Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
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If you love homemade banana bread and classic fresh cinnamon rolls, this recipe combines the best of both into one decadent breakfast. They are super soft, fluffy and loaded with banana flavor in each bite!
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What Are Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls?
A delicious mashup of classic banana bread and homemade cinnamon rolls. Ripe bananas are mixed directly into the dough, adding natural sweetness, moisture, and banana flavor throughout every bite. Each roll is swirled with a buttery cinnamon brown sugar filling, layered with sliced bananas, and topped with a rich, creamy cream cheese frosting that melts into every warm roll.
They are extra soft and fluffy (thanks to the bananas) and have rich and gooey centers. They’re perfect for weekend brunches, holiday breakfasts, or anytime you have overripe bananas waiting to be turned into something extra special.
Other banana-filled recipes are Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Cookies, Banana Nut Muffins, Baked Banana Oatmeal and Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies.
Why You’ll Love banana cinnamon rolls
key ingredients
- Active dry yeast, rapid or quick rise yeast or instant yeast: You can use either one for these, just note the rising time will vary.
- Warm milk: Activates yeast and makes the dough tender. Whole milk is preferred but you could also use low-fat milk.
- Sugar: We use both granulated white sugar and light or dark brown sugar to add sweetness.
- Eggs: We add whole eggs to add richness and structure.
- Butter: Adds a buttery flavor to the dough and makes the cinnamon rolls filling extra gooey. We use salted butter if you use unsalted butter add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the dough.
- All-purpose flour: Be sure not to add too much flour, other wise the rolls can be dry. You could also use 1/2 bread flour if you wanted your Orange Sweet Rolls to be a little on the chewier.
- Bananas: The star ingredient that gives these cinnamon rolls their signature banana bread flavor while adding natural sweetness and keeping the dough incredibly soft and moist. Use overripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for the best flavor. It’s best to use ripe bananas for the best flavor.
- Cinnamon: Another star ingredient! Adds warm, cozy flavor and creates the classic cinnamon roll swirl.
how to make banana bread cinnamon rolls
Make dough: Warm milk and butter in a small pot on the stove or microwave until it’s 110 degrees F. Make sure it isn’t too hot and it should feel like warm bath water. I highly recommend using a food thermometer. Add the milk mixture and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk together until combined and the milk is frothy. Let sit for 2 minutes. Add sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and mashed banana. Mix until well combined.
Add flour: Add 3 3/4 cups flour and cinnamon to the dough and mix in with a wooden spoon until dough begins to form. Place the mixing bowl on the stand mixer and knead the dough with a dough hook for about 8 minutes until a dough ball is formed, scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times. The dough will be slightly sticky but shouldn’t stick to your hands. If it is too sticky add 2 tablespoons of flour at a time. If you don’t have a stand mixer you could use your hands and knead the dough on a well-floured surface.
First rise: Transfer the dough ball to a lightly greased bowl, cover with a warm damp towel and let dough rise for an 1 – 1 1/2 hours, or until it has doubled in size. The time will vary depending on the humidity and temperature in your home. To make your towel warm, place the damp towel in the microwave for 30 seconds
Roll dough and add filling: After the dough has doubled in size, transfer to a lightly floured surface and roll out to about 16×12 inch rectangle. Mix the softened butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix with a fork until combined. Then spread the mixture over the dough, covering every inch. Then cover with banana slices.
Cut rolls and rise again: Lightly grease a 13 x 9 inch baking dish or line with parchment paper. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut into 12 strips from the longer side dough. Roll into a cinnamon roll and place on the prepared baking dish. Cover the rolls again and place a warm damp towel on top. Let rise for another 30-45 minutes. They will get a little puffy and rise a bit.
Bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake cinnamon rolls for 30-32 minutes or until just slightly golden brown on the edges. You want to under-bake them a little so they stay soft and gooey in the middle.
Make frosting and spread over warm rolls: While the cinnamon rolls are cooling, add all of the frosting ingredients together and beat with an electric mixer or whisk until smooth, light and fluffy. Spread the frosting over warm Banana Cinnamon Rolls and serve immediately. Top with chopped walnuts and more banana slices optional, enjoy!
VARIATIONS
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Rolls: Spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the dough before adding the cinnamon sugar filling.
- Add chopped nuts: Sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans over the cinnamon sugar filling for added crunch and classic banana bread flavor.
- Caramel Banana Cinnamon Rolls: Drizzle warm caramel sauce over the cream cheese frosting before serving.
- Nutella Banana Rolls: Spread a thin layer of Nutella over the butter before adding the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Chocolate Chip Banana Rolls: Add a handful of mini chocolate chips to the filling for a chocolatey twist.
banana cinnamon rolls tips
- Extra decadent: Pour 1 cup of heavy cream all over the tops of the cinnamon rolls so it seeps into the gaps. This will make the rolls extra gooey, rich and delicious!
- Let the rolls get cozy in the baking pan: Let the rolls touch on all sides of the baking dish. When they rise for the second time they should get so puffy they touch, this will ensure that all of the centers and sides are nice and soft. Making them gooey.
- Make sure the rolls won’t stick: Be sure to use parchment paper or cooking spray to the bottom of the baking pan.
- Frost the cinnamon rolls immediately: The frosting on the cinnamon rolls will slightly melt into the rolls making them extra delicious and gooey! They will be perfect.
- Use overripe bananas: Bananas with lots of brown spots are naturally sweeter and mash easily, giving the dough the best flavor and moisture.
leftovers & storage
Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls make great leftovers for the next morning! Simply cover the cinnamon rolls with plastic wrap or transfer them to an airtight container and store them at room temperature for 2-3 days.
If you want to store them longer, place them in the fridge for up to 6 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven on 350 degrees F for a few minutes.
HOW TO FREEZE cinnamon rolls
- Tightly wrap the assembled cinnamon rolls, completing steps 1-5. Cover the cinnamon rolls in the baking pan with plastic wrap, foil or a lid.
- Place the cinnamon rolls in the freezer up for up 2 months max.
- When ready to bake, remove the cinnamon rolls from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature overnight. They will need to complete the second rise. Place a warm damp towel over the rolls when they rise for the second time.
- Bake according to the recipe instructions and make the frosting.
more cinnamon rolls recipes
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Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Cinnamon Roll Dough
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 cup salted butter
- 1 packet active dry yeast or instant yeast 2 1/4 teaspoons
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 whole large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 medium or large ripe banana mashed
- 3 3/4- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- 1/3 cup salted butter softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ripe banana sliced
Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened at room temperature
- 1/3 cup salted butter softened at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Warm milk and butter in a small pot on the stove or microwave until it's 110 degrees F. Make sure it isn't too hot and it should feel like warm bath water. I highly recommend using a food thermometer. Add the milk mixture and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer and whisk together until combined and the milk is frothy. Let sit for 2 minutes. Add sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and mashed banana. Mix until well combined.
- Add 3 3/4 cups flour and cinnamon to the dough and mix in with a wooden spoon until dough begins to form. Place the mixing bowl on the stand mixer and knead the dough with a dough hook for about 8 minutes until a dough ball is formed, scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times. The dough will be slightly sticky but shouldn't stick to your hands. If it is too sticky add 2 tablespoons of flour at a time. If you don't have a stand mixer you could use your hands and knead the dough on a well-floured surface.
- Transfer the dough ball to a lightly greased bowl, cover with a warm damp towel and let dough rise for an 1 – 1 1/2 hours, or until it has doubled in size. The time will vary depending on the humidity and temperature in your home. To make your towel warm, place the damp towel in the microwave for 30 seconds
- After the dough has doubled in size, transfer to a lightly floured surface and roll out to about 16×12 inch rectangle. Mix the softened butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix with a fork until combined. Then spread the mixture over the dough, covering every inch. Then cover with banana slices.
- Lightly grease a 13 x 9 inch baking dish or line with parchment paper. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut into 12 strips from the longer side dough. Roll into a cinnamon roll and place on the prepared baking dish. Cover the rolls again and place a warm damp towel on top. Let rise for another 30-45 minutes. They will get a little puffy and rise a bit.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake cinnamon rolls for 30-32 minutes or until just slightly golden brown on the edges. You want to under-bake them a little so they stay soft and gooey in the middle.
- While the cinnamon rolls are cooling, add all of the frosting ingredients together and beat with an electric mixer or whisk until smooth, light and fluffy. Spread the frosting over warm Banana Cinnamon Rolls and serve immediately. Top with chopped walnuts and more banana slices optional, enjoy!
