Best Moist Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirl

This is the best moist banana bread recipe you’ll ever try. After making it dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to a tender, perfectly sweet loaf with a cinnamon swirl that’ll make your house smell like a cozy fall bakery. Keep reading for my tips on preventing a dry banana bread. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Refreshing Lemon Ginger Wellness Water Recipe for Summer and Easy Kale and Apple Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing.

What You'll Need for Best Moist Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirl

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• Optional: Walnuts or pecans (optional)
• Optional: Powdered sugar glaze (optional)

How to Make Best Moist Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirl

1. Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Mash bananas: Mash bananas in a large bowl. Mix in melted butter, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
3. Add egg and vanilla: Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
4. Add flour: Mix in flour just until combined.
5. Prepare cinnamon swirl: In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and brown sugar. Sprinkle over batter.
6. Bake: Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Storing & Reheating Best Moist Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirl

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. Bake as directed the next day.

Freezing Best Moist Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirl

Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat slices in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, but be careful not to overheat.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a healthier version, substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
• Best substitution: If you don't have brown sugar, you can substitute it with white sugar.
• Make-ahead: You can make this banana bread up to 2 days ahead. Store it at room temperature, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
• Scaling: This recipe can be doubled to make two loaves. Bake them in two 9×5-inch loaf pans.
• Troubleshooting: If your banana bread is dry, it might be overbaked. To prevent this, start checking for doneness around the 50-minute mark.

Best Moist Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirl

⏱

Prep

10 mins

🍳

Cook

50-60 mins

⏳

Total

1 hour

🍽

Serves

1 loaf

🥗

Diet

Vegetarian

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Seasonings

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup brown sugar

Optional Toppings

• Walnuts or pecans (optional)
• Powdered sugar glaze (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
2. Mash bananas: Mash bananas in a large bowl. Mix in melted butter, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
3. Add egg and vanilla: Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
4. Add flour: Mix in flour just until combined.
5. Prepare cinnamon swirl: In a small bowl, mix cinnamon and brown sugar. Sprinkle over batter.
6. Bake: Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a healthier version, substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.
• Best substitution: If you don't have brown sugar, you can substitute it with white sugar.
• Make-ahead: You can make this banana bread up to 2 days ahead. Store it at room temperature, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
• Scaling: This recipe can be doubled to make two loaves. Bake them in two 9×5-inch loaf pans.
• Troubleshooting: If your banana bread is dry, it might be overbaked. To prevent this, start checking for doneness around the 50-minute mark.

Storage

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Oven reheat: Reheat slices in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 15-20 seconds, but be careful not to overheat.
• Make ahead: You can prepare the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. Bake as directed the next day.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 250
• Protein: 3g
• Fat: 7g
• Carbs: 45g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Cholesterol: 40mg
• Sat. Fat: 4g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Best Moist Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirl FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Best Moist Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirl and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!