Banana Cinnamon Rolls (Print Version)

Soft, yeasted rolls filled with ripe banana and cinnamon, finished with sweet cream cheese glaze

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
04 - ½ tsp salt
05 - ¾ cup warm milk
06 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 1 ripe banana, mashed

→ Filling

09 - ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - ½ cup brown sugar
11 - 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
12 - 1 large banana, thinly sliced

→ Cream Cheese Glaze

13 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
14 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
15 - 1 cup powdered sugar
16 - 1–2 tbsp milk
17 - ½ tsp vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together warm milk, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
02 - Add melted butter, mashed banana, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir well. Gradually add flour and mix until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes until smooth. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
04 - Punch down dough and roll out into a 16×12-inch rectangle.
05 - Spread softened butter over the surface. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, then distribute banana slices evenly.
06 - Roll up dough tightly from the long side. Cut into 12 even rolls.
07 - Arrange rolls cut-side up in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover loosely and let rise for 30 minutes.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls for 22–25 minutes, or until golden brown.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk for a pourable consistency.
10 - Spread glaze over warm rolls before serving.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • The banana keeps these rolls incredibly soft for days, unlike traditional versions that dry out
  • That cream cheese glaze pairs perfectly with the fruity cinnamon swirl, creating the kind of breakfast that makes weekend mornings feel special
02 -
  • Over-kneading makes these tough, so stop once the dough feels smooth and bounces back slightly when pressed
  • Using unripe bananas will give you a strange texture and barely any sweetness, so wait for those brown spots
03 -
  • Use unflavored dental floss to cut rolls instead of a knife for perfect, squish-free slices
  • Warm your banana slightly in the microwave before mashing, it incorporates into the dough much more easily

Go Back