce that forms while the bread bakes is pure caramely heaven.
The sauce also helps keep the banana bread with brown sugar extra moist because there’s nothing worse than dry bread or cake and in a slow cooker things can dry out if you’re not careful, but no worries about dryness here.
I adore banana bread and am no stranger to it with 40+ different original banana bread recipes, and it’s hard to pick a favorite, but this one ranks right up there. The next time you have ripe bananas, this is a must-make!
What’s in CrockPot Banana Bread?
To make this CrockPot banana dessert recipe, you’ll need:
- Eggs
- Canola oil
- Light brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Ripe bananas
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder and baking soda
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Boiling water
How to Make CrockPot Banana Bread
To make the banana bread batter, simply whisk together the wet ingredients before adding in the dry. Turn the batter into your CrockPot, then make the caramel sauce.
To the same bowl you mixed the banana bread batter in, stir together additional brown sugar and boiling water. Carefully pour this mixture over the batter in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on high for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the edges have set and are light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into center of bread comes out clean
Can I Make This in an Oven?
I don’t think so! If you made it in the oven, you’d need multiple loaf pans since slow cookers are quite large. If you’re craving baked banana bread, check out one of my (many) Banana Bread Recipes.
Can I Add Chopped Nuts to the Batter?
Probably, but since this is CrockPot banana bread I’m not sure how cooking the nuts in the slow cooker would affect their texture. If you try this out and enjoy the result, leave me a comment down below!
Tips for Making CrockPot Banana Bread
Note that you MUST use a 6-quart slow cooker (or larger), otherwise this CrockPot dessert may overflow while it cooks.
Also, I highly recommend using a slow cooker liner when making this CrockPot banana bread. Liners make cleanup a breeze and ensures the bread doesn’t stick to the slow cooker insert.
Lastly, after you’ve poured the caramel sauce mixture over the banana bread batter do NOT stir it in! You want the sugar-water mixture to pool around the batter — this will create the caramel sauce as the CrockPot banana bread cooks.
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Slow Cooker Banana Bread Cake with Brown Sugar Sauce
Soft, tender CrockPot banana bread with a caramely, brown sugar sauce that develops while the bread cooks!! If you've never made a slow cooker dessert, start with this easy recipe!!
Ingredients
Bread
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large bananas)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, optional and to taste (I’ve made it with and without, both versions are good depending on preference)
Sauce
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 1/2 cups boiling water
Instructions
- Line a 6-quart slow cooker with a liner if using one. I prefer to use liners for easy cleanup and storage, see step 7. Spray liner or base and sides of slow cooker with cooking spray; set aside. Do not use a smaller slow cooker because the bread rises quite dramatically and it will overflow.
- To a large bowl, add the eggs, oil, sugars, vanilla, and whisk to combine.
- Add the bananas and stir to combine.
- Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, optional cinnamon, and stir to combine. Turn batter out into prepared slow cooker and spread it into a smooth, even, flat layer; set aside.
- To a large bowl (the same one you already used is fine, just wipe it clean with a paper towel), add the brown sugar, boiling water, and whisk to combine.
- Carefully pour the hot sugar-water mixture over the batter in slow cooker. Do not stir. This mixture turns into the sauce while the bread bakes; do not stir.
- Cover and cook on high for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the edges have set and are light golden brown and a toothpick inserted into center of bread comes out clean. Start checking at just over one hour to ensure you don’t overbake. My bread was done in 95 minutes. All slow cookers vary so cook until bread is done. I have not tested the recipe using the low heat setting and can’t speak to baking time or results.
- Remove the top portion of the slow cooker (the ceramic bowl the cake is cooking in) from the base (heating element) to allow bread to cool momentarily before serving.
Bread:
Sauce:
Notes
- Bread is best warm and fresh but will keep in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temp, noting the sauce absorbs into the bread by the second day.
- Storage is much easier if you use a liner because you can lift the entire liner out, bread and all, and place in an airtight container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 398Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 233mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 2gSugar: 33gProtein: 5g
More Homemade Banana Bread Recipes:
Cream Cheese-Filled Banana Bread – Banana bread that’s like having cheesecake baked in! Soft, fluffy, easy and tastes ahhhh-mazing!
Flour’s Famous Banana Bread – Made with Flour Bakery’s famous recipe to see if it lives up to the hype. Verdict? Make it!
Browned Butter Buttermilk Banana Bread with Strawberry Butter – The browned butter and buttermilk add richness, softness, and moisture, and the strawberry butter makes it that much better!
Pineapple Coconut Oil Banana Bread – Buttermilk, bananas and coconut oil keep this bread super moist, tender and it tastes like a tropical vacation!
Brown Sugar Blueberry Banana Bread with Blueberry Butter – Blueberry coffee cake meets super soft banana bread!
Six-Banana Banana Bread – Six bananas in one loaf of bread means an extremely soft, moist, and richly flavored bread!
Zucchini Banana Bread — Soft, super moist, easy, no mixer needed! Jazz up regular banana bread by adding zucchini and it’s healthier, too! (Great recipe to save for when your garden is over-flowing with zucchini!)
The Best Strawberry Banana Bread – Super soft, moist bread with tons of juicy strawberries! Easy, no-mixer recipe, and the best use for ripe bananas!
Peach Mango Coconut Oil Banana Bread – The coconut oil pairs so perfectly with the peaches and mangoes!
Peanut Butter Apple Banana Bread — Jazz up regular banana bread with peanut butter and apples! A perfect combo that tastes amazing together!! Fast, easy, no mixer required, and a hit with everyone!
Has anyone tried this gluten free?
I have not but maybe someone will see this and respond. You could try a GF flour intended for baking like https://amzn.to/3ScUUlS
It is terrific! I’ve made it twice in two weeks. Tonight I added in some chocolate. The fact it has a liner makes it so easy to clean up. Even though I played with the recipe a bit tonight it was only for fun, not that this needs anything else. It is great as is and will be my new go-to potluck or group dish. My crockpot took about 75 minutes to cook through.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad that you’ve been experimenting with flavor variations and that it’s your new potluck go-to dish!
I followed the recipe with the only exception, I used parchment paper and canola spray to line my crock pot with. This is BY FAR the tastiest banana bread out there. We’ve demolished almost half of it in like 10 minutes time. This stuff is just delicious. Seriously I can’t think of enough “good” adjectives to describe it lol. Will definitely be looking through more of your posts. Thanks for an amazing recipe!
Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that it’s by far the tastiest banana bread for you! Great to hear that parchment works well rather than the plastic slow cooker liners. I have never tried parchment in a slow cooker to line it but that’s a great suggestion that I will experiment with in future slow cooker recipes!
Great recipe! I don’t have a slow cooker so I used an oven for this, 350F for about 35 minutes and it ended up great! I also added a little more vegetable oil than I normally would so it wouldn’t dry out. Very yummy!
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad it turned out great for you based on how you ended up making it!
What size is used for slow cooker? Says over flow if it is too small but doesn’t say size….unless I missed that part!?
Yes you did miss it. Listed in step 1. Enjoy the cake!
great recipe, works every time with or without cinnamon. this is one of my daughter’s favorite cakes (and mine)
Thanks for the five star review and I’m glad it’s one of your and your daughter’s favorite cakes!
Can this be made in an oven? If so, what temperature and what other adjustments should I make
Not sure since I have not done it that way. You would need many loaf pans since they volume of a 6-quart slow cooker is significant.
Followed the instructions, to the letter.
After 2 hours, my knife comes out doughy.
I don’t have tooth picks it seems.
Then your slow cooker just runs cooler than mine. Cook it until it’s done and set, whatever that means in your machine.
Yes I made this for the first time & it was moist & very tasty & i will be making this again as it was yummy …
Glad you will make it again!
Delicious!!! I am making it a second time, this tiem I addeed chocolate chips. This tastes a lot better than the breads cooked in the oven.
Thanks for the 5 star review and I’m glad that you’re making it a second time!
Hi, i was looking for slow cooker dessert recipes and found this. I want to try it today, do you think i can use alumunium foil for lining the slow cooker? I don’t have plastic lining which is safe for food
I wouldn’t use foil. They sell liners in the section of the store where ziplock baggies, clingwrap, etc. are kept.
I think this is foolproof! I didn’t intentionally try to screw it up but first I turned it on and it wasn’t plugged in for 20 min the I plugged it in but the plug was loose. Then I set it to low instead of high for a hour. Realized the mistake and change it to high for about a hour and came out great!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you even with a few goofs :) Most of my recipes are written with lots of flexibility, you just took it a little farther…haha! Glad it still came out great!
I made this this afternoon and it turned out great! Would be great with a scoop of ice cream on top as well! This is my first ever “dessert in a crock pot” and I would say, it is quite the success!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you!
Try this slow cooker dessert next! https://www.averiecooks.com/2016/02/slow-cooker-hot-fudge-chocolate-cake.html So good!
I just made this last night in my 3.5 quart oval crock pot. Worked just fine for me with no overflowing! There was 1″-1.5″ still from the finished cake to the top of the crock pot. It was thicker though and took 3.5 hours to cook. It was delicious, my whole family loved it!
This is our first summer in Arizona’s heat so I’ve been using my electric appliances more than when we lived in Indiana. I started looking at slow cooler recipes including desserts and found several good ones but this is the one in my slow cooler right now. We can’t wait to try it and other recipes from your site.
I am so glad you tried this and I hope you enjoy! Great way to beat the heat by not firing up your oven!
Hubby and I read this on my phone first. We thought you were using foil paper. This is probably why it’s not done even though it’s been cooking for 2h15min. Don’t know what to do to fix this. :(
All slow cookers, ingredients, and climates vary. Just cook until it’s done. You’ll be able to see and know when that is and it’s set and cooked through. My slow cooker runs on the hot/fast side…yours may not be like mine. Enjoy the banana bread cake!
What size crock pot should I use? Is 3 Quart too small?
Step 1. of the directions I mentioned the size.
Yes a 3-qt would be too small.
I tried this last week and my family loved it! My only complaint was that there wasn’t enough sauce in the bottom. the cake was moist and great but I kinda wanted more. :) So, do you think I could double the sauce and it would still turn out? Do you think it would make the bread soggy at the bottom?
I think that you could add a bit more sauce, maybe not quite double it, but do like 1.5x the amount. I haven’t played around with it so can’t say for sure. Also some slow cookers are just hotter than others and things can dry out easily. Maybe you could cook a few minutes less, add a bit more sauce, and see what happens. With slow cookers, it’s never quite an exact science but glad you loved the recipe!
Slow cooker desserts! The most wonderful combination of 3 words. I have found my new obsession! Love it!
This looks delicious!! I don’t have a slow cooker ( I know, I should totally just get one) do you think I can bake this in a regular cake pan? It just looks so good!
Hmm, not sure. I don’t think it would turn out the best because there would be SO much extra liquid. I would recommend trying one of my other banana bread recipes that you can see linked within the post which are made for a bread pan.
oh yummy!
OHMYGERD!!!! I literally was staring at all the sad unhappy bananas I didn’t want to put in my freezer, but it was kinda late to make dessert (apparently my 3 am baking habit, while appreciated makes my husband fat he thinks…) So I remembered seeing this pop up in my email yesterday whilst running errands. BOOM. Instant happiness in a crock pot. Delicious and oh so easy. Thanks for a new way to cook at 3 am and not feel bad for forcing my husband to be fat :D
Thanks for trying this recipe Jen on the day I posted it! Or, 3am right after I posted it :) I’ve done so much baking over the years between midnight and 3am it’s unreal. Gotta get stuff done when you can sometimes! Glad you enjoyed this one!
What a creative way to make banana bread. I love it!
Oh my lord, this banana bread looks amazing! My guys will gobble it up!
Hi Averie!
It’s Joanie, your loyal San Diego neighbor follower.
This week is perfect for using the slow cooker, record breaking heat! I’m going to try this tomorrow. My question: do you think can I add walnuts? Or would they get soggy?
Love all of your recipes!!
I think if you want to toss in a few nuts it would be fine. But I haven’t tried so not sure what exactly the texture will be. Enjoy the recipe!
I put some chip pecans in on top after I had poured everything into the slow cooker before cooking. I only put them on half of the mixture since my husband doesn’t eat nuts and I love them. It turned out beautifully and was delicious!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you! Nice way to split up the nuts, too!
This recipe looks amazing! I don’t use my crock pot nearly enough, I need to start asap. :)
The bread doesn’t brown very well in the crockpot, but if you want, you can put it under the broiler briefly.
It’s been a long time since I’ve made dessert in the crockpot–I may have to try again! Yum! I love both of my crockpots–I noticed you have some more recipes coming soon–I will look forward to them. I tried crockpot yeast bread last summer–it came out resonably good–I wanted homemade bread but it was too hot to heat up the kitchen. Sorry, I guess I’m in a rambling mood. :)
That’s pretty awesome about yeast bread in a slow cooker. I have seen recipes online, wondering how the results were. I am sure it’s highly variable based on the slow cooker itself, kneading techniques, etc. but glad to know it works reasonably well. And yes quite a few more slow cooker recipes coming up!
Oh my holy heck. I might have to make this today. Seriously. BEST slow cooker dessert EVER.
It was so good! One of the easiest banana breads ever and the flavor was awesome. I know you have plenty of slow cooker desserts and now I am on the bandwagon. I found myself wanting to turn all recipes into slow cooker recipes for about 10 days (and my posts will show it the next few weeks..lol) til I told myself stop. Not everyone will be that into this :)
I have never made dessert in a slow cooker either but this might be the first recipe I try! It’s always good to have a few banana recipes on hand in case they get too ripe to eat by themselves. :) Thanks for sharing!
This looks like Banana Cobbler (that’s the one with the bready topping, I think…?) and I’ve never seen that.
I’ve never made dessert in a slow cooker either, though I’ve read that you can. It seems like a good idea, but messy. Those baggy things are GENIUS. Maybe not so eco-friendly, but since you don’t use water to clean it up, it’s probably the same difference.
Cleanup is a cinch and I cannot imagine making a sticky dessert without one! It would be like trying to make a cake without using cooking spray in your pan, times ten! Since it just get slow-cooked on for hours sticky stuff is caramelizing.
This cake/bread was so good and so easy!
I’m so obsessed with my slow cooker this season it’s not even funny! I’ve tried almost everything and this banana bread is totally going on the list. Love how moist and gooey it is
It was so moist and gooey! We loved that part about it!
This looks yummy all around from the texture to the sauce! I’ve never tried anything like this but crock pots are so convenient when you don’t want to use the oven. I am anxious to see what else you come up with!
I have quite a few more slow cooker recipes in the next couple weeks so stay tuned. And yes the texture on this was great and combined with the sauce, we loved this!
I’ve gotta hop onto the slow cooker dessert bandwagon. I have a hard time seeing it for anything other than meat, and that’s just not the way it is! And brown sugar sauce? Sign me up!
I know, my lifelong resistance to slow cookers is because it’s usually a meat dish made with tons of salty premade sauces or condensed soups but I know it doesn’t have to be that way!
OH MY GOSH THIS LOOKS SO GOOD! Crock pots are just wonderful in so many ways right?! You totally rocked this, girl! I would be all over this in a heartbeat. I can just imagine the smell that crockpot was giving off while it was cooking!!! :)
The smell was so insanely good while it cooked, yes!