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Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 58 reviews

This Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is a moist and delicious treat with a perfect balance of sweet banana flavor and warm cinnamon spice. Featuring a cinnamon sugar swirl through the center and a rich vanilla cinnamon glaze on top, it’s a comforting homemade bread perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 4 Tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 2/3 cup (135g) granulated sugar (or packed brown sugar)
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 and 1/2 cups (345g) mashed bananas (about 4 medium or 3 large ripe bananas)
  • 1/3 cup (80g) plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Swirl

  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Glaze/Icing

  • 1/2 cup (60g) confectioners’ sugar, sifted
  • 1 Tablespoon (15ml) heavy cream or milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Oven and Pan: Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). This setup prevents the bread’s top from browning too quickly. Grease a 9×5-inch metal loaf pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
  2. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Set this bowl aside for later use.
  3. Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar on high speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy, which takes about 3 minutes.
  4. Add Eggs and Wet Ingredients: With the mixer running on medium speed, add the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next. Then beat in the mashed bananas, Greek yogurt, and pure vanilla extract until fully combined.
  5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Lower the mixer speed to low and slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix until just combined and there are no flour pockets remaining. Avoid over-mixing to keep the bread tender.
  6. Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Swirl: In a small bowl, mix the 1/4 cup granulated sugar with 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon to create the cinnamon sugar filling.
  7. Assemble the Batter and Swirl: Spoon half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Evenly sprinkle half of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the batter. Gently pour and spread the remaining batter on top, taking care not to disturb the layer below too much. With a knife, swirl through the center of the loaf to create a cinnamon swirl pattern, avoiding over-swirling.
  8. Bake the Bread: Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 55–65 minutes. Halfway through baking, loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  9. Cool the Bread: Remove the bread from the oven and cool it in the pan on a wire rack for 1 hour. Then, remove it from the pan and let it cool completely on the wire rack.
  10. Make and Drizzle the Icing: Whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream (or milk), and pure vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle this glaze over the cooled banana bread before slicing.
  11. Store Properly: Store the banana bread covered at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week. Note that the icing will seep into the bread over time, making the top slices slightly moist.

Notes

  • Use ripe bananas for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
  • Do not over-mix the batter once dry ingredients are added to avoid a dense bread texture.
  • Swirling the cinnamon sugar gently keeps distinct layers for a beautiful presentation.
  • Covering the bread with foil halfway through baking prevents the loaf from browning too much on top.
  • The glaze can be adjusted in thickness by varying the amount of heavy cream or milk.
  • Store the bread in an airtight container or wrapped tightly to maintain freshness.

Keywords: banana bread, cinnamon swirl, homemade bread, breakfast bread, cinnamon sugar, banana recipe, easy banana bread

Find it online: https://trendytasterecipes.com/cinnamon-swirl-banana-bread-recipe/