Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls are a soft, gooey, and flavorful treat that merges the comforting essence of banana bread with the sweet swirl of a classic cinnamon roll. Perfect for cozy mornings or indulgent brunches, these rolls are topped with creamy frosting for the ultimate finish.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love how these rolls combine the richness of banana bread with the spiced sweetness of cinnamon rolls. The bananas add natural moisture and flavor, making every bite tender and satisfying. The warm, fluffy texture with a swirl of cinnamon sugar and a generous smear of cream cheese frosting makes this recipe something I find myself making again and again—whether for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack.
Ingredients
(Here's a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
For the Dough:
- all-purpose flour
- brown sugar
- rapid-rise yeast
- ground cinnamon
- salt
- milk
- unsalted butter
- mashed ripe bananas
For the Cinnamon Sugar Filling:
- unsalted butter (softened)
- brown sugar
- ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- unsalted butter (softened)
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- cinnamon
- milk
- vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Directions
- I start by mixing flour, brown sugar, yeast, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, I warm the milk and butter together until the butter is almost melted. I let this cool slightly before using.
- I add the milk mixture and mashed bananas into the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
- I gradually add more flour until the dough starts to pull away from the sides. Then I knead it on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth.
- I place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm area until doubled in size—about 1 hour.
- While the dough rises, I prepare the filling by combining brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- Once risen, I roll out the dough into a large rectangle, spread it with softened butter, and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over it.
- I roll it up tightly from the long end and slice it into 12 even rolls.
- I place the rolls in a greased or parchment-lined baking dish and let them rise again until puffy—about another hour.
- I preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the rolls for 25–30 minutes until golden.
- While they bake, I prepare the frosting by beating together butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, cinnamon, milk, vanilla, and salt until smooth and fluffy.
- Once the rolls are slightly cooled, I spread the frosting on top and serve warm.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: 12 rolls
- Prep time: 25 minutes
- Rise time: 2 hours
- Cook time: 30 minutes
- Total time: About 2 hours 55 minutes
Variations
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans into the filling for crunch.
- Sprinkle mini chocolate chips before rolling up for a chocolate-banana twist.
- Add a touch of nutmeg or cardamom to the filling for extra spice depth.
- Use maple syrup in the frosting instead of vanilla for a cozy flavor change.
- Make them dairy-free with plant-based butter, milk, and cream cheese alternatives.
Storage/Reheating
I store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days. To reheat, I microwave each roll for about 20–30 seconds or warm them in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes. If I’ve made extra, I freeze the unfrosted rolls and just thaw and frost them before serving.
FAQs
Can I use frozen bananas?
Yes, I let them thaw completely and drain any excess liquid before mashing. They work great in this dough.
What can I do if my dough isn’t rising?
I make sure my milk isn’t too hot (it should be warm to the touch) and that my yeast isn’t expired. Letting it rise in a warm, draft-free space also helps.
Do I have to use cream cheese in the frosting?
Not at all—I’ve swapped it with plain buttercream or even a vanilla glaze when I wanted something lighter.
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, I prepare them the night before, cover the pan, and refrigerate. In the morning, I let them come to room temp and rise again before baking.
How ripe should the bananas be?
I always use bananas with brown spots—they’re sweeter and mash more easily, giving the dough its signature moistness and flavor.
Conclusion
These Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls are a warm, cozy fusion of two favorite baked goods. Whether I’m treating guests or just craving something sweet and homey, this recipe never fails to impress. It’s easy to make, full of comforting flavor, and totally irresistible.
Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Rising Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 rolls
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls are the ultimate comfort treat—combining the moist, rich flavor of banana bread with the gooey, spiced swirl of classic cinnamon rolls. With a sweet cinnamon-sugar filling and luscious cream cheese frosting, this indulgent fusion is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Made with overripe bananas for extra moisture and natural sweetness, these rolls are irresistibly soft and fluffy.
Ingredients
- For the Dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons rapid-rise yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup mashed overripe banana
- For the Cinnamon Sugar Filling:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Mix 2 cups flour, brown sugar, yeast, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.
- Warm milk and butter in the microwave until melted; let cool slightly.
- Add milk mixture and mashed banana to dry ingredients; beat until combined.
- Add 1 cup flour, beat again. Gradually add remaining flour until dough forms.
- Knead dough on floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth.
- Place dough in greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
- Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt for filling.
- Roll dough into 18x12-inch rectangle.
- Spread softened butter, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Roll tightly, slice into 12 rolls.
- Place in lined 9x13-inch pan, cover, rise 1 hour.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes until golden.
- Beat frosting ingredients until fluffy.
- Spread frosting on warm rolls. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Overripe bananas with brown spots give the best flavor.
- To prep ahead, refrigerate shaped rolls overnight and bake the next morning.
- Swap in vegan or gluten-free ingredients if needed.
- Store frosted rolls in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze unfrosted for 2 months.
