Have you ever had banana bread that tastes like a cinnamon roll? Well, get ready for something super special! This Cinnamon Roll Banana Bread is soft, sweet, and swirled with cinnamon sugar goodness just like a cinnamon roll, but way easier to make! Plus, it’s gluten-free and made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. It’s the perfect recipe to make when you’ve got ripe bananas and a craving for something cozy and delicious.
Method
Mash & Mix
First things first grab your large mixing bowl and peel those ripe bananas. They should be nice and spotty for the sweetest flavor. Mash them up until smooth and slightly creamy. Next, add in the sugar (whichever kind you’re using white, brown, or coconut), melted coconut oil, eggs (make sure they’re at room temperature), and vanilla extract. Mix everything together until it’s fully combined and you have a thick, smooth mixture. This is your wet base and it should smell amazing already!
Add the Dry Stuff
Now it’s time to bring the dry ingredients into the mix. Sift in the gluten-free all-purpose flour, baking soda, and cinnamon powder. Sifting helps make sure there are no lumps and keeps the batter light. Use a hand mixer or a good whisk to blend everything together, but be careful not to overmix. You want all the ingredients just combined to keep the bread soft and fluffy. The batter should be thick and spoonable.
Cinnamon Swirl Time
In a separate small bowl, stir together the granulated sugar and cinnamon powder for the swirl. It’s a simple combo, but it adds that classic cinnamon roll flavor and beautiful ribbons of spice inside the bread.
Layer It Up
Line your loaf tin with parchment paper, making sure there’s some overhang so it’s easy to lift the bread out later. Pour in half of your prepared banana bread batter and spread it out evenly with a spatula. Then, sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the top of that first layer. Try to cover as much surface area as possible so you get that yummy swirl in every slice. Pour the remaining banana bread batter on top and smooth it out gently. You can swirl the top lightly with a knife if you want a more marbled look.
Bake
Place the loaf tin in your preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for 50 to 55 minutes. Your kitchen will start to smell like cinnamon heaven! To check if the bread is done, insert a toothpick into the center if it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, it’s ready. If it’s still wet, give it a few more minutes and test again.
Cool & Glaze
Once the bread is fully baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the tin for about 10–15 minutes. Then lift it out using the parchment paper and place it on a wire rack to cool completely. While the bread is cooling, make your glaze by whisking together confectioners sugar, vanilla extract, and your milk of choice in a small bowl until smooth. Once the loaf is completely cool (this is important!), drizzle the glaze over the top in as many zigzags or swirls as your heart desires.
Slice & Enjoy
Now comes the best part slice into your beautiful banana bread and get ready for smiles all around! Each piece should have that soft banana center, sweet cinnamon swirl, and a perfect touch of glaze on top. It’s just like a cinnamon roll in banana bread form. Enjoy warm or at room temp with your favorite drink!
Necessary Tools
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 small bowl (for the swirl)
- Hand mixer or whisk
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Spatula
- Loaf tin
- Parchment paper
- Toothpick (for checking doneness)
Cinnamon Roll Banana Bread (Gluten-Free, Easy & Moist Recipe)
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy8
servings10
minutes55
minutes1
hour5
minutesIngredients
For the Bread:
3 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
¾ cup sugar (white, brown, or coconut sugar all work!)
⅓ cup melted coconut oil
2 large eggs (at room temperature)
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon powder
1 ½ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
For the Cinnamon Sugar Swirl:
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ tsp cinnamon powder
For the Vanilla Glaze:
½ cup confectioners sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp milk of choice (almond, oat, dairy it’s your call!)
Directions
- Mash & Mix: In your large bowl, mash the ripe bananas. Add the sugar, melted coconut oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Add the Dry Stuff: Sift the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon into the wet mixture. Mix it all together with a hand mixer or a good whisk until combined.
- Cinnamon Swirl Time! In your small bowl, mix the cinnamon and sugar for the swirl.
- Layer It Up: Line your loaf tin with parchment paper. Pour in half of the banana bread batter. Sprinkle all of the cinnamon sugar mix on top, then pour the rest of the batter over it.
- Bake: Pop the tin into a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 50–55 minutes. Check with a toothpick it should come out clean!
- Cool & Glaze: Let the bread cool completely. While it’s cooling, mix together your glaze ingredients in a bowl. Drizzle that sweet vanilla glaze all over the top once the bread is cool.
- Slice & Enjoy: Slice into thick, yummy pieces and enjoy the cinnamon roll magic!
Notes
- Make sure your bananas are ripe they should have brown spots. Unripe bananas won’t be sweet enough.
- Don’t overmix the batter after adding the flour; this helps the bread stay soft.
- Let the bread cool fully before adding the glaze if it’s too hot, the glaze will melt right off!
- Coconut oil should be melted but not hot this helps it mix in smoothly without cooking the eggs.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve warm with a pat of butter or dairy-free spread.
- Toast slices the next day for an extra crispy edge.
- Pair it with hot chocolate, coffee, or a cold glass of milk.
- Make it fancy: add chopped nuts or drizzle with extra glaze!
Fun Fact
Did you know cinnamon was once more valuable than gold? People in ancient times treasured it for its amazing flavor and even used it in perfumes and medicine! That means this banana bread is basically treasure.
Conclusion
There you have it Cinnamon Roll Banana Bread that’s soft, swirly, and oh-so-yummy! It’s like the best of both worlds: banana bread + cinnamon roll = total deliciousness. Whether you’re baking it for family brunch, snack time, or just because your bananas are going brown, this loaf will totally win hearts.
