Snickerdoodle Banana Bread (Printable Version)
Moist banana bread with a cinnamon-sugar swirl inspired by snickerdoodle cookies.
# What You 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 Make:
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. Take care not to overmix to keep the crumb tender.
05 - In a small bowl, stir together 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. Top with the remaining batter and smooth, then finish with the rest of the cinnamon-sugar. Draw a butter knife through the layers in a gentle swirling motion for a marbled effect.
07 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - 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 layer creates a crunchy, crackly top that rivals the best snickerdoodle cookie
- It turns sad overripe bananas into something you would actually serve to guests
02 -
- Swirling too aggressively turns the distinct cinnamon layer into a vague murmur instead of a bold ribbon
- This bread continues cooking internally for several minutes after you pull it from the oven, so a slightly underdone toothpick is better than a dry one
03 -
- Let your bananas get far blacker than you think is acceptable because that is where the real banana flavor concentrates
- Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar right up to the edges of the pan for maximum crackly crust coverage