Snickerdoodle Banana Bread (Printable)

Moist banana bread layered with a cinnamon-sugar swirl, inspired by 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 Steps:

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.
03 - In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and evenly incorporated.
04 - Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and fold until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent a dense texture.
05 - In a small bowl, stir together the 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon until uniformly blended.
06 - Pour half the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly across the surface.
07 - Spread the remaining batter over the first layer and smooth the top. Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon-sugar, then draw a butter knife through the layers in a gentle swirling motion for a marbled effect.
08 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
09 - Let cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely before slicing.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cinnamon sugar layer creates a crackly, cookie-like crust on top that you will keep picking at
  • It solves the eternal problem of banana bread being just a little too plain without overcomplicating things
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter is the number one reason homemade banana bread turns dense instead of tender
  • The cinnamon sugar on top can burn if your oven runs hot so check at the 45 minute mark and tent with foil if needed
03 -
  • Use bananas that are completely black on the outside for the most intense flavor and natural sweetness
  • Let the melted butter cool to room temperature before mixing it in to keep the crumb light and tender

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