Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Recipe Inspired by HAUNTED EVER AFTER)

Why, yes. That is a roasted banana on top of my Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread.

Thank you for noticing!

Get ready for the most decadent of banana breads, Tartlets. I’m excited to share this one with you today.

Why is Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread the book-inspired recipe for Haunted Ever After?

Banana Bread is main character Cassie’s favorite treat to get from Nick’s coffee shop in Haunted Ever After. Nick woos her by sending her pieces and loaves of freshly baked banana bread once they start dating.

However, the banana bread recipe itself is controversial. Elmer, the coffee shop’s previous owner, staunchly insisted that cinnamon had no place in banana bread.

And Elmer makes his epicurean preferences known even in the afterlife.

Nick, the current coffee shop owner, disagrees with Elmer — and I agree with Nick. Cinnamon always has a place in my banana bread recipe. I think it’s a deliciously sharp, warm spice that really compliments that sweetness of the bananas.

This Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread would send ol’ Elmer to an early grave if he weren’t there already. It infuses the quickbread batter with copious amounts of ground cinnamon, and there’s a ribbon of cinnamon sugary goodness whirled throughout the bread.

Why I love Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Is there anything more comforting than banana bread? While I’m posting this recipe in the fall, it’s really a perfect treat for anytime of the year.

My grandmother made the best banana bread, and while I haven’t been able to duplicate her recipe, the basic banana bread recipe in this post comes as close to it as I can get.

The cake itself is incredibly moist and flavorful. There is a TON of banana flavor packed into this dessert since I mashed up super-ripe bananas for the batter. 

This was my first time slicing and roasting a whole banana on the top of a banana bread loaf. I’ve seen it on Instagram and Pinterest a lot, and I decided to take the plunge for this recipe to fancy things up a little bit.

I didn’t particularly like the roasted banana, but everyone else who ate this Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread did.

The banana becomes very soft and tender, so if you like concentrated banana flavor, you definitely want to add this detail to your Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread.

The star of this Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread for me was – no surprise – this cinnamon swirl.

It bakes up crunchy in some spots and ooey-gooey in others, depending on how close the cinnamon sugar ribbons gets to the edges of the loaf pan.

What do you serve with Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread?

Cassie’s favorite way to enjoy a slice of banana bread is with an iced hazelnut latte. You could also try an Iced Coconut Caramel Macchiato or an Iced Dirty Chai Latte with your treat.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread makes a delicious start to your morning with a side of Fruit and Nut Granola. And, if you really want a decadent breakfast, try using a slice in place of challah bread to make Anniversary French Toast.

If you can’t get enough of all things cinnamon, try my Cinnamon Raisin Scones, Cinnamon Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, Cinnamon Roll Cake, Chocolate Spice Cinnamon Rolls, Morning Bun Muffins, and Raisin Rugelach.

Cinnamon works well in savory dishes, too. Try Autumn Farro Salad with Cinnamon Berry Vinaigrette, Mushroom Shawarma Bowls, and Moroccan B’stilla Chicken Pie.

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is loaded with homestyle banana bread flavor, a ribbon of cinnamon sugar, and topped with a roasted banana.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 14 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Course Desserts

Cuisine American

Servings 2 9x5 loaves

Ingredients

  

BANANA BREAD INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3 tsp ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups mashed very ripe bananas (about 4 bananas)
• 2 very ripe, whole bananas

CINNAMON SWIRL INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

 

PREP INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat your oven to 325F.
• Spray two 9x5 loaf pans with baking spray and line them with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Peel and mash the bananas needed to make 2 cups of mashed banana. Set aside.
• Whisk together the cinnamon swirl ingredients. Reserve one-fourth of the entire mixture in a small bowl. Set both mixtures aside.

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS

• Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and 3 tsp cinnamon in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and granulated sugar in a large bowl until all ingredients are combined and the mixture has thickened and turned pale yellow.
• Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir together with a spatula or wooden spoon using swift strokes until all ingredients are just combined. The batter will be thick, almost like cookie dough.
• Stir in the mashed bananas until thoroughly combined and batter has loosened.
• Divide the banana bread batter into fourths. Pour one-fourth of the batter into each prepared loaf pan.
• Divide the larger portion of the cinnamon swirl mixture between the two loaf pans and sprinkle it over the batter.
• Divide the remaining cake batter between the loaf pans and pour over the cinnamon swirl layers.
• Divide the remaining cinnamon swirl mixture and sprinkle evenly over the loaf pans. Use a thin knife to swirl the cinnamon throughout the cake.
• Peel then slice the two whole bananas in half down the middle. Lay one pair of banana halves, cut side up, on top of the batter in one loaf pan, then do the same with the other loaf pan.
• Bake Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread at 325F for 55-60 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle of each loaf comes out clean.
• Let cake cool 15-20 minutes in the pan, then turn banana breads out onto wire rack to cool completely. Serve Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread warm or at room temperature.

Keyword Quick bread, Quickbreads