Snickerdoodle Banana Bread (Printable)

Moist banana bread with a cinnamon-sugar swirl inspired by classic snickerdoodle cookies.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

→ Wet Ingredients

06 - 3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/4 cups)
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
08 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon-Sugar Swirl and Topping

12 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
13 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon until evenly distributed.
03 - In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat until smooth and well incorporated.
04 - Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and fold until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent a dense crumb.
05 - In a small bowl, stir together the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon until uniform.
06 - Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle half the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the surface.
07 - Top with the remaining batter and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon-sugar over the top. Draw a butter knife through the layers in a gentle figure-eight motion for a marbled effect.
08 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
09 - Let cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cinnamon-sugar swirl creates a crunchy, crackly top that makes every slice feel like the edge piece everyone fights over
  • It turns overripe bananas into something you would actually serve to company instead of hiding in the freezer
02 -
  • If you overmix the batter after adding the flour, the bread will be dense and tunnel instead of tender and soft
  • The cinnamon-sugar layer between the two batter halves can create a slightly wet streak, and that is normal, not underbaked
03 -
  • Let the melted butter cool for at least 10 minutes before adding it to the eggs, or you will see little white strands of cooked egg in your batter
  • Pressing the cinnamon-sugar gently into the top layer before baking helps it form a thicker, more crackly crust

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