Hi there, baking buddies!
If you love the cozy flavor of cinnamon and the sweetness of ripe bananas, you are in for a real treat. Today, I’m sharing one of my favorite bakes Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread! It’s soft, sweet, swirly, and smells like a warm hug from the oven. The best part? It’s super easy to make and perfect for breakfast, snack time, or dessert.

Let’s get baking!

Method

Preparing the Pan and Preheating the Oven

First things first get your oven ready! Preheat it to 350°F (175°C) so it’s nice and warm when it’s time to bake. While the oven is heating, grab your loaf pan and either spray it with non-stick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. This will help your banana bread come out easily once it’s baked, with no sticking or tearing.

Mashing the Bananas

In a large mixing bowl, take your three ripe bananas and mash them with a fork until they are soft and smooth. You don’t need to make it completely lump-free some small chunks add a nice texture to the bread but make sure it’s mostly creamy. The bananas are the star of the show, giving sweetness, moisture, and flavor.

Mixing the Wet Ingredients

Now add the wet ingredients to your mashed bananas. Pour in 1/4 cup of milk (I used almond milk), 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and crack in 2 eggs. Whisk everything together until the eggs are fully broken down and the mixture is well combined. This creates the liquid base that will help blend your dry ingredients smoothly later on.

Stirring in the Dry Ingredients

Next, it’s time to add your dry ingredients right into the same bowl. Add 1 cup of almond flour, 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend), 3/4 cup of sugar (I used cane sugar), and 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Stir everything together with a spatula or wooden spoon until you see no more dry flour. Be careful not to overmix a few gentle stirs are enough. Overmixing can make your bread dense instead of fluffy.

Making the Cinnamon Sugar Swirl

In a separate smaller bowl, make the delicious cinnamon sugar swirl. Mix together 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 3/4 cup of sugar (I used coconut sugar for a slightly richer flavor), and 1/4 cup of melted butter (or oil). Stir until everything is combined and the sugar is slightly wet and sandy in texture. This is the magical swirl that gives the bread its sweet, spiced layers.

Layering the Batter and Swirl

Now for the fun part layering! Start by pouring a portion of the banana bread batter into the bottom of your prepared loaf pan. Then spoon some of the cinnamon sugar mixture over it. Repeat this process batter, then swirl, then batter again until you’ve used up both. I like to do three layers in total for that perfect swirl in every slice. Use a knife to gently swirl the top if you want a pretty marbled look!

Necessary Tools

Here’s what you’ll need from your kitchen
Mixing bowls (at least 2)
A whisk or fork
Measuring cups & spoons
A loaf pan
Spatula or spoon
Non-stick spray or parchment paper
Oven (of course!)

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Recipe by Henry AveryCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

hour

Total time

hour

minutes

Ingredients

Banana Bread
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (I used @bobsredmill 1:1 gluten-free baking flour)
3/4 cup granulated sugar (I used cane sugar)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk (almond milk works great!)
3 ripe bananas
2 eggs
Cinnamon Sugar Swirl
2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup granulated sugar (I used coconut sugar)
1/4 cup melted butter (or oil)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray or line your loaf pan so nothing sticks.
In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork until smooth.
Add the milk, vanilla, and eggs, and mix well.
Stir in the almond flour, all-purpose flour, sugar, and baking powder. Mix until everything is combined but don’t overmix!
In another bowl, mix the cinnamon, sugar, and melted butter to make your yummy cinnamon swirl.
Layer it up! Start by pouring some banana bread batter into the pan, then a layer of cinnamon swirl. Repeat this until you’ve used it all (I did 3 layers!).
Bake for 1 hour. You’ll know it’s ready when a toothpick poked in the center comes out clean.
Let it cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing. Then enjoy every cozy bite!

Notes

Don’t overmix the batter; this keeps your bread soft and fluffy.
Make sure the loaf is fully baked before slicing (test with a toothpick!).
Let it cool before cutting if it’s too warm, it might fall apart.
Use ripe bananas! Unripe ones won’t be sweet enough or soft enough.
If using oil instead of butter in the swirl, pick a mild one like coconut or canola.

Serving Suggestions

Serve warm with a pat of butter or a drizzle of honey.
Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert mode.
Pair with hot cocoa or your favorite milk for a comforting snack.
Great in lunchboxes or as a breakfast on the go!

Fun Fact

Did you know? Bananas get sweeter as they ripen! So the browner your bananas, the better your banana bread will taste

Conclusion

There you have it delicious, homemade Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread! This recipe is simple, tasty, and fills your kitchen with the most amazing smell. Whether you share it with family or keep it all for yourself (I won’t tell!), I promise it’ll be a favorite in no time.

Happy baking!