Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Introduction

Few baked goods match the inviting aroma and irresistible pull of a freshly baked Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread. Studded with ripe bananas and swirled with fragrant cinnamon sugar, this classic loaf is both comfortingly familiar and unexpectedly delightful. Its soft, moist crumb and signature cinnamon ribbon make it the perfect treat for breakfast, a midday snack, or sharing with friends and family.

Why Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread Is a Must-Bake

This recipe takes standard banana bread and elevates it with a generous cinnamon sugar swirl throughout—adding flavor depth and a beautiful, bakery-style appearance. The simple ingredients and easy steps mean you’ll have a warm, nostalgic treat in just over an hour, with flavors and textures that keep everyone coming back for more.

The Secret to the Perfect Cinnamon Swirl

A classic cinnamon sugar mixture is the star here. By layering half of the banana bread batter, sprinkling the cinnamon blend, then finishing with the remaining batter and a final swirl, you create a gorgeous marbled effect in every slice. The result? A banana bread with a sweet, spiced center that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious.

How to Serve and Enjoy

Slice and serve warm with a pat of butter, or let the loaf cool entirely and cut generous pieces for the week ahead. It’s a fabulous companion to your morning coffee, an after-school snack, or even as a dessert topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Toasting leftovers brings the flavors to life, making each bite comforting and satisfying.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 10 hearty slices. Each serving contains roughly 225 to 250 calories, depending on your choice of mix-ins and added toppings. Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is a sweet indulgence meant to be shared and enjoyed in moderation alongside balanced meals.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread—A Recap

Marrying the richness of classic banana bread with a sweet, aromatic cinnamon backend, this loaf checks all the boxes for flavor, presentation, and simplicity. It’s guaranteed to become a staple in your baking repertoire and a new family favorite.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to instantly generate a categorized shopping list—making your grocery runs simpler and saving you time for more baking.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, prepare the cinnamon swirl by mixing together the 1/3 cup granulated sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
4. In another bowl, combine the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla extract, whisking until smooth. Stir in the mashed bananas.
5. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined; don’t overmix.
6. Pour half the banana bread batter into your prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the batter. Add the remaining batter on top and finish with the rest of the cinnamon sugar.
7. With a butter knife, gently swirl the top layer of cinnamon sugar into the batter to create a marbled look—don’t overdo it for the best swirl effect.
8. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
9. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and serve as desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is perfect for meal prepping breakfast or snacks for the week ahead. Save and schedule this recipe to see it alongside your weekly breakfast plan and take advantage of automatically generated shopping lists that smartly combine ingredients from all your planned recipes.

Planning Benefits:

– Automatically adds up total ingredient amounts for the week
– Shopping lists organized by store section for faster trips
– No duplicate purchases—just what you need, when you need it
– Perfect for prepping snacks or breakfast in advance

Pro tip: If planning multiple banana recipes or baked goods, schedule all your baking to optimize banana ripeness and ingredient usage for zero waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes (plus cooling)