The Ultimate Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread: A Heavenly Twist on the Classic

There’s something truly magical about the aroma of freshly baked banana bread wafting through your kitchen, but when you add a gorgeous cinnamon swirl and a luscious vanilla glaze, you’ve created something extraordinary. This Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread recipe transforms the beloved classic into an irresistible treat that’s perfect for breakfast, afternoon snacks, or even dessert.

The Perfect Marriage of Flavors

Banana bread has been a household staple for generations, cherished for its ability to transform overripe bananas into something spectacular. But this recipe takes that foundation and elevates it to new heights. The rich, moist banana base provides the perfect canvas for ribbons of sweet cinnamon sugar that create beautiful swirls throughout each slice. Topped with a silky vanilla glaze that adds just the right amount of sweetness, this bread is truly a masterpiece.

The beauty of this recipe lies in its perfect balance of flavors and textures. The natural sweetness of ripe bananas pairs harmoniously with the warm spice of cinnamon, while the tender, moist crumb contrasts beautifully with the slightly crispy exterior. Each bite delivers layers of flavor that dance on your palate, making it impossible to stop at just one slice.

Why This Recipe Works

What sets this cinnamon swirl banana bread apart from ordinary recipes is the technique used to create those gorgeous swirls. Instead of simply mixing cinnamon into the batter, we create a separate cinnamon sugar mixture that’s swirled through the batter just before baking. This method ensures that you get distinct ribbons of cinnamon flavor throughout the bread, creating visual appeal and concentrated pockets of spiced sweetness.

The addition of the vanilla glaze isn’t just about aesthetics – though it certainly makes the bread look bakery-worthy. The glaze adds an extra layer of sweetness and vanilla flavor that complements both the banana and cinnamon perfectly. It also helps keep the bread moist and adds a delightful textural contrast.

Tips for the Perfect Loaf

Success with this recipe starts with choosing the right bananas. You want bananas that are very ripe – the kind with brown spots all over the peel. These overripe bananas have converted much of their starch to sugar, making them incredibly sweet and easy to mash. They also provide the moisture that makes banana bread so tender and delicious.

When making the cinnamon swirl mixture, make sure your butter is at room temperature. This allows it to cream properly with the sugar and cinnamon, creating a smooth mixture that will distribute evenly through the batter. Don’t overmix the final batter – fold the ingredients together just until combined to ensure a tender crumb.

The key to beautiful swirls is technique. After pouring half the batter into your prepared pan, add dollops of the cinnamon mixture, then top with the remaining batter and more cinnamon mixture. Use a knife to create gentle swirling motions – don’t overmix, or you’ll lose those distinct ribbons of flavor.

Ingredients

For the Banana Bread:

• 3 large overripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

For the Cinnamon Swirl:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

For the Vanilla Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. Line with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mash the overripe bananas until smooth. Add the melted butter and mix well.

3. Stir in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract until well combined.

4. Add the baking soda and salt, mixing until incorporated.

5. Gradually fold in the flour, mixing just until combined. Don’t overmix.

6. For the cinnamon swirl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a small bowl. Mix until it forms a thick paste.

7. Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan.

8. Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon mixture over the batter, then pour the remaining batter on top.

9. Add the remaining cinnamon mixture in dollops on the surface.

10. Use a knife to gently swirl the cinnamon mixture through the batter, creating marble patterns.

11. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

12. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

13. While the bread cools, prepare the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt until smooth.

14. Once the bread has cooled, drizzle the glaze over the top, allowing it to drip down the sides.

15. Let the glaze set for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Moist banana bread with beautiful cinnamon swirls and vanilla glaze, perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Servings: 12 slices

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American, Comfort Food

Calories: 285

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Banana Bread

• 3 overripe bananas mashed
• 0.33 cup butter melted
• 0.75 cup sugar
• 1 egg beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 pinch salt
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour

Cinnamon Swirl

• 0.25 cup butter softened
• 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp all-purpose flour

Vanilla Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 tbsp milk or cream
• 0.5 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 pinch salt

Equipment

• 9×5-inch loaf pan
• Large mixing bowl
• Small mixing bowl
• Wire cooling rack

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan. Line with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mash bananas until smooth. Add melted butter and mix well.
3. Stir in sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract until combined.
4. Add baking soda and salt, mixing until incorporated.
5. Gradually fold in flour, mixing just until combined. Don’t overmix.
6. For cinnamon swirl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour until thick paste forms.
7. Pour half the batter into prepared pan. Drop spoonfuls of cinnamon mixture over batter.
8. Add remaining batter, then top with remaining cinnamon mixture. Swirl with knife.
9. Bake 55-65 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan.
10. Turn out onto wire rack. Mix glaze ingredients until smooth, then drizzle over cooled bread.

Notes

Use very ripe bananas for best flavor and moisture. Bread improves in flavor after first day. Store covered at room temperature up to one week.

Storage and Serving Suggestions

This cinnamon swirl banana bread stays fresh for up to one week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, wrap individual slices in plastic wrap and freeze for up to three months. The bread actually improves in flavor after the first day, as the flavors have time to meld together.

Serve this bread as is for a delightful breakfast or afternoon snack, or elevate it further by serving warm slices with a pat of butter, cream cheese, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. It pairs beautifully with coffee, tea, or a tall glass of cold milk.

This recipe also makes wonderful gifts. Wrap cooled loaves in plastic wrap and tie with a pretty ribbon for a thoughtful homemade present that’s sure to be appreciated.