Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls (Printable)

Soft, fluffy rolls combining banana bread flavors with cinnamon sugar and creamy icing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (approximately 2 large bananas)
02 - 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
05 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 1/2 cup warm milk (approximately 110°F)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1 large egg

→ Filling

09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
11 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

→ Icing

12 - 1 cup powdered sugar
13 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of granulated sugar. Allow to sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add mashed bananas, melted butter, egg, granulated sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until well combined.
03 - Gradually incorporate flour until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
04 - Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm environment until doubled in volume, approximately 1 hour.
05 - Punch down the risen dough and roll out on a floured surface into a rectangle measuring approximately 14 by 9 inches.
06 - Spread softened butter evenly across the dough rectangle. Distribute packed brown sugar and cinnamon uniformly over the butter.
07 - Starting from the longer side, roll dough tightly into a log. Using a sharp knife, slice into 9 equal portions.
08 - Arrange rolls in a greased 9-inch square or round baking dish. Cover and allow to rise for 20 minutes while preheating oven to 350°F.
09 - Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - While rolls cool slightly, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle icing over warm rolls before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dough is forgiving and actually gets better when you don't overwork it, which is a relief if you're newer to yeast baking.
  • Banana keeps everything incredibly moist, so these rolls stay soft even a day later if you can resist eating them immediately.
  • You get that café-quality result with minimal stress, which somehow makes the whole experience feel more rewarding.
02 -
  • Don't skip the second rise; those 20 minutes of puffing are what separates pillowy, bakery-quality rolls from dense disappointment.
  • If your kitchen is cold, find a warm spot like an oven with just the light on, or place the bowl on top of a heating pad set to low; yeast hates the cold.
03 -
  • Make these the night before, refrigerate them unbaked, then bake them fresh in the morning for warm rolls without the early start.
  • If your icing seems too thick, whisk in milk one teaspoon at a time; too thin, and it won't coat properly or will run off the warm rolls.
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