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Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is soft, moist and filled with warm spice and hints of sweetness.  It is perfect for breakfast or a snack.  Honestly, when I make this I end up eating it a few times a day.  It is that good!  I just keep going back for a little more and a little more!

There are a couple of other ways I like to make banana bread that are also delicious like this cinnamon swirl version. Cinnamon Swirl Cream Cheese Banana Bread and Award Winning Banana Bread are my other tried and true favorites.

Cinnamon swirl banana bread cut into slices with bananas in the background.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Sometimes I think I buy bananas so they can sit on my counter and get over-ripe just so I can make a delicious treat. With how amazing this cinnamon swirled banana bread was, I might just buy bananas every week so that I always have over-ripe bananas on hand! This bread was AMAZING!! My hubby took a bite of this and was screaming, this is the best banana bread you have ever made!!

This honestly felt like to me that it was a snickerdoodle banana bread. The cinnamon was swirled through the middle AND the top of the bread had like a cinnamon sugary crust. And it was so easy to make! Nothing complicated or hard, just simple ingredients and amazing results.  Wow!  Enough talking. Go use up those over-ripe bananas and make this as fast as you can! Or go and buy some and let them get over-ripe. Whatever it takes, because I am certain you will love this!

Ingredients for Cinnamon Banana Bread:

  • Over-ripe bananas: Smash with a fork or handheld mixer.
  • Melted Butter: Microwave for approximately 20 seconds.
  • Sugar: Adds a bit of sweetness
  • Egg: Beaten before adding to sugar, butter, bananas, and vanilla.
  • Baking Soda: Helps the bread rise while baking.
  • Salt: Just a dash.
  • Flour: Thickens and adds to the base of the bread.
  • Vanilla: Gives a rich flavor and brings out the cinnamon too!

Cinnamon Swirl:

  • Sugar: Mix together with the cinnamon to use for a swirl through the bread.
  • Cinnamon: Warm spice that will give a rich flavor to the banana bread.

Lets Bake Banana Bread!

  • Prep: Preheat your oven to 350. Grease and flour a loaf pan. I used a 9×5.
  • Combine some ingredients: Mix bananas, sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla together.
  • Carefully add final ingredients: Sprinkle baking soda and salt on top. Gently mix in the flour. Be careful not to over-mix!
  • First half of batter: Add half of the batter in the greased pan.
  • Spoon the cinnamon mixture on top: Use most of it, only leaving a little to sprinkle on the top.
  • Second half of batter: Pour the second half of the batter on top
  • Cinnamon mixture: Then, sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon sugar on top.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes. (Mine took 50) and adjust the baking time if you are using a smaller loaf pan.
The process of making cinnamon swirl banana bread.

Banana Bread Making Tips:

The perfect banana bread is something I crave often!  So, I wanted to learn to make it myself and I wanted to make it just right.  It took me some time to perfect it, but I finally did!!  Over the years, I have learned some easy tips that help my bread turn out amazing every time!

  • Line pan with parchment paper so its easier to remove the bread when it is finished. 
  • Ensure the banana is completely smooth before adding it to the mixture, otherwise you will find chunks in your finished bread.
  • For more texture, add walnuts, pecans, or chocolate chips.
  • To be sure the bread is done, stick a toothpick in it and if it comes out clean it is ready.
  • Allow to cool 20 minutes in pan, then allow to finish cooling completely on a cooling rack.

How to Store Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread:

  • Allow to cool completely before wrapping or storing in an airtight container.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or at room temperature for 2 days.
  • Freeze in individually wrapped slices for up to 6 months.

More Quick and Flavorful Bread Recipes:

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Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

5 from 1 vote
By: Alyssa Rivers
Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is soft, moist and filled with warm spice and hints of sweetness.  It is perfect for breakfast or a snack.  Honestly, when I make this I end up eating it a few times a day.  It is that good!  I just keep going back for a little more and a little more!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 12 Slices of Bread

Ingredients 

Cinnamon Swirl:

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 350. Grease and flour a 9 x5 loaf pan.
  • Mix bananas, sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla together.
  • Sprinkle the baking soda and salt on top. Gently mix in the flour. Be careful not to over-mix!
  • Add half of the batter in the greased pan. Spoon the cinnamon mixture on top of this. Use most of it, only leaving a little to sprinkle on the top.
  • Add the rest of the batter and then sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon sugar on top.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes. (Mine took 50) and adjust the baking time if you are using a smaller loaf pan.

Notes

Updated on May 19, 2020
Originally Posted on December 7, 2012

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 156mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 177IUCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Bread, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

 

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

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22 Comments

  1. Making This Bread as I Read The Comments,But I did not add cinnamon swirl in the middle I just did it on top with flax seed and oatmeal….. waiting patiently….Thanks For Sharing.

  2. This is the best banana bread recipe in existence. Friends, family and coworkers request that I make it frequently. Thank you for testing and sharing!

  3. Hi! I love this recipe. I use it all the time. But I was wondering, do you know what would happen if I used brown sugar in the cinnamon swirl mix (not the batter)? Do you think it would be good, or make it taste off? Thanks!

  4. Is the butter in the cinnamon swirl melted or warmed to room temperature so it is more like a paste? I’m unclear what I should expect. Thanks!

  5. My daughter in law made this for us at Christmas. It is delicious! Can it be frozen and still taste amazing?

  6. Love this bread!! It has become my “go to” recipe for extra bananas. So simple to put together with only a few ingredients. Thank you

  7. Made this bread…DELISH! Then made it into muffins… Wowza!
    I also added pecans to the swirl in the muffins.
    I’m finding myself buying more bananas than I know will be eaten just to make this recipe!
    This is my favorite banana bread recipe, thanks for sharing!

  8. I am new to baking so I wanted to verify one ingredient , is it baking soda like arm & hammer or baking powder?

  9. I made this on a day ago and my 10-year old ate it up. Sooo good! I did add some brown sugar to my cinnamon mixture. Also I substituted some of the white flour with flax meal and whole wheat flour. Now he wants more, so I am going to continue to experiment. I am using coconut oil instead of butter, and I am adding walnuts to the swirl (a request from my son.

    I looked at several other recipes but came back to this one. It is delish! and had fewer ingredients..

  10. This recipe is a keeper..sooo good! It is perfectly moist ..only thing I did different was put more then one layer of the cinnamon sugar in the middle. Thanks for a perfect recipe! Oh..and chocolate chips in the bread make it more amazing 🙂

      1. What do You do With The 1/3 Cup Butter??…I’m in the Middle of Mixing This…Doesn’t say Where The Butter Goes..Thx