Name: Cinnamon Banana Bread
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour (250 g); 1½ tsp cinnamon; ¼ tsp nutmeg; 1 tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; ½ cup unsalted butter (113 g) (softened); 4 oz cream cheese (softened); ⅔ cups packed brown sugar (134 g); ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 g); 1½ cups mashed banana (360 grams) (about 3- 3½ bananas); 2 large eggs (room temperature); 1½ tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract; 3 Tbsp sugar; 1/2 tsp cinnamon

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This super moist cinnamon banana bread has an irresistible crunchy cinnamon sugar top that makes for the best banana bread ever! The addition of cream cheese in this recipe sets this loaf apart from others as it has a different layer of flavor and is so moist and fluffy. Only about 15 minutes to prep for this homemade, bakery-style bread that will make the whole house smell amazing too!

Cinnamon sugar topped banana bread sliced and propped up in a row.

Why We Love This Cinnamon Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredient Notes
Ways To Vary This Recipe
Step-By-Step Instructions
Recipe Tips
Storage
Other Baked good Recipes
Cinnamon Banana Bread Recipe
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Banana bread is one of my love languages. It reminds me of moments with my grandma growing up. Warm, cozy and full of love. This new cinnamon sugar topped banana bread is a rich, moist and super tender version of the classic loaf, but even better.

If you love banana bread, try these recipes as well: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Banana Bread Granola, Banana Blueberry Muffins, Almond Flour Banana Muffins or something totally different, these Banana Bread Overnight Oats!

Why We Love This Cinnamon Banana Bread Recipe

I am not sure I will ever need another banana bread recipe, ever. This cinnamon-sugar topped banana bread is as good as the classic gets for me and better!!!

This cinnamon banana bread:

is perfectly moist and tender without being gummy
uses pantry and kitchen staples I always have on hand
the perfect way to use up ripe bananas
has bakery-style flavor without much effort!
has a crunchy cinnamon sugar topping that adds extra texture and sweetness

Can’t wait to hear what you think of this one!!!

Ingredient Notes

See full list of ingredients below in recipe card with exact measurements.

Brown bananas, flour, butter, sugar and other labeled ingredients on surface.

Make sure you are using very ripe, brown bananas for the best texture and sweetness. It’s really the browner the better. If there is any green or still a decent amount of yellow, the bananas will not have enough moisture or sweetness for a great loaf.
I have been obsessed with vanilla bean paste lately. It is a bit pricey, so I save it for special occasions. If you have some, use it versus vanilla extract for next level flavor.
Make sure butter, cream cheese and eggs are room temperature for best results. If you add cold eggs to the creamed butter and cream cheese, it can cause them to become cold and clumpy when mixing.

Ways To Vary This Recipe

toss in some add-ins: I usually love extra add-ins when making banana bread, but I like this cinnamon banana bread nice and smooth. But if you want to add some chocolate chips, chopped walnuts or pecans, or some raisins, feel free to stir them in!
vary the spices: I use just cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg but you are welcome to add a touch of cloves, all-spice, pumpkin pie spice or another warm spice for a varied flavor.
add a layer of cinnamon sugar: you can double the cinnamon sugar topping amounts and then pour half the banana bread mixture in the loaf pan, sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar over and then the remaining batter with the cinnamon sugar on top. I find this to be a bit less consistent in baking at times and wanted this recipe to be very simple and straightforward with less chances of failing so opted not to do a middle layer in the original recipe.
add in icing glaze over top: when the banana bread is baked, let it cool for about 10 minutes and then pour a mixture of about 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and a couple tablespoons milk or cream and pour over top.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Creamed butter, sugars and cream cheese in glass mixing bowl.

Step 2: In a separate medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, cream cheese and sugars until smooth and creamy.

Mashed banana, eggs and vanilla bean paste added to creamed butter and sugar in bowl.

Step 3: Add the mashed banana, eggs and vanilla and beat to incorporate.

Dry ingredients added to wet ingredients in bowl.q

Step 4: Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined.

Cinnamon banana bread mixture in bowl with spatula.

Step 5: Make sure not to over stir here!

Banana bread batter in parchment lined bread pan.

Step 6: Pour the batter into prepared loaf pan and spread so its in an even layer.

Cinnamon sugar topping poured over banana bread before baking.

Step 7: Stir the cinnamon and sugar topping mixture together and sprinkle over top. You can very gently press this down to help it get moist and hold on as it bakes.

Baked cinnamon banana bread on cooling rack.

Step 8: Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the loaf. If the top becomes brown but the center is not baked through, loosely tent foil over top to prevent it from burning. Cool for about 10-15 minutes before serving.

Recipe Tips

If your banana bread top becomes overly brown and the center isn’t done, tent foil over top.

Don’t over-stir when adding the flour. Over stirring banana bread batter can cause the baked bread to become rubbery or gummy it’s sometimes called which is caused by over development of the gluten. Just stir until the dry ingredients are combined and no streaks are visible.

When measuring flour, if you don’t have a scale, stir the flour to aerate it a bit before spooning and leveling.

Resist the urge to add more banana! A common misconception is thinking that adding more banana will make the banana bread even more moist. However, too much banana will cause uneven baking, wet banana bread that seems raw and may seem inedible.

Overhead view of cinnamon sugar topped banana bread slices.

Storage

Store this cinnamon sugar banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2-3 days or you can refrigerate it for about 4-5 days. If you refrigerate it, the crunchiness of the sugary top tends to last a bit longer.

You can also freeze this bread. Allow it to cool COMPLETELY and then store it wrapped tightly in foil or in an airtight container for up to 3 months.