Published 2/21/2021
How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread
We’ve all seen that perfect piece of banana bread in the window of our favorite bakery with a gorgeous cinnamon swirl right in the middle and we think–wow, I could never do that. WRONG! You can make your very own cinnamon swirl banana bread at home! This cinnamon swirl banana bread recipe isn’t that different that our perfect banana bread recipe! The only difference is you add a cinnamon swirl layer in between two layers of your batter!
Ingredients You Need
Here is everything you need to make this cinnamon swirl banana bread and some easy substitution options!
White whole wheat flour- we love using white whole wheat flour for baking.Feel free to use all-purpose flour if you want to, that should work. We have not tested this recipe with gluten-free flour. Brown sugar– The brown sugar in the recipe gives the banana bread a delicious and classic banana bread sweetness. Feel free to substitute it with coconut sugar. Baking soda– Don’t skip the baking soda. Salt– We add salt to most of our banana bread recipes because it brings out the natural flavors in the banana bread.Ripe bananas– You can really use any banana for the banana bread, but very ripe bananas have the best flavor! We used three medium bananas that equaled around 1 cup of mashed banana. Large eggs– We recommend using large eggs, no other size!Maple syrup– the flavor that maple syrup gives to this recipe is amazing! Greek yogurt– Why Greek? It works with the baking soda to leave you with fluffy and moist banana bread! Vanilla extract– We stuck with classic vanilla extract for this recipe. Unsweetened almond milk– This batter can be a bit thick and the almond milks helps to thin it out a bit. Butter– You use butter twice in this recipe. Once for the fat of the banana bread (yum) and in the cinnamon swirl. Feel free to substitute with coconut oil. Ground cinnamon– Delicious cinnamon is for the glorious cinnamon swirl in the middle of this banana bread.
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6 Healthy Muffin Recipes – 1 Base Batter
Are you a muffin queen just like us? Here’s our favorite base recipe for healthy muffins + 6 different healthy muffin recipes you can make with it! Get all 6 healthy muffin recipes HERE!
How to Add a Swirl to Banana Bread
Adding the swirl to this cinnamon swirl banana bread is a lot easier than you think. There are three ingredients in the cinnamon swirl—> melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Mix it up
To make the cinnamon swirl you add melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a small bowl and mix until it creates a thick, dark, syrup.
Add half batter to the pan
Pour half of your banana bread into a greased banana bread pan and then drizzle half of the cinnamon swirl to the top of the batter and use a knife or toothpick to swirl the two together. DO NOT OVER SWIRL. You want the swirl in the middle of the banana bread to be a bit thicker.
Add the rest of the batter
After you’ve done your first swirl pour the rest of the banana bread batter over the swirl and shake the pan to even things out. Add the rest of the cinnamon swirl to the top of the banana bread and swirl them together again! You can get fancy with this swirl!
Tips + Tricks
Banana Bread Baking Tools
Here are the tools you need to make this banana bread just right!
Do I have to tent my banana bread?
You don’t HAVE to tent your banana bread, but we do recommend it. No one likes a tough, overcooked outer layer and this is what the tenting prevents.
CAN I USE FROZEN BANANAS?
This recipe is a great way to use up all the frozen bananas you have In your freezer! Let your bananas thaw completely before mashing and measuring.
HOW MANY BANANAS DO I NEED FOR 1 CUP MASHED?
You will need around 3 medium bananas to get 1 cup of mashed bananas.
IS BANANA BREAD HEALTHY?
Most banana bread recipes are made with white sugar, all-purpose flour, and vegetable oil making it a not so good for you treat. That is why we created this bananas bread recipe! It’s made with whole grains, all-natural sugars, and a little coconut oil.
Storage
Let the banana bread cool completely before transferring it into an airtight container such as a gallon-size plastic bag. We recommend storing banana bread on the counter for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freezer Instructions
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