Description
This Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread combines moist, flavorful banana bread with a delightful cinnamon swirl throughout, topped with a sweet vanilla glaze. The perfect treat for breakfast, snack, or dessert, this easy-to-make loaf balances the natural sweetness of bananas with warm spices and a luscious glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Banana Bread Batter
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup milk
Cinnamon Swirl
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Vanilla Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will help incorporate air for a lighter texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg until well combined, then stir in the vanilla extract to enhance flavor depth.
- Mash Bananas: In a separate bowl, mash the ripe bananas until mostly smooth, leaving a few small lumps for texture.
- Combine Bananas: Add the mashed bananas to the butter and sugar mixture and mix well to evenly distribute the fruit.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt to ensure even leavening and seasoning.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Milk: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk in thirds and halves, mixing gently and carefully to avoid overmixing which could make the bread tough.
- Prepare Cinnamon Swirl: In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until it forms a thick, spreadable paste.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Layer Batter and Swirl: Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, then dollop half of the cinnamon swirl mixture on top. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cinnamon mixture into the batter.
- Repeat Layering: Pour the remaining batter over the cinnamon layer, then dollop and swirl in the remaining cinnamon mixture similarly.
- Bake Bread: Bake for 50-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, tent the bread with foil to prevent burning.
- Cool Bread: Let the banana bread cool for 10 minutes in the pan before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely for best slicing results.
- Prepare Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Adjust the milk amount to your desired glaze consistency.
- Glaze Bread: Once the bread is fully cooled, drizzle the vanilla glaze over the top and allow it to set for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can substitute half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
- If bananas are not ripe enough, you can speed up ripening by microwaving them for 30 seconds until soft.
- Ensure the bread is completely cooled before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting and running off.
- The loaf can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Freezing slices wrapped tightly can preserve freshness for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: banana bread, cinnamon swirl, banana loaf, homemade banana bread, sweet bread, cinnamon sugar, vanilla glaze, breakfast bread, dessert bread
