Banana Bread Buttermilk Cinnamon Rolls
These Banana Bread Buttermilk Cinnamon Rolls are incredibly soft, fluffy, sticky, and perfectly gooey with a melt-in-your-mouth interior that makes every single bite absolutely irresistible. The dough is made with mashed banana for the most perfectly sweet and warm banana bread flavor throughout, swirled with a warming banana bread cinnamon filling that gets beautifully gooey and caramelized as they bake. Baked until perfectly golden and finished with a honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting that melts into every single swirl — served warm with a hot cup of coffee, these cinnamon rolls are the ultimate cozy breakfast you will want to make on repeat!.
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Ingredients You Need:
Full ingredients and recipe are in the recipe card below. Read through this section for all the ingredients substitution and baking tips!
Buttermilk: Warmed to around 110F to activate the yeast and adds a subtle tang and extra tenderness to the dough that keeps the cinnamon rolls incredibly soft, fluffy, and perfectly gooey throughout every single bite — a splash of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice mixed with milk of choice works as a substitute.
Granulated Sugar: Feeds the yeast during activation and adds a subtle sweetness to the banana bread cinnamon roll dough throughout.
Active Dry Yeast: The leavening agent that gives these cinnamon rolls their incredibly soft, fluffy, and pillowy texture — make sure it is properly activated and frothy before adding to the dough.
Mashed Ripe Banana: The star ingredient that gives both the dough and the banana bread cinnamon filling their signature warm, sweet, and comforting banana bread flavor — make sure to use deeply speckled and ripe bananas and measure out exactly 1/2 cup for the most consistent flavor and texture in every single batch.
Salted Butter: Used in multiple components throughout — very softened in the dough for a rich, pillowy, and tender crumb, softened into the banana bread cinnamon filling for a beautifully gooey and caramelized swirl, and softened into the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting for a smooth, creamy, and perfectly spreadable finish.
Eggs: Provide structure, richness, and stability to the dough while helping the cinnamon rolls hold together and bake up perfectly soft, fluffy, and golden throughout.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: Adds a warm, sweet, and aromatic flavor that enhances the banana bread dough, the banana bread cinnamon filling, and the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting throughout every single bite.
Bread Flour: Gives the cinnamon rolls a slightly chewier, more structured texture that holds up beautifully during baking — all-purpose flour works as a substitute. See the notes section for how to properly measure for the best results.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the warm banana bread flavors throughout the dough, filling, and honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting.
Light Brown Sugar: Used in both the banana bread cinnamon filling and the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting for a deep, molasses-like sweetness that enhances the warm banana bread flavor and creates the most gooey, caramelized, and irresistible swirls throughout every single roll.
Cinnamon: Adds a warm, cozy spice to the banana bread cinnamon filling that pairs perfectly with the ripe banana flavor and creates that classic banana bread taste that makes every single bite so incredibly warm and comforting throughout.
Diced Ripe Bananas: Dispersed across the surface of the filling before rolling for little pockets of warm, juicy, and caramelized banana in every single swirl — these extra banana chunks take the banana bread flavor in every single roll completely over the top.
Heavy Cream: Poured warm over the proofed rolls right before baking — this is the secret to incredibly soft, fluffy, sticky, and perfectly gooey cinnamon rolls with those signature beautifully golden caramelized edges throughout.
Cream Cheese: The base of the smooth and tangy honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting that melts right into every single swirl for the most indulgent, creamy, and perfectly balanced finishing touch — make sure it is fully softened before beating for the smoothest result.
Honey: Adds a natural, floral sweetness to the cream cheese frosting that pairs beautifully with the brown sugar and warm banana bread flavors for the most uniquely delicious and irresistible frosting throughout every single roll.
Why You’ll Love Banana Bread Buttermilk Cinnamon Rolls:
Incredibly Soft, Fluffy, And Perfectly Gooey: These cinnamon rolls are incredibly soft, fluffy, and perfectly gooey with a melt-in-your-mouth interior that makes every single bite absolutely irresistible and completely unforgettable from the very first roll to the very last.
Sticky And Gooey With Golden Caramelized Edges: Each cinnamon roll bakes up sticky, gooey, and perfectly caramelized with those signature beautifully golden edges that everyone loves and absolutely lives for in every single bite.
Perfect Banana Bread Dough: The dough is made with mashed banana for the most perfectly sweet, warm, and comforting banana bread flavor that infuses every single layer of these cinnamon rolls and makes them truly one of a kind.
Warming Banana Bread Cinnamon Filling: The banana bread cinnamon filling gets beautifully gooey and caramelized as it bakes for the most incredible warm, sweet, and deeply comforting swirl that pairs absolutely perfectly with the banana bread dough throughout every single roll.
Honey Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting: The honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting is smooth, perfectly tangy, and deeply indulgent — it melts right into every single swirl for the most irresistible, creamy, and beautifully balanced finishing touch throughout.
Classic Banana Bread Flavor In Roll Form: Every single element of a classic banana bread — warm ripe banana, brown sugar cinnamon, and a sweet creamy topping — comes together in the most perfectly gooey and irresistible cinnamon roll form.
Served Warm For The Best Experience: These cinnamon rolls are at their absolute best served warm straight from the oven with the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting melting into every single swirl and a hot cup of coffee on the side.
Perfect For Any Occasion: Whether it is a lazy weekend morning, a holiday brunch, a birthday breakfast, or any special occasion, these banana bread buttermilk cinnamon rolls are always the ultimate crowd-pleasing treat on the table.
Tips for Making Banana Bread Buttermilk Cinnamon Rolls:
Activate The Yeast In Warm Buttermilk: Make sure the buttermilk is warmed to around 110F before activating the yeast — too hot and it will kill the yeast, too cold and it won't activate. It should feel like a warm bath. Look for a frothy, bubbly mixture after 5–7 minutes to know it is ready.
Use Very Ripe Bananas For The Best Flavor: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful both the dough and the filling will be — look for bananas that are deeply speckled or almost fully brown for the most incredible banana bread flavor that infuses every single layer of these cinnamon rolls.
Measure The Mashed Banana: Measure out exactly 1/2 cup (120g) of mashed banana for both the dough and the filling rather than going off the number of bananas — this ensures the most consistent flavor and texture in every single batch.
Use Very Softened Butter In The Dough: The butter should be very softened and almost melted before adding to the dough — this ensures it incorporates smoothly and evenly throughout for the softest, most tender, and most pillowy result.
Use Room Temperature Eggs: Eggs should be at room temperature so they incorporate evenly into the dough for the smoothest, most consistent result throughout.
Let The Flour Rest Before Kneading: After mixing the dough on low for 1 minute, let it rest for 5 minutes before kneading — this allows the flour to fully absorb the liquids including the mashed banana for a smoother, more elastic, and perfectly tender dough.
The Dough May Need A Little More Flour Than Usual: Because of the moisture from the mashed banana, this dough may need a little extra flour — add only one tablespoon at a time until the dough just starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl while still remaining slightly sticky.
Don't Over-Rise The Dough: Only allow the dough to rise for 30–45 minutes — this dough won't double in size and that is completely intentional. Over-rising will result in cinnamon rolls that are too airy and lose their soft, gooey, and pillowy texture.
Make The Banana Bread Cinnamon Filling While The Dough Rises: Prepare the filling during the 30–45 minute rise time — note that the banana bread cinnamon filling will be very, very soft due to the mashed banana and that is completely normal and exactly what we want for the most gooey and caramelized swirl throughout.
Spread The Filling Evenly All The Way To The Edges: Spread the banana bread cinnamon filling evenly across the entire surface of the dough, leaving only a very small border around the edges — this ensures every single swirl is packed with that warm, gooey, and caramelized banana bread cinnamon flavor throughout.
Disperse The Diced Banana Evenly Over The Filling: After spreading the cinnamon filling, evenly disperse the chopped banana chunks across the surface before rolling — these chunks of banana add little pockets of warm, juicy banana flavor in every single bite that makes these rolls truly irresistible.
Roll The Dough Tightly: Roll the dough up as tightly as possible when forming the rolls — a tight roll ensures beautiful, even swirls and keeps both the filling and the banana chunks from falling out during baking.
Pour Warm Heavy Cream Over The Rolls Before Baking: Warming the heavy cream and pouring it over the proofed rolls right before baking is the secret to incredibly soft, fluffy, sticky, and perfectly gooey cinnamon rolls with those signature beautifully golden caramelized edges throughout.
Bake At Two Temperatures: Baking the rolls at 350F first and then increasing to 375F ensures the rolls cook all the way through without getting too dark on top or drying out in the middle — this two-temperature method is the key to the most perfectly baked and golden banana bread cinnamon rolls every single time.
Let The Rolls Rest Before Frosting: Allow the rolls to rest for 10–15 minutes after baking before adding the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting — this prevents the frosting from melting completely off and gives the rolls time to set up properly before serving.
Frost While Still Warm: Spreading the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting on while the rolls are still slightly warm allows it to melt beautifully into every single swirl for the most indulgent, creamy, and irresistible finish throughout.
How to Store Banana Bread Buttermilk Cinnamon Rolls:
Best Served Fresh: These banana bread buttermilk cinnamon rolls are at their absolute best served warm and fresh straight from the oven with the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting melting into every single swirl and a hot cup of coffee on the side.
Make Ahead (Overnight Method): Assemble the rolls, place them in the prepared baking pan, cover tightly, and store in the refrigerator overnight instead of doing the second proof. When ready to bake, remove from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature and proof for 45–60 minutes before pouring the heavy cream over and baking as directed.
Make Ahead (Cream Cheese Frosting): The honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before spreading over the warm rolls for the smoothest and most spreadable result.
Room Temperature (Short-Term): The rolls can sit covered at room temperature for up to 1 day. Store the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator and add just before serving.
Refrigerator: Store leftover frosted rolls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store any remaining honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freezer: Freeze individual unfrosted baked rolls in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, reheat in the oven at 325F for 10–15 minutes, and frost with a fresh batch of honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting before serving.
To Reheat: Warm individual rolls in the microwave for 20–30 seconds, or reheat in the oven at 325F for 8–10 minutes until warmed through and the frosting is melty and gooey again — the oven is recommended for the best soft, fluffy, and perfectly gooey texture throughout.
FAQs:
Q: Can I make these banana bread buttermilk cinnamon rolls ahead of time?
A: Yes. Assemble the rolls, place them in the prepared baking pan, cover tightly, and store in the refrigerator overnight instead of doing the second proof. When ready to bake, remove from the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature and proof for 45–60 minutes before pouring the heavy cream over and baking as directed.
Q: Can I make the honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting ahead of time?
A: Yes. The honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before spreading over the warm rolls for the smoothest and most spreadable result.
Q: Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
A: Yes. If using instant yeast, there is no need to activate it first — simply add it directly into the dough mixture and proceed with the recipe.
Q: Can I substitute the buttermilk in the dough?
A: Yes. Mix 1 1/2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice with 3/4 cup of milk of choice as a substitute. You can also simply use 3/4 cup of milk of choice without any acid if you prefer — the buttermilk adds a subtle tang and extra tenderness so it is recommended to use it if possible.
Q: Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour?
A: Yes. All-purpose flour works as a substitute for bread flour, though bread flour gives the cinnamon rolls a slightly chewier, more structured texture that holds up beautifully during baking. See the notes section for how to properly measure flour for the best results.
Q: Can I make these cinnamon rolls with sourdough starter?
A: Yes. You can substitute 100g of active sourdough starter for the yeast. The dough will need a longer bulk fermentation — about 6–8 hours at room temperature — followed by an overnight ferment in the refrigerator to develop flavor. The next day, shape and proof the rolls for 2–3 hours, then bake as instructed.
Q: Why does the dough not double in size during the first rise?
A: This is completely intentional — this dough is only meant to rise for 30–45 minutes and will not double in size during that time. Allowing it to rise too long will result in cinnamon rolls that are too airy and lose their soft, pillowy, and gooey texture.
Q: Why is the banana bread cinnamon filling so soft?
A: The mashed banana in the filling makes it much softer than a traditional cinnamon filling and that is completely intentional — the soft filling spreads beautifully across the dough and creates the most gooey, caramelized, and deeply flavorful banana bread swirl as it bakes throughout every single roll.
Q: Why do I pour heavy cream over the rolls before baking?
A: Pouring warm heavy cream over the proofed rolls right before baking is the secret to incredibly soft, fluffy, sticky, and perfectly gooey cinnamon rolls with those signature beautifully golden caramelized edges — it is one of the most important steps in this recipe so do not skip it.
Q: Can I make 8 larger or 12 smaller rolls?
A: Yes. The recipe works for both — roll the dough to a 16x15" rectangle for 8 larger rolls or a 24x15" rectangle for 12 smaller rolls. Adjust the baking time slightly based on the size for the best result.
Q: Can I freeze these cinnamon rolls?
A: Yes. Freeze individual unfrosted baked rolls in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, reheat in the oven at 325F for 10–15 minutes, and frost with a fresh batch of honey brown sugar cream cheese frosting before serving for the best result.
Make sure to tag me @wellmadebykiley on Instagram and leave a review or comment if you make these banana bread buttermilk cinnamon rolls. Happy baking!
