A warm loaf of Cinnamon Swirl Banana bread with a cinnamon sugar topping is comforting and irresistible. With ingredients that you will likely already have on hand and a one-bowl preparation, this bread will be on your table in under an hour.
Do You Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from A Sweet Thyme
The sweet aroma of banana, paired with a rich cinnamon swirl and a cinnamon sugar topping, will fill your kitchen with warmth and coziness each and every day.
This bread has a beautiful cinnamon swirl running through each slice and the combination of bananas and cinnamon make for the perfect blend of sweet and savory.
Jump to:
Whether you are enjoying this bread as a quick breakfast, an afternoon snack, or even a light dessert, this cinnamon banana bread is delicious. The bread is moist, tender, and simple to make with just a handful of ingredients you likely have on hand. This loaf will soon become a favorite in your recipe collection.
If you love banana bread like we do, then you will love the Super Moist Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Banana And Pumpkin Muffins, or the Cranberry Walnut Bread!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy Recipe - This is a simple recipe that comes together quickly to make the best snack or breakfast.
- Simple Ingredients - You will likely have all of the ingredients on hand for this recipe.
- One-Bowl Prep - This recipe uses only one bowl so clean up is easy!
Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this banana cinnamon swirled bread:
Ingredient Notes
- Oil options: You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or any other oil you prefer as long as it's a neutral oil. Each will add a slightly different flavor to the bread, so choose the one you like best. I almost always use avocado oil.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Additions & Substitutions
Additions:
- Raisins or Cranberries - These ingredients would be sweet and chewy, adding a layer of texture to each bite.
- Chocolate Chips - If you are a lover of chocolate like I am, throw in a handful of chips into this recipe to give the bread a bit of indulgence.
- Nuts - Pecans, walnuts, or even almonds are a good match with this banana bread.
Substitutions
- Cream Cheese Frosting - Replace the cinnamon streusel with a sweetened cream cheese frosting for more tang.
- Pumpkin Spice - Replace the cinnamon with pumpkin spice to give the bread a fall-inspired flavor.
How To Make Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread: Step-By-Step
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with the exact ingredients are in the printable recipe card:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease or line an 8x4 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mash the bananas, add eggs, oil, sugar, and honey. Mix until well combined.
Step 2: Add the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon to the bowl. Mix until the batter is smooth.
Step 3: In a small bowl, mix ½ cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon.
Pour about half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle with a generous portion of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Add the remaining batter on top and sprinkle again with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Use a knife to gently swirl the batter creating a marbling effect. Sprinkle any remaining sugar on top of the loaf.
Step 4: Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recipe Tips
- Ripe Bananas: Use ripe bananas for a sweeter taste and smoother texture inthe bread.
- Cinnamon-Sugar: Make sure to generously sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar
layer between the batter layers to achieve a good cinnamon flavor throughout
the bread. - Toothpick Test: To ensure the bread is fully cooked, insert a toothpick into the
center. It should come out clean when the bread is ready. - Cooling: Allow the bread to cool in the pan before slicing. This
will help it maintain its shape and prevent it from crumbling when sliced.
Confidence Tip
Avoid overmixing by mixing the batter only until the ingredients are combined.
Overmixing can result in a dense rather than fluffy bread.
Storage And Reheating
Banana bread can stay fresh at room temperature for three days, if stored in a cool dry place. You can try one of a two different methods for storage: Plastic wrap or an airtight container. Wrap the loaf or store it in an airtight container.
If you love cinnamon then you will also love the Apple Cinnamon Smoothie! You can serve the smoothie with the Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins or the Apple Cranberry Tart for an afternoon snack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Resist the urge to add more as your banana bread will be damp and lumpy in the middle.
Ripe bananas are not only softer and easier to mash and blend into a batter, but they are also sweeter, which is why baking recipes specifically call for ripe bananas in ingredient lists.
To help your banana bread cool quicker, remove it from the baking pan. I use Bakers Joy on the inside of my pan before putting the parchment paper inside.
Other Delicious Desserts
Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread
Do You Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from A Sweet Thyme
Equipment
- 1 Loaf Pan
Ingredients
- 3 bananas mashed
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup oil neutral oil like avocado, olive, sunflower, etc
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Inside Swirl and Topping
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line an 8x4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together mashed bananas, eggs, neutral oil, sugar, and honey until well combined.
- Add the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon directly into the same bowl with the wet ingredients. Mix until the batter is smooth and there are no lumps of flour.
- In a small bowl, mix ½ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon for the swirl.
- Pour roughly half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle generously with about half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Add the remaining batter on top and sprinkle again with what is left of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Use a knife to gently swirl through the batter to create a marbled effect. Sprinkle any remaining sugar on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
the bread. Banana bread can stay fresh at room temperature for three days, if stored in a cool dry place. You can try one of a few different methods for storage: Plastic wrap and an airtight container. Wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap, and store it in an airtight container. If you love a crisp cinnamon-sugar topping, make extra cinnamon-sugar and put it on the top before baking. You can't go wrong!
Lisa Pagano says
Excellent recipe!
I made the banana cinnamon bread for a church social, and it was enjoyed by everyone.
Gwen Wolken says
That's nice to hear! Thanks.
Gwen Wolken says
You will love this cinnamon bread!!!!