Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

Total Time Prep: 40 min. + rising Bake: 20 min.
Yield 12 rolls
Test Kitchen Approved
This banana bread cinnamon roll recipe combines flavors from two brunch favorites into one perfect pastry.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 medium bananas, mashed
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 to 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup butter
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • FILLING:
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts, optional
  • FROSTING:
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • Pinch each ground cinnamon and ground cloves
  • 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

  1. In a small saucepan, combine milk and banana. Bring to a boil; remove from the heat. Cool slightly; cover. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
  2. In a large bowl, mix sugar, yeast, salt and 2 cups flour. In a small saucepan, heat banana milk mixture and butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Add eggs; beat on high 2 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
  3. Turn out dough onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
  4. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Punch down dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 18x12-in. rectangle. Brush with butter; sprinkle with the brown sugar mixture to within 1/2 in. of edges. If desired, sprinkle with walnuts. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 slices; place in a greased 13x9-in. pan, cut side down. Cover with a kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°.
  5. Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
  6. For frosting, beat butter, cream cheese, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and cloves until blended; gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar. Spread over tops. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

1 roll: 506 calories, 20g fat (12g saturated fat), 82mg cholesterol, 395mg sodium, 76g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.

The moist texture of banana bread combines with the warm spices of cinnamon rolls in this unique recipe. Finished with a topping of sweet cream cheese frosting, this will quickly become your new favorite treat. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Recipe Creator

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