Dec 17, 2023 by Hannah Sunderani
This vegan Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is as luxurious as it looks! Sweet banana bread infused with roasted pecans, ribbons of cinnamon sugar swirl in each slice, and topped with a halved banana for extra rich banana flavour! Everyone loves this healthy banana bread recipe!
Not only does this quick bread recipe taste decadent and indulgent, but it’s also 100% vegan friendly and a healthier option compared to your typical refined sugar-based cinnamon swirl banana bread recipes topped with frosting. This recipe uses coconut sugar to replace traditional sugar, and tops with roasted pecans and caramelized sliced banana.
Some of my favourite vegan breakfast ideas on the blog incorporate a sweet cinnamon sugar mixture – Cinnamon Rolls, Cinnamon Roll Oatmeal, Cinnamon Braid Buns, Apple Pie Oatmeal. So, when I thought to combine cinnamon sugar with another one of my favourites – Classic Banana Bread, I knew the combination was going to be a hit!
It’s a healthy, wholesome, vegan breakfast loaded with banana and cinnamon flavour that you can feel good about eating and serving to your family and friends with dietary restrictions.
Making Cinnamon Banana Bread is just as easy as my classic Vegan Banana Bread.
To start, roast the pecans. Spread the whole pecans on a parchment paper lined baking tray and roast until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Once golden, remove the pecans from the oven and let cool before chopping roughly. Set about 2 tablespoons aside for topping the bread.
Next, in a small bowl, whisk together the flour, almond flour, baking powder, coconut sugar, and salt. In a separate, medium bowl, combine the almond milk, melted butter, and almond butter.
Add the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir until combined. Then, using a spatula, fold in the mashed bananas and roasted pecans until evenly dispersed.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon to make the cinnamon filling.
Layer the banana bread. Spread 1/3 of the banana bread batter into the bottom of the 9x 5-inch loaf pan. Dollop 1/3 of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top. Using a sharp butter knife or toothpick, swirl the cinnamon sugar a bit throughout the layer of bread.
Add another 1/3 of the batter on top, followed by another 1/3 of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Gently swirl together again before adding on the last layer of the batter and the rest of the cinnamon sugar (you should have 3 layers!).
Top with the reserved pecans, and then press the remaining halved banana into the top of the bread, cut side up.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the top of the banana bread comes out with just a few crumbs.
Let cool for 10 minutes, before removing the bread from the lined loaf pan and letting cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Enjoy a slice of this banana bread as is, or with a spread of vegan butter or almond butter.
Out of fresh, spotty bananas? No problem! Simply thaw 3 frozen bananas at room temperature until soft and then mash and add them directly to the batter.
As written, this banana bread is not gluten-free as it contains regular all-purpose flour. I have not tested a version using a gluten-free flour blend and cannot confirm it would work well. If you are to try, I’d recommend trying with a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour like Bob’s Red Mill. Or, if you are gluten-free, I’d recommend making one of my well-tested vegan and gluten-free breakfast recipes or this healthy banana bread recipe.
Depending on your oven, you may find that the top of the homemade cinnamon swirl bread begins to brown too quickly. If this is the case, lightly tent the bread with a sheet of aluminum foil after 20 minutes of baking.
Leftover Cinnamon Banana Bread will keep at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.
I hope you love this Cinnamon Sugar Banana Bread as much as I do! If you do make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think and check out The Two Spoons App for more wholesome vegan recipes like this! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have.
And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.
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