Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Cinnamon Topped Banana Bread is an irresistibly dense and incredibly moist quick bread, generously crowned with a sweet, spiced cinnamon sugar topping. Perfect for any time you crave a delightful treat, this easy banana bread recipe promises to become a beloved staple in your kitchen, offering comfort and flavor in every slice.

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Why This Cinnamon Topped Banana Bread is a Must-Bake

There are countless reasons to fall in love with homemade banana bread, but this cinnamon-topped version takes it to an entirely new level. It’s more than just a recipe; it’s an experience, a comfort, and a brilliant way to transform simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Irresistible Cinnamon Sugar Crust: The generous sprinkle of cinnamon sugar over the batter before baking creates a beautifully caramelized, sweet, and slightly crunchy crust. This magical topping adds an extra layer of flavor and texture that perfectly complements the rich, moist interior of the banana bread, making each bite an absolute delight.
The Perfect Use for Over-Ripe Bananas: Say goodbye to food waste! This recipe is the ultimate solution for those neglected, brown-spotted bananas sitting on your countertop. Overripe bananas are a baker’s best friend, providing natural sweetness, intense banana flavor, and essential moisture, resulting in a superior banana bread.
A Warm, Comforting Aroma: As this banana bread bakes, your kitchen will be filled with the intoxicating scents of sweet bananas and warm cinnamon. It’s an aroma that evokes feelings of coziness, nostalgia, and home, making it an ideal treat for a chilly morning or a relaxed afternoon.
Effortlessly Easy: Despite its gourmet taste, this recipe is incredibly straightforward and forgiving. Even novice bakers can achieve spectacular results with minimal fuss. It’s a quick bread, meaning no yeast or lengthy proofing times are involved, making it perfect for spontaneous baking cravings.
Versatile for Any Occasion: Whether you’re looking for a delightful breakfast item, a satisfying mid-day snack, an accompaniment to your coffee or tea, or a simple dessert, this Cinnamon Topped Banana Bread fits the bill perfectly. It’s suitable for family breakfasts, potlucks, or simply enjoying a quiet moment to yourself.

Baking, especially during colder months, offers a unique kind of warmth that extends beyond just the oven. On days when the air is crisp, and you’re bundled up indoors, there’s nothing quite like the comforting embrace of a freshly baked loaf. This banana bread not only helps to gently warm your home but also provides a sweet, aromatic escape from the outside world. The hour-long baking time becomes a part of the experience, a delightful anticipation for the treat to come. Every little bit of warmth, both from the oven and the heart, truly helps.

Essential Recipe Tips for Perfect Banana Bread

Achieving the perfect loaf of Cinnamon Topped Banana Bread is simpler than you might think, especially with a few expert tips. This section will guide you through maximizing flavor, texture, and overall success.

The Magic of Ripe Bananas

The secret to truly flavorful and moist banana bread lies in using very ripe bananas. These are the bananas whose skins are heavily speckled with brown, or even almost entirely brown. As bananas ripen, their starches convert to sugars, intensifying their sweetness and banana flavor, while also becoming softer and easier to mash, contributing significant moisture to your bread.

Storage and Ripening: If your bananas aren’t quite ripe enough, you can speed up the process by placing them in a paper bag with an apple or avocado. The ethylene gas they release will encourage ripening. For long-term storage of overripe bananas, simply toss them, unpeeled, into a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to bake, let them thaw at room temperature. The skins will turn black, which is normal, and the thawed bananas will be perfectly soft for mashing.
Mashing for Texture: This recipe cleverly uses a combination of mashed and pureed bananas. Mashing two bananas with a fork leaves small chunks, adding delightful textural interest, while beating the remaining bananas with sugar creates a light, fluffy base. This balance ensures both a rich banana flavor and a pleasant mouthfeel.

Enhancing Flavor with Add-ins

While delicious on its own, banana bread is also wonderfully versatile for incorporating other ingredients to customize its flavor profile.

Nuts for Crunch: Feel free to add about half a cup of your favorite nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or even almonds. Toasting nuts briefly in a dry pan or a low oven before adding them to the batter significantly intensifies their flavor and aroma, adding another layer of complexity to your bread. This also adds a touch more warmth to your kitchen!
Chocolate Chips or Dried Fruit: For an extra indulgence, consider folding in a handful of chocolate chips (dark, milk, or white) or dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, or chopped dates.

Quick Bread Fundamentals for Best Results

Banana bread falls into the category of “quick breads,” which rely on chemical leaveners like baking soda and baking powder rather than yeast. Following these fundamental quick bread tips will ensure a tender crumb and a beautifully risen loaf:

Proper Pan Preparation: To prevent sticking and ensure easy release, always prepare your loaf pan meticulously. Grease the pan thoroughly with butter or non-stick spray, then for an extra measure of security (and especially for a clean release of the bottom), line the bottom with a strip of parchment paper, leaving overhangs on the sides to use as handles. Grease the parchment as well.
Combine Dry Ingredients First: Whisking together the flour, baking soda, salt, and any other dry spices in a separate bowl before adding them to the wet ingredients helps to evenly distribute the leavening agents and flavorings. This reduces the amount of mixing needed once wet and dry ingredients are combined, preventing over-mixing.
Do Not Over-mix the Batter: This is perhaps the most crucial rule for quick breads. Over-mixing develops gluten in the flour, leading to a tough, chewy texture and undesirable “tunnels” throughout the loaf.
PRO-Tip for Mixing: Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, use a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula and mix just until the ingredients are *barely* combined and no streaks of dry flour remain. Lumps are perfectly acceptable! Never use an electric mixer at this stage.
Cooling is Key: After baking, allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. This allows the loaf to set its structure and makes it easier to remove. Then, carefully lift it out of the pan using the parchment paper overhangs (if used) and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling on a rack allows air circulation, preventing the bottom from becoming soggy.
Storage and Freezing: Banana bread freezes exceptionally well. Once completely cooled, wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, and store it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy. It’s a great way to have a delicious treat on hand for future cravings! For shorter-term storage, keep the cooled bread wrapped at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

This Cinnamon Topped Banana Bread is fantastic on its own, but here are a few ideas to elevate your experience:

Breakfast Treat: Enjoy a slice with your morning coffee or tea. A dollop of cream cheese or a smear of butter can make it even more decadent.
Dessert Delight: Serve a warm slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple yet satisfying dessert.
Spiced Warmth: For an extra layer of flavor in the bread itself, consider adding a pinch of nutmeg or a tiny amount of ground cloves to the dry ingredients.

Helpful Tools:

Having the right tools can make your baking experience even more enjoyable and efficient. These items are highly recommended for baking quick breads:

(Affiliate links) Loaf Pan: A sturdy, good-quality loaf pan ensures even baking and a beautiful shape for your bread.
Mixing Bowls: A set of various-sized mixing bowls is essential for separating wet and dry ingredients and combining your batter effectively.

The Recipe:

Cinnamon Topped Banana Bread Recipe

Prep Time
20 minutes

Cook Time
1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time
1 hour 35 minutes

Yield
16 servings

A moist, delicious banana bread with a cinnamon sugar topping adapted from 2 banana bread recipes. Bread recipe from Tyler Florence.

Ingredients

Bread::

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 very ripe bananas
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping::

2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with Baker’s Joy or another flour and oil non-stick spray. Place a rectangle of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, allowing it to overhang on the long sides for easy lifting, and spray the top of the parchment also. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
In a separate medium bowl, mash 2 of the bananas with a fork, leaving some small chunks for texture. In another large bowl, beat the remaining 2 bananas and 1 cup sugar together for about 3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla, then beat until thoroughly combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula just until incorporated. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can lead to a tough loaf. Gently fold in the mashed bananas with a rubber spatula. Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan, then gently tap the pan on the counter a couple of times to release any large air pockets.
In a small bowl, mix the topping ingredients (brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon) together until well combined. Sprinkle this mixture generously over the top of the batter in the loaf pan. You may not need to use all of it, but many find that using the full amount creates the best crust (I always do!).
Bake for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Don’t be alarmed if the banana bread develops a natural crack down the center of the loaf; this is typical and indicates it’s baking beautifully.
Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes on a wire rack. This helps the bread set its structure. Then, carefully use the parchment paper overhangs to lift the bread out of the pan and transfer it to the wire rack to cool completely. Some of the cinnamon topping may gently flake off, which is normal. Turn it right-side up and let it cool completely before slicing for the best texture and clean cuts.

Notes

For the most intense banana flavor and moisture, always use very ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots on their skins. Yellow bananas are not sweet enough for banana bread. If your bananas are not ripe, you can freeze them for later, or ripen them faster in a paper bag.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1 slice

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 154Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 194mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 1gSugar: 19gProtein: 3g

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