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Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is a delightful twist on the classic. What sets this recipe apart is the luscious cinnamon sugar swirl running through the middle and on top, creating a beautiful marbled effect and an extra burst of flavor. It’s irresistibly delicious!
I also have a few other variations of banana bread that are just as delicious. You’ve got to try these other tried and true banana bread recipes, Cinnamon Swirl Cream Cheese Banana Bread and Award Winning Banana Bread.
Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread
I buy bananas just to let them over-ripen so I can make this recipe. This cinnamon swirl banana bread is so amazing! When my husband tried it he said, “This is the best banana bread you’ve ever made!”
This quick bread recipe tastes like a Snickerdoodle. Cinnamon swirled through the middle and a cinnamon sugar crust on top, incredible! So easy to make with simple ingredients. Stop reading and go make it with those mashed bananas!
Ingredients for Cinnamon Banana Bread:
The beauty of these simple ingredients means you can whip up this comforting treat whenever you’ve got ripe bananas on hand, no fuss needed!
- Over-ripe bananas: Gives quick bread moisture and yummy banana flavor.
- Melted Butter: Microwave for approximately 20 seconds.
- Granulated 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.
- All-Purpose Flour: Thickens and adds to the base of the bread.
- Vanilla Extract: Gives a rich flavor and brings out the cinnamon too!
Cinnamon Sugar Mixture:
- Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and texture enhancing the flavors in the bread!
- Ground Cinnamon: Warm spice that will give a rich flavor to the banana bread.
Let’s Bake Banana Bread!
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper leaving a 1-inch overhang on either side and spray with pan spray.
- Cinnamon sugar mixture: In a small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the bananas, sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients: Add the baking soda, salt, and flour with the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Be careful not to overmix!
- First half of batter: Pour half of the banana bread batter into the greased pan. Spoon about ¾ of the cinnamon mixture evenly on top of the batter.
- Second half of batter: Add the rest of the batter and then sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon sugar on top.
- Bake: Bake for 50-60 minutes, and adjust the baking time if you are using a smaller loaf pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out mostly clean from the center of the loaf, with minimal crumbs stuck to it.
- Cool: Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing.
Banana Bread Making Tips:
I often crave the perfect banana bread, so I set out to master making it myself. After some trial and error, I finally nailed it! Over the years, I’ve picked up a few easy tips that ensure my banana bread turns out amazing every single time.
- Parchment Paper: Line the pan with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the bread when it’s finished.
- Use a hand mixer: Ensure the bananas are completely smooth before adding them to the mixture. Otherwise, your finished bread will contain chunks. Beat it really well with a hand mixer.
- Add-ins: For more texture or to change up the flavor, stir in 1 cup of add-ins. For instance, you could use chopped walnuts, toasted pecans, or chocolate chips.
- Poke test: To be sure the bread is fully baked, stick a toothpick in the center. If it comes out mostly clean, with only a few crumbs, it is done!
- Let cool in the pan: Allow the bread to cool for 20 minutes in the pan before removing it to finish cooling on a cooling rack.
How to Store Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread
After baking your perfect banana bread, here are some tips to keep it tasting great: let it cool completely, then store it in the fridge for short-term enjoyment or freeze it for later.
- Cool completely: Allow the bread to cool completely before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or storing it in an airtight container.
- Refrigerator: Store in the fridge for up to 7 days or at room temperature for 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze loaves whole or in individually wrapped slices by wrapping them well in 2-3 layers of plastic wrap, followed by a layer of heavy-duty foil. Place them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 2-3 hours before unwrapping and enjoying.
Banana Bliss!
Got some over-ripe bananas and craving something sweet? I’ve got you covered! Explore these delicious banana recipes below!
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Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups mashed over-ripe bananas, about 3 large bananas
- ⅓ cup butter, melted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Swirl:
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper leaving a 1-inch overhang on either side and spray with pan spray.
- Mix the bananas, sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl.
- Add the baking soda, salt, and flour and mix until combined. Be careful not to overmix!
- Add half of the batter to the greased pan. Spoon about ¾ of the cinnamon mixture evenly on top of the batter.
- Add the rest of the batter and then sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon sugar on top.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, and adjust the baking time if you are using a smaller loaf pan. Bake until a toothpick comes out mostly clean from the center of the loaf, with minimal crumbs stuck to it.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.
So easy to make and a huge hit around my house! This is now my go-to banana bread! Thank you!
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!
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!
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!
My daughter in law made this for us at Christmas. It is delicious! Can it be frozen and still taste amazing?
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
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!
I am new to baking so I wanted to verify one ingredient , is it baking soda like arm & hammer or baking powder?
Yes. 🙂
This looks great! What would you think about browning the butter? mmmmm!
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..
How much flax seed flour did you use?
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 🙂
It looks GREAT
I’d like a slice right now 🙂
How much vanilla?
This comment has been removed by the author.
It states in the instructions to mix in the vanilla, however there is no vanilla listed in the ingredients??!!
Im so sorry about that! I have fixed that for you! It is 1 tsp vanilla! 🙂
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
It says in step 2 with the sugar, egg, and vanilla. 🙂
THis looks so delicious! I am definitely pinning this for future use 🙂 Thanks!