The dough bakes up soft and fluffy, with sweet banana blended into every bite and cinnamon swirling through. The smell is warm and cozy, like fresh bread on a Sunday morning.
I made these Banana Cinnamon Rolls when I had a few ripe bananas on the counter, and they turned into the best treat. The glaze on top melted right in, making them extra sweet and gooey.
If you love soft rolls that feel comforting and homemade, this recipe is perfect. Let’s bake up these banana cinnamon rolls and make your kitchen smell amazing.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Soft and Fluffy: The banana in the dough creates incredibly tender rolls that stay soft for days.
- Amazing Banana Flavor: Ripe bananas add natural sweetness and moisture to every bite.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare the night before and bake fresh in the morning.
- Perfect for Sharing: Makes 12 generous rolls that feed a crowd.
- Beginner-Friendly: Simple steps that anyone can follow for bakery-quality results.
What You Need to Know Before You Start
Prep Time & Cook Time:
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Rise Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: About 3 hours
Servings: This recipe makes 12 large cinnamon rolls, perfect for serving 6-8 people as a breakfast or brunch treat. Want more? This recipe doubles easily.
Difficulty: Easy enough for beginners but impressive enough for experienced bakers. The dough is forgiving and easy to work with.
Required Kitchen Tools
- Large mixing bowl
- Stand mixer with dough hook (or mix by hand)
- Clean kitchen towel
- Rolling pin
- 9×13 inch baking pan
- Small saucepan
- Wire cooling rack
ngredients for Best Soft Banana Cinnamon Rolls
These banana cinnamon rolls use simple ingredients that work together to create something special. The ripe bananas add natural sweetness and keep the rolls incredibly soft, while the cinnamon filling provides that classic warm spice flavor everyone loves.
For the Dough:
- Warm Milk: 1 cup, heated to about 110°F to activate the yeast
- Active Dry Yeast: 1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) for the perfect rise
- Granulated Sugar: ⅓ cup to feed the yeast and add sweetness
- Unsalted Butter: 4 tablespoons, melted for richness
- Large Eggs: 2 eggs at room temperature for binding
- Salt: 1 teaspoon to enhance all the flavors
- All-Purpose Flour: 4 cups, spooned and leveled for the right texture
- Ripe Banana: 1 large banana, mashed smooth for moisture and flavor
For the Filling:
- Unsalted Butter: 4 tablespoons, softened for easy spreading
- Brown Sugar: ¾ cup packed for that rich molasses flavor
- Ground Cinnamon: 2 tablespoons for warm spice
- Chopped Walnuts: ½ cup (optional) for extra crunch
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Cream Cheese: 4 ounces, softened to room temperature
- Unsalted Butter: 2 tablespoons, softened
- Powdered Sugar: 1½ cups, sifted smooth
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon for flavor
- Milk: 2-3 tablespoons as needed for consistency
Variations for Banana Cinnamon Rolls
- Add Chocolate Chips: Mix in ½ cup mini chocolate chips to the filling for chocolate banana rolls.
- Try Pecans: Swap walnuts for chopped pecans for a different nutty flavor.
- Make it Tropical: Add ¼ cup shredded coconut to the filling.
- Extra Banana: Slice an additional banana and layer it over the filling before rolling.
- Maple Glaze: Replace the cream cheese frosting with a simple maple glaze made from powdered sugar and maple syrup.
How to Make Best Soft Banana Cinnamon Rolls Step-by-Step
1. Prepare the Yeast Mixture
Warm the milk to about 110°F. Stir in the yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy and bubbly.
2. Make the Dough
In a large bowl, mash the banana until smooth. Add the melted butter, remaining sugar, eggs, and salt. Mix well. Add the foamy yeast mixture and stir to combine.
3. Add the Flour
Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms. The dough should be slightly sticky but manageable.
4. Knead the Dough
Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook for 5-6 minutes.
5. First Rise
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours until doubled in size.
6. Prepare the Filling
While the dough rises, mix together the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts (if using) until well combined.
7. Roll and Fill
Punch down the risen dough and roll it into a 12×18 inch rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the filling evenly over the dough, leaving a small border along one long edge.
8. Shape the Rolls
Starting from the long edge opposite the border, tightly roll the dough into a log. Pinch the seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal pieces using a sharp knife or dental floss.
9. Second Rise
Place the rolls cut-side up in a greased 9×13 inch pan. Cover and let rise for 30-45 minutes until puffy.
10. Bake the Rolls
Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake for 22-25 minutes until golden brown on top. The internal temperature should reach 190°F.
11. Make the Frosting
While the rolls bake, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk to reach your desired consistency.
12. Finish and Serve
Let the rolls cool for 10 minutes, then spread with cream cheese frosting while still warm.
Serving and Decoration
These banana cinnamon rolls are perfect served warm with the cream cheese frosting melting slightly into the rolls. For special occasions, you can dust them with extra cinnamon or add a drizzle of caramel sauce. They look beautiful served on a large platter with fresh banana slices and chopped walnuts sprinkled around.
How to Serve Banana Cinnamon Rolls
These versatile rolls work for many occasions:
- Weekend Breakfast: Serve warm with coffee or milk for a cozy morning treat
- Brunch Buffet: Cut into smaller pieces for easy serving at parties
- Holiday Mornings: Perfect for Christmas or Easter breakfast traditions
- Afternoon Snack: Enjoy with tea or hot chocolate
- Dessert: Serve slightly warmed with vanilla ice cream
Storing Banana Cinnamon Rolls
- Fresh Rolls: Keep covered at room temperature for up to 2 days
- Make-Ahead: Prepare through step 9, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Let come to room temperature before baking
- Freezing: Freeze unbaked rolls for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight and let rise before baking
- Leftover Storage: Wrap individual rolls and store for up to 5 days. Warm in microwave for 15-20 seconds
Tips and Tricks for Success
- Use Ripe Bananas: The more spots on your banana, the better the flavor will be
- Check Water Temperature: Too hot will kill the yeast, too cool won’t activate it properly
- Don’t Over-Flour: Add just enough flour to make the dough workable but still soft
- Even Thickness: Roll the dough to an even thickness for uniform rolls
- Sharp Cuts: Use dental floss or a very sharp knife to avoid squishing the rolls
- Warm Rising Spot: Place dough near a warm oven or in a slightly warmed oven (turned off)
Nutrition
Per Roll
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 385 |
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Saturated Fat | 7g |
| Cholesterol | 65mg |
| Sodium | 285mg |
| Carbohydrates | 62g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 28g |
| Protein | 8g |
| Potassium | 195mg |
| Vitamin C | 3mg |
Best Soft Banana Cinnamon Rolls
- Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus 2 hours rise time)
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 12 large rolls 1x
- Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 1 cup (240ml) warm milk (110°F)
- 1 packet (2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
- ⅓ cup (65g) granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups (480g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 large ripe banana, mashed smooth
For the Filling:
- 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (60g) chopped walnuts (optional)
For the Frosting:
- 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1½ cups (180g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Warm milk to 110°F. Stir in yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let sit 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Make Dough: In large bowl, mash banana smooth. Add melted butter, remaining sugar, eggs, and salt. Mix in yeast mixture. Gradually add flour until soft dough forms.
- Knead: Turn onto floured surface and knead 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place in greased bowl, cover, and rise in warm place 1-1.5 hours until doubled.
- Prepare Filling: Mix softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts until combined.
- Shape: Punch down dough and roll into 12×18 inch rectangle. Spread filling evenly, leaving small border on one long edge.
- Roll and Cut: Roll tightly from long edge, pinch seam. Cut into 12 equal pieces.
- Second Rise: Place in greased 9×13 pan, cover, and rise 30-45 minutes until puffy.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake 22-25 minutes until golden brown.
- Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk to desired consistency.
- Finish: Cool rolls 10 minutes, then spread with frosting while warm.
Nutrition
- Calories: 385
Banana Cinnamon Rolls FAQs
Yes! Prepare through step 8, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Let come to room temperature and rise before baking.
You can mix and knead by hand. It will take a bit more effort, but the results will be just as good.
Absolutely! Freeze without frosting for up to 3 months. Thaw and warm before adding fresh frosting.
Check that your yeast is fresh and your milk wasn’t too hot. The rising environment should be warm but not hot.
Conclusion
These Best Soft Banana Cinnamon Rolls combine the comfort of classic cinnamon rolls with the natural sweetness and moisture of ripe bananas. The result is an incredibly tender, flavorful treat that’s perfect for special mornings or whenever you want to fill your kitchen with amazing aromas. Whether you’re a beginner baker or experienced in the kitchen, these rolls are sure to become a family favorite.
