Banana Brûlée Pull-Apart Bread with Cinnamon Sugar
This indulgent pull-apart bread transforms refrigerated crescent rolls into a gooey, caramelized treat studded with fresh banana slices. Each bite delivers warm cinnamon-sugar coating and a rich brown sugar glaze that creates a brûlée-like caramelized top. The bread bakes in a fluted tube pan, creating an impressive presentation that's perfect for weekend breakfast, brunch gatherings, or dessert. The combination of buttery crescent dough, sweet bananas, and molten brown sugar sauce makes this an irresistible crowd-pleaser that's surprisingly simple to prepare.
Ingredients
- 2 cans refrigerated Pillsbury Grands Butter Flake Crescent Rolls (12 oz, 8 count)
- 2 ripe bananas, slicedsliced apples1:1
peel and slice thin
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- 1
Heat oven and spray fluted tube cake pan with nonstick baking spray
- 2
Open crescent rolls and cut dough into small bite-sized pieces
- 3
Mix sugar and cinnamon in large bowl
- 4
Toss crescent pieces and banana slices in cinnamon-sugar mixture
- 5
Place coated crescents and bananas in prepared pan
- 6
Microwave butter, brown sugar and vanilla until melted and smooth
- 7
Drizzle butter mixture over dough in pan
- 8
Bake until top layer is medium golden brown
- 9
Cool briefly then invert onto serving platter
- 10
Serve warm
Tips
Use very ripe bananas for maximum sweetness and easier slicing without breaking apart
Don't skip the cooling time before inverting - it helps the bread hold together when turned out
Serve immediately while warm for the best gooey texture and caramelized flavor
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat in 300°F oven for 10 minutes.
Assemble in pan up to 4 hours ahead, cover and refrigerate. Add 5-10 minutes to baking time if cold.
Best served warm directly from the oven while the caramel sauce is still gooey.
Common Mistakes
Don't overbake or the bread will become dry and the bananas will turn mushy
Wait for full cooling time before inverting to prevent the bread from falling apart
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
peel and slice thin
FAQ
Can I use homemade dough instead of crescent rolls?
Yes, but you'll need to adjust baking time and the dough should be pre-rolled and cut into similar sized pieces for even cooking.
How long does this keep at room temperature?
Best eaten within 4-6 hours at room temperature, after that refrigerate to prevent spoilage from the fresh bananas.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Not recommended due to the banana texture changes when frozen, but you can freeze for up to 1 month and thaw overnight.