Easy Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Easy banana bread cinnamon rolls with our quick active yeast dough is one of our delicious overripe banana recipes for breakfast or dessert. Enjoyed as is or covered with cream cheese frosting there is fruit in the batter as well as inside the cinnamon sugar filling.

Banana Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Really this is a cross between our 2 favorite treats. Like if our banana bread bundt cake and cinnamon sugar rolls had a baby of sorts… I mean if you were serving a crowd you could make all 3 and see which is more popular. I guarantee there won’t be leftovers of any of them though. 😉

You may call these Sweet Rolls if you grew up in the South, whatever your name you know how delish they are. The dough is quite basic but we were able to add mashed bananas right in there to enhance the flavor. The middle has tons of options though. Instead of brown and ripe though, inside you want firmer slices for texture purposes.

Ripe fruits can be used to naturally sweeten all sorts of things, even those that are normally just savory. A great example would be our Banana Cornbread.

Ingredients

• Butter or dairy free vegan variety
• 1 c milk, or dairy free alternative
• 1 packet active dry yeast .25 oz.
• 1/2 c bananas ripe, mashed
• Sugar white variety
• Salt
• All purpose flour
• Cinnamon of course
• 2-3 fresh bananas that are yellow and ripe, sliced

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls 1 Hour

Now if you wanted really really fast I would go for our Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll Casserole which is closer to 30 minutes in general, but uses pie filling. Using refrigerated biscuits you skip the yeast and all that prep work with this one but with many of the same flavors.

Can you use dairy free milk to activate yeast?

Yes, you can use dairy-free milk, such as almond, soy, oat, or a sweeter coconut milk, to activate yeast in recipes. Yeast needs a liquid with a temperature range of approximately 100°F to 110°F OR 37°C to 43°C to activate and thrive. Lactose free varieties can be heated to this temperature to work effectively, just like “regular” dairy.

We will show you step by step below how to use this pan. For this, the dough needs one hour to double in size, then bake for about half an hour. Way faster than my rise twice version that takes a lot longer with many more steps. In a small saucepan, add butter and milk and heat, stirring constantly until butter is melted and milk is warm.

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls in a Cast Iron Skillet

• Remove from heat and let stand to cool until it’s 110 degrees F.
• Pour into a large mixing bowl and add yeast. Mix well and let stand for 10 minutes for yeast to activate.
• Stir in mashed banana, sugar and salt. Add 2-1/2 cups flour, half at a time, Mix until combined well.
• Spoon dough onto a floured surface and knead the dough only a few times, adding a bit of additional flour until dough is mixed and non longer sticky.
• Rinse the mixing bowl and coat with nonstick cooking spray. Place dough in bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place in a warm location and let dough rise to double in size, this will take about 1 hour.
• Remove the dough from the bowl and place onto a floured surface. Using a rolling pin, dusted in flour, roll dough thinly, about 1/4″ thick and around the size of 12×20 inches. Brush dough with melted butter (you won’t use it all).
• Mix together sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle on top of butter. Top with thin banana slices.
• Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 10″ ovenproof skillet. Starting with the long edge roll the dough into a log. Use a serrated knife to cut into 2″ cinnamon rolls.
• You should have about 10 rolls. Place into prepared pan. Brush with remaining melted butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rolls rise while oven preheats, about 10-15 minutes.

Remove plastic wrap and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let stand until warm. Spread cream cheese icing or vanilla extract style frosting made with powdered sugar and a bit of milk to thin it on top and serve.

What color should your bananas be to make banana bread?

You do want quite a bit of brown spots all over the peel but not black as that may indicate that they have spoiled. It is the in between yellow and dark brown all over color you want. This does take more time than our cake mix banana bread, but worth it!

Activating properly is a crucial step in many baking recipes, especially those that involve making bread or other leavened products. If done properly, producing carbon dioxide gas, it will cause the dough to rise as you’d like it to.

How do you activate yeast?

1. Measure – Start by measuring the amount of yeast your recipe calls for. Most recipes specify the quantity of yeast needed. Common quantities are typically 2 1/4 teaspoons for one packet (7 grams) of active dry yeast or as directed in your recipe.
2. Warm the Liquid – The water or milk you use to activate it should be comfortably warm but not hot. It should ideally be between 100°F to 110°F (37°C to 43°C). At this temperature range it is warm enough to activate but not so hot that it kills it. It’s best to use a kitchen thermometer to measure the water temperature accurately.
3. Dissolve – If you’d like, you can add a pinch of sugar to the warm water to help activate the yeast. While sugar isn’t always necessary, it can provide it with some initial food to encourage fermentation. This step is optional.
   • Sprinkle the measured yeast evenly over the warm water’s surface. Do not stir at this stage. Let the yeast sit undisturbed for about 5-10 minutes.
4. Yeast Bubbles – After a few minutes, the yeast should begin to dissolve and form bubbles on the water’s surface. A layer of foam may also develop. This is a sign that it is active and alive. If you don’t see any bubbles or foam after about 10 minutes, it’s possible that your yeast is no longer viable, and you should consider using a new batch.
5. Stir – Once it has activated and is visibly foamy, give it a gentle stir to ensure that it’s well dissolved in the water. It should have a pleasant, Sourdough Starter From Scratch aroma.
6. Use Immediately – It’s now ready to help your dough rise. Combine it with other ingredients according to your recipe’s instructions.

What temperature should liquid be to activate yeast?

Remember that using the correct water temperature and fresh yeast is crucial for successful activation. It should ideally be between 100°F to 110°F. If it is too hot, it can kill it and won’t work. If it’s too cold, it likely will not activate properly. Properly activated is the key to achieving light, airy, and well-risen bread and other baked goods.

How to store leftovers

If you do have leftovers make sure you tightly roll in plastic wrap and then slide into a freezer bag. Since these have fruit in them they need to be refrigerated. Without it is best to keep on the counter so they don’t dry out. Reheating is a great way to enjoy them warm and gooey, just like when they were freshly baked. Here are several methods;

How do you Reheat Cinnamon Rolls?

1. Reheating cinnamon rolls in a Toaster Oven – Preheat your oven or toaster oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the cinnamon rolls on a baking sheet or in an oven-safe dish. You can cover them with aluminum foil if you want to prevent excessive browning. Heat for about 10-15 minutes or until they are warmed through and the icing has melted. Remove from the oven and let them cool for a minute before serving.
2. How to reheat cinnamon rolls in the microwave – you would place individual pieces on a microwave-safe plate. Heat them in the microwave on medium power (50%) for about 20-30 seconds per roll. You may need to adjust the time depending on the wattage of your machine. Be careful not to overheat, as rolls can become tough when heated for too long.
3. Steaming cinnamon rolls works well for reviving slightly stale pieces. Boil a pot of water and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Place a steaming basket or a heatproof colander over the simmering water. Put in the steaming basket and cover with a lid. Steam for 3-5 minutes to rehydrate the rolls.
4. Reheat cinnamon rolls in a skillet over medium-low heat. Place the cinnamon rolls in the skillet and cover with a lid. Warm them for about 3-5 minutes or until heated through. Flip the rolls occasionally to heat them evenly.

5. Air Fryer sticky buns we love. Preheat your air fryer to 325°F (160°C). Place in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Heat them for about 3-5 minutes or until warmed through and slightly crispy on the outside.

No matter which method you choose, it’s best to keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking. Be cautious when handling them, as they can be hot. Once they are heated to your liking, serve them immediately. Enjoy your warm and delicious treats for everyone at the table.