SF

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Vegan)

3 from 2 votes
Deliciously soft and moist banana bread featuring cinnamon swirls and lots of banana flavour. This vegan recipe uses wholesome ingredients like mashed banana, coconut sugar, and almond butter in the batter for a healthy cinnamon swirl banana bread. A cinnamon and coconut sugar mixture is swirled into the batter giving a beautiful ribbon as you slice in. Topped with toasted pecans, more cinnamon coconut sugar and banana.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Jump to Recipe

Dec 17, 2023 by Hannah Sunderani

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Vegan)

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!

Why You’ll Love My 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 RollsCinnamon Roll OatmealCinnamon Braid BunsApple 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.

A slice of Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread topped with vegan butter and a piece split from a fork. The slice is on a white plate with a fork in the middle. The plate is sitting on a white backdrop with crumbs of the bread.

This Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is….

  • Vegan 
  • Moist and tender
  • Golden brown
  • Refined-sugar free
  • Decadent
  • Perfect for the holidays!
  • Quick to make
  • Made with 10 simple ingredients
All of the ingredients to make the banana bread separated into individual bowls. The bowls are sitting on a white backdrop.

Ingredient Notes

  • Flour – In addition to all-purpose flour, this banana bread is also made with a bit of added almond flour. It not only helps to keep the bread extra soft and moist, but adds nutrition and a light nuttiness. 
  • Sugar – I like to use coconut sugar in this loaf to keep the bread sweet, yet refined sugar free. If preferred, light brown sugar would work well as a substitute. 
  • Almond butter – ​Enhances the nuttiness in the almond flour and adds moisture and healthy fats. For the best texture, I’d recommend almond butter that is runny and easily pourable. 
  • Bananas – In addition to the mashed sweet bananas inside the batter, I love to top the cinnamon swirl banana bread with a banana, cut in half lengthwise, for extra caramelized banana flavour! If you love my Steel Cut Oatmeal with Caramelized Banana, I promise you’ll love this addition! 
  • Vegan butter – Most banana bread recipes call for oils like coconut oil or vegetable oil, but this sweet quick bread uses vegan butter in the batter as well as in the cinnamon swirl mixture for its extra decadent and gourmet flavour. I typically use salted vegan butter, but if you are using unsalted butter, use 1/2 teaspoon of added sea salt. 
 Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread, topped with pecans and caramelized banana sliced to show the moist interior. The banana bread is sitting on parchment paper. The parchment paper is laid out on a white backdrop with a cup of coffee in the top left.

How to Make Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

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. 

Banana Bread FAQs

​Can I use frozen bananas?

​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. 

​Is this banana bread gluten-free?

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

What should I do if my bread is browning too quickly?

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. 

A slice of Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread topped with vegan butter and a piece split from a fork. The slice is on a white plate with a fork in the middle. The plate is sitting on a white backdrop with crumbs of the bread.

Storage Instructions

Leftover Cinnamon Banana Bread will keep at room temperature in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. 

More Breakfast Recipes with Banana You Might Like:

A slice of Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread topped with vegan butter and a piece split. The slice is on a white plate with a fork in the top left. The plate is sitting on a white backdrop with crumbs of the bread.

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. 

PIN IT ON PINTEREST

Like this recipe? Save it for later! Pin it on Pinterest.

SF

Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Vegan)

3 from 2 votes
Deliciously soft and moist banana bread featuring cinnamon swirls and lots of banana flavour. This vegan recipe uses wholesome ingredients like mashed banana, coconut sugar, and almond butter in the batter for a healthy cinnamon swirl banana bread. A cinnamon and coconut sugar mixture is swirled into the batter giving a beautiful ribbon as you slice in. Topped with toasted pecans, more cinnamon coconut sugar and banana.
Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread, topped with pecans and caramelized banana sliced to show the moist interior. The banana bread is sitting on parchment paper. The parchment paper is laid out on a white backdrop with a cup of coffee in the top left.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Serves 8 people

Ingredients

Cinnamon swirl

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400F/200C. Line a standard 9×5 baking tin with parchment then spray or brush with vegan butter.
  • Add the pecans to a parchment lined baking tray and roast until golden and fragrant, 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool then roughly chop. Reserve 2 tbsp for topping the banana bread.
  • In a small bowl, mix the flour, almond flour, baking powder, coconut sugar and salt.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the almond milk, melted butter and almond butter.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet mix and stir to combine. Fold in the mashed banana and pecans with a spatula.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the cinnamon sugar ingredients: melted vegan butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
  • Spread 1/3 of the batter on the bottom of the tin. Add 1/3 of the cinnamon swirl mix in dollops on top and use a sharp knife or toothpick to swirl a little. Add 1/3 of the remaining batter and swirl with again. Repeat one more time – you should have 3 layers.
  • Press the two halves of the banana onto the top, cut side up, and brush with a little melted vegan butter, and top with reserved pecans.
  • Bake for about 30 – 35 mins, covering loosely with foil if it starts to brown too much after about 20 minutes. Leave to cool for 10 minutes in the tin then place on a wire rack to cool before slicing.

Approvals

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 536mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 440IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 2mg
DID YOU

Tag @twospoons on Instagram
and hashtag it #twospoons

MAKE THIS?

LEAVE A COMMENT
AND RATE THIS RECIPE!

We love hearing from you! If you love this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Thank you!

3 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this Recipe