Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
Why settle for one favorite when you can have both? These banana bread cinnamon rolls blend the cozy flavors of ripe bananas and cinnamon spice into a soft, swirled treat—topped with your choice of smooth glaze or decadent cream cheese frosting. Whether served for brunch, dessert, or an indulgent snack, they’re every bit as satisfying as they sound—and surprisingly simple to make.

---

🧾 Ingredients

For the Dough
All-purpose flour	2 cups (plus more for dusting)
Granulated sugar	¼ cup
Active dry yeast	1 packet (2¼ teaspoons)
Salt	½ teaspoon
Mashed ripe banana	½ cup (about 1 banana)
Milk	¼ cup (preferably whole)
Melted unsalted butter	¼ cup
Egg (large)	1
Vanilla extract	1 teaspoon

For the Filling
Softened unsalted butter	¼ cup
Brown sugar (light or dark)	½ cup
Ground cinnamon	1½ teaspoons
Chopped walnuts or pecans (opt.)	¼ cup

For the Glaze
Powdered sugar	1 cup
Milk or cream	2–3 tablespoons
Vanilla extract	½ teaspoon

Optional Cream Cheese Frosting
Softened cream cheese	4 oz
Softened unsalted butter	2 tablespoons
Powdered sugar	1 cup
Vanilla extract	½ teaspoon
Milk	1–2 tablespoons (as needed)

---

🍽️ How to Make It

1. Make the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
In a separate bowl, combine mashed banana, milk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract.
Add wet ingredients to dry, mixing to form a soft dough.
Knead by hand on a floured surface or with a stand mixer (dough hook) for 5–7 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.

2. Prepare the Filling
Stir together brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
Roll the risen dough into a 12×9-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface.
Spread the softened butter evenly, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the top. Add nuts if using.

3. Roll & Slice
Starting from the long edge, roll the dough into a tight log.
Slice into 12 even pieces using unflavored dental floss or a sharp knife.
Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, leaving a bit of space between them.

4. Second Rise
Cover the dish and allow the rolls to rise again for 30–45 minutes until noticeably puffy.

5. Bake
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bake the rolls for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.

6. Make the Topping
For Glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
For Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, then milk to reach desired consistency.

7. Finish & Enjoy
Drizzle glaze over the warm rolls or spread with frosting as desired.
Serve warm and savor the comforting blend of banana and cinnamon in every bite.