Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread: Easy, Cozy Recipe (Print Version)

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is a cozy classic! Learn my easy, personal recipe for moist banana bread with a sweet cinnamon ribbon. Perfect for any time!

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 60 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 75 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegetarian

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
05 - 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 1/4 cup (60ml) milk (any kind)
08 - 3-4 very ripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1.5 cups)

→ For the Cinnamon Swirl

09 - 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar (light or dark)
10 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
11 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

→ Optional Touches

12 - 1/2 cup chocolate chips
13 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get your oven preheating to 350°F (175°C). And grab a 9x5-inch loaf pan. I usually spray mine with non-stick spray and then lightly flour it, just to be sure nothing sticks. There's nothing worse than a perfectly baked Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread that refuses to come out of the pan, trust me. I've had that happen, and it's a real bummer, a true kitchen disaster! Make sure you get into all the corners. This little step saves so much heartache later on.
02 - In a large bowl, mash those ripe bananas until they're mostly smooth but still have a few small lumps – I like a bit of texture! Then, whisk in your melted butter, eggs, granulated sugar, and milk. This is where the magic starts to happen; you'll see it transform into a creamy, golden mixture. Don't overmix here; we're just combining everything until it's well-incorporated. I remember one time, I got distracted and kept whisking, and the texture just wasn't quite right. Keep it light!
03 - In a separate, medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, and salt. Now, gently add the dry ingredients to your wet ingredients. Mix just until combined. Seriously, stop mixing as soon as you don't see any dry streaks of flour. Overmixing develops the gluten too much, and you'll end up with tough bread, which is a real shame for Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread. This step always smells so promising, like sweet potential!
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together your brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and a tiny bit of melted butter until it forms a crumbly mixture. This is our glorious swirl! It smells amazing, honestly, like pure autumn. This simple step makes all the difference for your Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread. I once tried to just sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top, and it just didn't get that beautiful ribbon effect. This mixture is key!
05 - Pour about half of your banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle about half of your cinnamon swirl mixture evenly over the batter. Then, gently spoon the remaining banana bread batter on top. Finally, sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon swirl mixture over the top layer. Now, here's the fun part: take a knife or a skewer and gently swirl it through the batter a few times, creating that beautiful marbled effect. Don't overdo it, or you'll lose the distinct swirl!
06 - Pop your loaf pan into the preheated oven. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Every oven is different, so keep an eye on it! The top should be golden brown, and the smell will be absolutely irresistible. When it’s done, the aroma of Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread will fill your entire home, a truly comforting scent. Let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is a virtue here, even if it's hard!

# Notes:

01 - Don't overmix the batter! Seriously, just mix until no dry streaks remain. I learned this the hard way with a very dense loaf.
02 - Use really, really ripe bananas. The spottier, the sweeter, the better. Green bananas make for bland bread.
03 - Let the bread cool completely before slicing for the cleanest cuts and best texture. Warm is good, but fully cooled is better!
04 - For an extra moist loaf, don't overbake! A slightly underbaked center is better than a dry one. Trust your skewer test.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - 9x5 inch loaf pan
02 - mixing bowls
03 - whisk
04 - spatula
05 - measuring cups/spoons

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 350
Total Fat: 15g
Total Carbohydrate: 50g
Protein: 5g

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