Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease your loaf pan with a little butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, mash the over-ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. You want about 1 ½ cups of mashed bananas.
Step 3: Add the melted butter to the mashed bananas and mix until well combined. Stir in the granulated sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract until everything is nicely blended.
Step 4: In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the banana mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay!
Step 5: In a small bowl, combine the ½ cup granulated sugar with the ground cinnamon. This will be your swirl mixture.
Step 6: Pour half of the banana batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter. Pour the remaining banana batter on top and finish with the rest of the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Step 7: Using a knife or a toothpick, gently swirl the batter and cinnamon mixture together to create a marbled effect. Don’t overdo it; you want to see distinct swirls!
Step 8: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil.
Step 9: Once baked, allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy your delicious Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread!
