Description
These Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls combine the beloved flavors of banana bread with the classic cinnamon roll. Soft, fluffy rolls filled with cinnamon and brown sugar, then topped with a luscious cream cheese icing, make for a delightful twist that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 bananas)
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (approximately)
- 1/2 tsp salt
Filling
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup softened butter
Icing
- 4 oz (120g) cream cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1–2 tbsp milk (to adjust icing consistency)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a bowl, mix warm milk, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating that the yeast is active.
- Make the dough: Add the mashed bananas, egg, melted butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Gradually add the all-purpose flour while mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Cover the dough and place it in a warm, draft-free area. Let it rise for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape the rolls: Roll the risen dough into a large rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough. Sprinkle the brown sugar and ground cinnamon evenly on top. Roll the dough tightly into a log and slice into 12 even rolls.
- Second rise: Arrange the sliced rolls in a greased baking dish, cover them, and let them rise again for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Bake the rolls for 20–25 minutes or until they turn golden brown on top.
- Make the icing: In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and 1–2 tablespoons of milk until smooth and creamy, adjusting milk quantity for desired consistency.
- Serve: Spread the cream cheese icing over the warm cinnamon rolls and enjoy them immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Ensure the milk is warm, not hot, when activating yeast to prevent killing the yeast.
- Kneading the dough well helps develop gluten for fluffy rolls.
- You can store the baked rolls in an airtight container and reheat before serving.
- The cream cheese icing can be adjusted in thickness by adding more or less milk.
- For extra flavor, you can add chopped nuts or raisins to the filling.
