These delicious Banana Walnut Cinnamon Rolls are perfect to wake up to. With a pillowy soft dough that is infused with bananas and swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with sweet banana slices then rolled up and baked to perfection. Then smothered with a smooth and silky cream cheese frosting. Making every bite a delicious blend of warm spices, sweet banana and tangy cream cheese. Pure perfection.
As if Cinnamon Rolls weren’t perfect as is. Just add some banana and some walnuts and you have a seriously delicious treat. Whether it be for a sweet breakfast, a mid morning snack or any time of day pick me up, you will be sure to love them. So get ready to indulge on the perfect combination of soft pillowy dough, sweet banana cinnamon filling and a tangy cream cheese frosting.
Why You Will Love These Cinnamon Rolls
- Banana:There will be know mistaking the flavor of these Cinnamon Rolls. With the banana infused dough and slices of banana in the filling, the banana flavor is quite intense.
- Dough: Talk about fluffy. These cinnamon rolls are pillowy soft. The dough is so light and airy that it practically melts in your mouth.
- Ease: The best part about these cinnamon rolls is that they are super easy to make. If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook, then you can make these rolls in no time at all.
- Frosting: The tangy cream cheese frosting is the perfect way to cut the sweetness in these rolls
- Walnuts: For the perfect amount of added crunch.
Disclaimer:
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified purchases.
What You Need To Make These Cinnamon Rolls
Eqipment:
- Stand Mixer: This dough has to be kneaded for 8 to 10 minutes. Having a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment will make the job of kneading this dough a whole lot easier.
- Mixing Bowls: Having mixing bowls in a variety of sizes is helpful when making any recipe. I like to use glass mixing bowls because not only are they easy to clean but unlike metal they will not react with certain ingredients.
- Casserole Dish: The size of your cinnamon rolls will depict the size casserole dish you use. I prefer a thicker cinnamon roll so I cut my dough into 9 slices and used a 2.3 qt. Casserole dish. You can cut your cinnamon rolls thinner, making 12 rolls, in which case you would need a 3.5 qt. Casserole dish.
Ingredients:
- Milk: Full Fat or 2% works best.
- Butter: I always use unsalted butter. Doing so will allow you to control the salt content in your recipes.
- Granulated Sugar: For the dough.
- Dark Brown Sugar: For the filling.
- Powdered Sugar: For the cream cheese frosting.
- Flour: A good All Purpose Flour works best.
- Yeast: If using an Active Dry Yeast It is important to place it into the warm milk and let it sit until it starts to foam. If using an Instant Dry Yeast, you can incorporate it right into the flour.
- Cinnamon: Can’t make Cinnamon Rolls without a good cinnamon.
- Nuts: The perfect nut to use that goes well with bananas is Walnuts. It gave these cinnamon rolls a Banana Bread flavor. It is important to chop up the nuts very fine so that when cutting your rolls, they don’t get in the way.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: This will give your cinnamon rolls a little extra volume and that perfect glossy golden brown color when baked.
- Salt: A pinch of salt is used to enhance the flavors in these rolls.
- Vanilla: I always opt for a Pure Vanilla Extract due to its intense vanilla flavor.
- Cream Cheese: A full fat or 1/3 less fat works best. It is very important that you allow it to come to room temperature first so that it combines with the other ingredients smoothly.
Tips For Making Cinnamon Rolls;
- Room Temperature Ingredients: This will allow your ingredients to blend into one another seamlessly.
- Even Rolling: It is important to roll out your dough evenly into a 12” x 18” rectangle. In doing this you will assure that all your cinnamon rolls are of the same thickness.
Banana Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy9
servings2
hours40
minutesA pillowy soft dough that is infused with banana, swirled with cinnamon sugar and topped with a delicious tangy cream cheese frosting. The perfect treat to start your day.
Ingredients
- For the Dough:
1 Cup warm milk
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
4 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 1/4 Teaspoons Active Dry Yeast
1 Teaspoon salt
1 Large banana, mashed
- For The Filling:
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft.
1/2 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
2 Large bananas, thinly sliced
1/3 Cup Chopped Walnuts
1/4 Cup heavy whipping cream for brushing on dough
- For The Frosting:
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 oz. Cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Directions
- For The Dough:
- Place the milk, butter and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir and bring to 120º on a candy thermometer. Add the yeast and let sit until foamy.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, blend together the flour and salt until combined. Add the warm milk mixture and the mashed bananas. Using a dough hook, knead the dough for 8 minutes. Spray a large bowl with baking spray. Place the dough into the bowl and cover with a clean cotton towel. Allow the dough to rise in a warm location for 1 1/2 hours
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 12” x 18” rectangle.
- For The Filling:
- Beet the softened butter, sugar and cinnamon together until combined. Spread mixture on the dough leaving a 1/2” boarder. Sprinkle with walnuts and place the thinly sliced bananas on top in a single layer. Starting on the long side, tightly roll up the dough into a log. Using a thin string (like unscented dental floss) cut 9 to 12 slices, depending on how big you want your rolls to be, and place them in a greased casserole dish. Once again , cover with a clean cotton towel and allow to rise for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350º. Brush the tops of the rolls with heavy cream. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 35 – 40 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
- For The Frosting:
- Beat together the softened butter and cream cheese until combined. Add the sugar and vanilla and continue beating until smooth and creamy. If necessary add the heavy cream to achieve a smooth and creamy texture. Frost the tops of the slightly cooled rolls, then serve.
- Enjoy.