Banana bread or cinnamon rolls? Why choose when you can have both! These Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls bring together the best of both worlds: the tender sweetness of banana bread and the gooey, spiced swirl of classic cinnamon rolls — all topped with a silky glaze or dreamy cream cheese frosting.
They’re cozy, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet. Perfect for a lazy weekend brunch, holiday mornings, or anytime you want to spoil yourself (and everyone lucky enough to be in your kitchen).
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Why You’ll Love These Rolls
✔️ Soft, fluffy dough with banana sweetness
✔️ Warm cinnamon swirl for classic roll coziness
✔️ Two frosting options — glaze or cream cheese (or both!)
✔️ Great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert
✔️ Surprisingly easy — even if you’re new to baking yeast dough!
Ingredients
Here’s everything you need for these hybrid beauties:
| For the Dough | |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 2 cups (plus extra for dusting) |
| Granulated sugar | ¼ cup |
| Active dry yeast | 1 packet (2¼ tsp) |
| Salt | ½ tsp |
| Mashed ripe banana | ½ cup (about 1 large banana) |
| Milk (whole preferred) | ¼ cup |
| Unsalted butter (melted) | ¼ cup |
| Large egg | 1 |
| Vanilla extract | 1 tsp |
| For the Filling | |
|---|---|
| Unsalted butter (softened) | ¼ cup |
| Brown sugar (light or dark) | ½ cup |
| Ground cinnamon | 1½ tsp |
| Chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) | ¼ cup |
| For the Glaze | |
|---|---|
| Powdered sugar | 1 cup |
| Milk or cream | 2–3 tbsp |
| Vanilla extract | ½ tsp |
| For the Cream Cheese Frosting (optional) | |
|---|---|
| Cream cheese (softened) | 4 oz |
| Unsalted butter (softened) | 2 tbsp |
| Powdered sugar | 1 cup |
| Vanilla extract | ½ tsp |
| Milk | 1–2 tablespoon (as needed) |
How to Make Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
1️⃣ Make the Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix mashed banana, milk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir into a soft dough.
- Knead on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes (or use a stand mixer with a dough hook) until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
2️⃣ Prepare the Filling
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Roll out the risen dough on a floured surface into a 12×9-inch rectangle.
- Spread softened butter all over the dough, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and add nuts if using.
3️⃣ Roll & Slice
- Starting from the long edge, roll the dough tightly into a log.
- Slice into 12 equal rolls using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss for neat cuts.
- Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, leaving a little space between each one.
4️⃣ Second Rise
- Cover and let the rolls rise for 30–45 minutes, until puffy.
5️⃣ Bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
6️⃣ Make the Glaze or Frosting
- For the glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- For the cream cheese frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and just enough milk to reach a spreadable consistency.
7️⃣ Finish & Serve
- Drizzle warm rolls with glaze or spread with cream cheese frosting.
- Serve warm and enjoy every banana-cinnamon bite!
Pro Tips
🍌 Use very ripe bananas — they add more sweetness and flavor.
🌰 Nuts are optional but add a lovely crunch!
❄️ Rolls freeze well — just wrap tightly and thaw overnight, then warm slightly before serving.
🥄 If you like extra gooey rolls, add a splash of heavy cream over the rolls just before baking.
FAQs
Can I make them ahead?
Yes! Assemble the rolls and do the second rise overnight in the fridge. Let them sit at room temp for about 30–45 minutes before baking.
Can I use instant yeast?
You can — just skip proofing and add it directly to the dry ingredients.
What if I don’t like cream cheese frosting?
No problem! The simple vanilla glaze is sweet, shiny, and delicious on its own.
Conclusion
Why settle for plain banana bread or a regular cinnamon roll when you can have the best of both worlds in every cozy bite? These Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls are sweet, soft, full of warm spice, and the perfect way to level up your next brunch.
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