Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

This cinnamon swirl banana bread is out-of-this-world moist with sweet cinnamon sugar flavor spread throughout. Combine naturally sweetened over-ripe bananas for that classic banana bread flavor with warm cinnamon bun cosiness and you have a memorable afternoon treat you’ll be proud to serve family, friends or those famished after-schoolers!

Why You’ll Love This Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread Recipe

Moist and delicious: the overripe mashed bananas combined with oil, eggs, and honey lock in delicious moisture.

Super versatile: get creative with add-ins, such as chocolate or caramel chips, chopped nuts, or dried fruit.

Pantry-staple ingredients: you likely have all of the ingredients needed to make this cinnamon swirl banana bread recipe in your kitchen pantry.

Warm cinnamon flavor: the sweet and warm notes of the cinnamon sugar swirled throughout the bread add incredible flavor and texture to every slice.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread Ingredients

• Bananas – This moist cinnamon swirl banana bread recipe calls for 3 medium bananas (1 to 1.25 cups of banana) that must be smashed before mixing with the rest of the ingredients. Use ripe to overripe bananas when making banana bread, as these are naturally the sweetest and have the best texture for soft and moist bread.
• Eggs – Always allow eggs to reach room temperature when baking for best results.
• Oil – I make this cinnamon swirl banana bread with oil, not butter. Use a neutral-flavored oil, such as mild olive oil that won’t affect the bread’s flavor. Sunflower oil, vegetable oil, or Canola are good options too too. Oil tends to create a moister bread, but you can use melted and slightly cooled unsalted butter instead. I don’t recommend extra-virgin olive oil as it has quite a distinctive flavor.
• Sugar – Granulated sugar adds sweetness and a slightly crispy exterior to the baked bread. If needed, you can substitute white sugar for light brown sugar.
• Honey – Honey’s distinct flavor will sweeten the bread, add moisture for a soft crumb, and contribute to its browning. Use maple syrup instead, if you like.
• Flour – All-purpose flour is sturdy for baking. Sift the flour before you combine it with the wet mixture to prevent lumps in the bread batter.
• Salt – A small amount goes a long way to enhance the flavors in baked treats.
• Baking powder and soda – Two common leavening agents that will ensure a good rise in banana bread.
• Cinnamon – This will always add warmth dessert bread and pairs beautifully with banana. Nutmeg can make a nice alternative if you’re short on cinnamon.
• Cinnamon sugar swirl: Combine cinnamon and white sugar to create that classic brown sugar swirl effect in the bread.

Additions/Variations

Customize your brown sugar swirl banana bread with delicious add-ins:

• chocolate chips
• chopped walnuts
• whole sunflower seeds
• raisins
• chopped dates
• peanut butter or another nut butter

How To Make Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

You’ll also find the instructions without the photos in the recipe card.

Warm the oven to 350 degrees F and either grease or line an 8×4-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.

Mix the mashed bananas, eggs, oil, sugar, and honey in a large bowl.

Mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon) directly into the wet ingredients until the batter is smooth and free of flour lumps, but be careful not to overmix the batter.

Assemble the cinnamon sugar mixture in a separate small bowl by combining granulated sugar with ground cinnamon.

Pour about half of the banana bread batter into the pan and sprinkle a generous amount of the cinnamon sugar.

Repeat this with the remaining batter and cinnamon sugar mixture.

Insert a knife into the batter and use a gentle swirling motion throughout the batter to create a marbled effect.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until it passes the toothpick test (when inserted into the centre of the cake, a toothpick comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs).

Once baked, let the bread cool down slightly in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out to cool completely on a wire rack.

Cut your cinnamon swirl banana bread and serve with softened butter, jam, whipped cream, or plain.

More banana recipes here:

• Banana Muffin Tops
• Frozen Banana Bites
• Banana Date Muffins
• Banana Split Smoothie
• Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
• 2 Banana Choc Chip Banana Bread Recipe

How to ripen bananas quickly for banana bread

If you’re in a rush to soften your bananas for this easy cinnamon swirl banana bread, here’s what I’d try:

Method 1: Softening In A Paper Bag

Bananas, like most other fruits, naturally release a ripening gase called ethylene. When this gas is concentrated, it speeds up the ripening process.

Place your bananas in a paper bag, which will trap the gas while allowing adequate airflow to prevent moisture build-up and potential rot. Unripe bananas usually take 1-3 days to ripen, but you can speed up the process further by placing them on top of the fridge or another warm place.

Method 2: In The Oven

Heating unpeeled bananas in the oven at 300 degrees F for roughly 30-45 minutes will soften the bananas sufficiently to resemble ripened bananas. Once softened, allow the heated bananas to cool completely before smashing them to mix with the rest of the ingredients.

Method 3: In The Microwave

Heating unripe bananas in the microwave is the fastest method, but it doesn’t promote the same ripening process as the paper bag or oven method. Regardless, the microwave is the way to go if you want to soften your bananas in just a few minutes!

You’ll need to pierce the unpeeled bananas and then heat them for 30-second intervals in the microwave until they are soft enough to smash. Like the oven method, cool the heated bananas before using them.

Tips for This Cinnamon Swirled Banana Bread Recipe

• Do not overmix the batter; otherwise, the bread will not rise as well and will be dense and stodgy.
• Use ripe/over ripe bananas – spotty bananas are best, in fact the browner/spottier the better!
• For easy removal of the banana bread, I like to line the loaf pan with overhanging parchment paper.
• Assess doneness with the toothpick test: the cinnamon banana bread is done when a toothpick, knife, or skewer inserted into the loaf comes out clean or nearly clean (a few moist crumbs are fine).
• Allow the baked bread to cool for a few minutes in the loaf pan before turning it out on a wire rack. This helps set the bread, so it won’t crumble when you slice it.
• Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar generously between the layers of batter to achieve a cinnamon flavor throughout the bread.
• Frozen bananas can be used to make the banana bread batter. Follow my helpful tips in this Frozen Banana Bread Recipe!
• This recipe can be used to make cinnamon swirl banana bread muffins instead of a loaf of banana bread. Make sure to reduce the bake time, as muffins cook faster than an entire loaf.

How to Store leftover Banana Bread

At Room Temperature

This banana bread will keep moist and fresh if stored in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days.

In The Fridge

Place leftover cinnamon swirl banana bread in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Serve it chilled or let it rest at room temperature first. You can always toast a slice of your bread if you prefer warm banana bread.

In The Freezer

If you want to make this cinnamon swirl banana bread ahead of time or store it for longer, freezing it is a great option! Once completely cool, wrap the entire loaf or individual slices in plastic wrap and again with foil. Place the bread in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

Thaw the bread overnight on the counter or in the fridge and serve chilled, at room temperature, or heated in the oven or toaster.

Banana Bread FAQs

Can you add cinnamon to banana bread?

Yes, you can add cinnamon to banana bread. In fact, it never tastes quite the same without cinnamon, which is why I use it in most of my banana baking recipes.

What is the number one mistake made when making banana bread?

One of the biggest mistakes when following the cinnamon swirl banana bread recipe is overmixing the batter, preventing a good rise and creating a dense loaf.

More easy family-friendly recipes to try at home:

• Apple Almond Butter Snack
• Strawberry Cheesecake Cups
• Grilled Peaches and Cream
• Mini Apple Hand Pies
• Strawberry Cake Balls