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I’ve taken my moist, flavorful, banana-filled Banana Bread recipe and elevated it to a whole new level by topping it with a sweet and crumbly streusel topping! I’m calling this my Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread with Streusel Topping, otherwise known as “best banana bread ever!”.  

P. S.  This banana bread recipe also makes THE BEST Cinnamon Swirl Banana Muffins too!!

A slice of Banana Bread with a cinnamon streusel topping on a plate next to the remainder of the bread in a loaf pan and a bunch of bananas.

Banana bread has always been a favorite treat at my house for years. Years ago, I discovered a banana bread recipe that I love!  Over the years, I tweaked it here and there to suit our tastes and now it’s the recipe I use all the time. 

Why This Recipe Works

  • This is a tried and reader-tested recipe. 
  • What makes this banana bread so tasty is that it’s incredibly moist and has the perfect amount of sweetness.
  • Chunks of bananas are incorporated into the batter so you get more of a banana taste with each bite.
  • This banana bread recipe can be used as a muffin recipe too! 

Ingredient Notes

See recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  • Flour: Use all-purpose or plain flour. 
  • Baking soda: This helps the banana bread rise.
  • Cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla extract: For the best flavor!
  • Bananas: Make sure you use very ripe bananas.  
  • Sugar: I use granulated sugar.
  • Butter: Use melted butter for a soft texture and amazing butter flavor. 
  • Eggs: Gives the banana bread structure. 
  • Brown sugar: You can use either light or dark brown sugar. If you don’t have brown sugar, you can make your own with our homemade brown sugar recipe.
A Cinnamon Swirl Banana Muffin with Cinnamon Streusel Topping on a plate with four more muffins on a large plate in the background

How To Make This Recipe

  1. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
  2. In a small bowl, mash 2 of the bananas with a fork, leaving a few chunky pieces. Set aside.
  3. In a separate large bowl, whip the remaining bananas and sugar together until creamy.
  4. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix well.
  5. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated.
  6. Gently stir in mashed bananas.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  8. Using your hands, crumble the streusel mixture over the top of the banana bread, pressing down very gently.
  9. Bake for about 1 hour, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
  10. Cool the bread in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer pan to a wire rack to continue cooling.

To Make The Streusel Topping

  1. Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and softened butter in a small bowl until well mixed.
  2. Crumble over tope of banana bread before baking.

Expert Tips

  • To make the sweetest and richest banana bread, use ripe bananas. Ripe bananas with lots of brown spots on the skin are perfect to use. If the banana skins are almost all brown, the bread will be sweeter and have a stronger banana flavor.
  • When mashing the banana, leave some of the banana chunks. Personally, I love banana chunks in my bread. If you like a smoother batter, mash the bananas completely.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Make Banana Nut Bread?

If you love banana nut bread, feel free to add chopped nuts. Chopped pecans or chopped walnuts make great additions.

How Should I Store Banana Bread?

Cover the banana bread well with plastic wrap or foil to prevent them from drying out. When properly stored, banana bread should last 1-2 days at room temperature.

A Cinnamon Swirl Banana Muffin with Streusel Topping on a plate with another muffin in the background next to a bowl of fruit

More Banana Recipes

If you’re looking for a Banana Bread for one, you can find that recipe as well as many other single serving recipes by visiting our One Dish Kitchen site.

Enjoy!


Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread with Streusal Topping

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 1 loaf
Banana Bread recipe elevated to a whole new level by topping it with a sweet and crumbly streusel topping!  I'm calling this my Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread with Streusel Topping, otherwise known as "best banana bread ever!".

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 bananas (the riper the better)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup butter , melted and cooled (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

STREUSEL TOPPING

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4 Tablespoons butter , softened

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan.
  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; set aside.
  • Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork in a small bowl, leaving a few chunky pieces; set aside.
  • In a separate large bowl, whip the remaining bananas and sugar together until creamy, about 3 minutes.
  • Add the melted butter, eggs and vanilla; mix well.
  • Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated.
  • Gently stir in mashed bananas.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
  • Using your hands, crumble the streusal mixture over the top of the banana bread, pressing down very gently.
  • Bake for about 1 hour, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
  • Cool the bread in the pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer pan to a wire rack to continue cooling.
  • TO MAKE THE STREUSEL TOPPING
  • Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and softened butter in a small bowl until well mixed.
  • Crumble over top of banana bread before baking.

Notes

If making muffins, instead of using a loaf pan, line 12 muffin tins with liners and divide batter evenly into the muffin tin. Top each muffin with the streusel topping and bake as directed.
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4.58 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

19 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Just baked it and it came out delicious! Your recipe for streusel topping is amazing– so crunchy and yummy!

  2. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe.
    I’ve always made a plain banana bread, but I wanted something differant. I love the crunchiness and the flavor of the cinnamon streusel topping and the banana bread is moist. Absolutely delicious!!

    1. Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed the recipe, Susan. I agree, that streusel topping gives it the perfect crunch. 🙂

  3. Great recipe! Just one question. Early in the recipe, there is a step to mash two of the bananas, and to set them aside. After that, those two bananas are never heard from again. Is there a missing step?

    1. Willanette,
      Add in the mashed bananas after you mix in the dry ingredients. Thank you for letting me know I left out that step. I’ve updated the recipe. Have a great week!

  4. 5 stars
    Hi there, I just wanted to thank you for this recipe! I am currently living in South Korea, and am desperately missing all my favorite fall baked goods. This banana bread uses simple ingredients that I can even find here (except for vanilla! Ahh, I am constantly on the search!) and it tastes like home 🙂

    1. Hi Katie, I’m so glad you like the recipe. Even without vanilla, I think the banana bread still tastes good 🙂 . Perhaps you could find a substitute which would add a unique flavor to the bread. That might be fun.

  5. The muffins and the bread look so delicious! I’ve never made homemade banana bread before but I totally might give it a try.

    1. Thanks, Katherine – they are delicious and so easy to make. You should definitely give them a try. Let me know what you think.

  6. This is my idea of a perfect treat. I’d rather have banana bread than most any other kind of dessert (except lemon pie which is my very, very favorite). 🙂

  7. This looks so good! I’ve never tried making it myself, might have to try that some time.