Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

 

This is a twist on my traditional banana bread recipe.  There are layers of cinnamon and sugar between layers of moist banana bread batter. It is finished with another layer of cinnamon and sugar that creates a crunchy topping when baked.  The smell of it baking will drive you crazy.  I hope that I can wait long enough for it to cool before eating a big slice.  My next project needs to be some homemade banana cinnamon rolls.  Can you imagine?

Ingredients:

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas

Cinnamon/Sugar Swirl Mixture:

1/3 cup sugar
2 T light brown sugar
1 T cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a loaf pan.

In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix well. Add the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon and mix just until combined. Add the mashed bananas and mix until incorporated.

Pour 1/3 banana bread batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle 1/3 of cinnamon/sugar swirl mixture over top.  Repeat two more times, ending with the cinnamon/sugar mixture on top.  Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until toothpick tester comes out clean. Run a sharp knife around edges to loosen bread from sides of pan.  Let cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes.  Remove from pan, slice, and serve warm with butter.  Enjoy!