Time for Banana Cinnamon Rolls!

Updated: Jul 31, 2021

If you're living in a tropical country that means you can have bananas all year round. But if you have a banana tree in your backyard, then that means you'll have to eat bananas until you'll throw it up. Just kidding. Bananas are healthy but eating them every day can make you hate them. Enter INNOVATION.

I found a recipe that combines cinnamon rolls AND bananas! How cool is that? We love cinnamon rolls and we have a drum full of bananas that needs to be eaten as soon as possible, what better way to finish them all than to add them to your baking?

Down below are my TIPS on baking these buns. Read it and it will surely help you. I also list down below my preferred and favorite brands of ingredients that I use!

So here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

For the cinnamon rolls:

1 cup milk
1/3 cup (75 grams) unsalted butter
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
2 ripe bananas, mashed (4 if you want more banana-ish flavor)
1 large egg
5 cups (550 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (115 grams) white sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt

For the fillings:

1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter, melted
1 ripe banana (4 if you want more banana-ish flavor)
1/2 cup (100 grams) brown sugar
2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the sticky toppings:

1 cup caramel
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped and toasted

Instructions:

For the cinnamon rolls;

1. To make the rolls: In a small saucepan, combine the milk and butter on low heat until the butter has just melted and the milk is warm, 120 degrees. In the bowl of a stand mixer, pour the milk mixture and sprinkle the yeast over it. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture is frothy and the yeast is activated.

2. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a separate bowl. Mix well until everything is incorporated.

3. Using a dough hook, began mixing the yeast on low. Add in the bananas and egg until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix until a dough* has formed and is sticky to the touch.

*I usually add 1/4-1/2 cup of flour until it forms into a sticky round of dough.

4. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a towel. Place in a warm area until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.

For the filling:

1. Mash your banana until no lumps remain.

2. Combine the brown sugar and ground cinnamon. Mix well until everything is incorporated.

3. Melt butter and brush every nook and cranny of your pans. I'm using a 13" pan and two 8" pans.

For the sticky toppings:

Divide the caramel in your pans and spread evenly. Sprinkle the walnuts in your pans.

Assembly:

1. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface using flour as needed to about 16"x12" long and 1/4" thick. Brush melted butter over the dough. Spread evenly the mashed bananas and sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Working from the long edge, begin to tightly roll the dough to the other end. Cut the dough with thread/floss into 1" pieces.

2. Place the rolls swirl side up into the prepared pan and cover a towel. Place in a warm area and let the dough rise again for 30 minutes or until double in size. Preheat oven to 350F degrees/ 177C degrees.

3. Bake rolls for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and fluffy. Let the rolls cool slightly before turning out in the cooling rack.

TIPS:

Click here why I prefer using a weighing scale in baking.
You don't know what yeast to use? Active Dry Yeast or Instant Yeast? What exactly is the difference between these two? Read this article to know.
Since its lockdown in our area, there's no all-purpose flour that I can buy, but there's bread flour and it's the one I've been using for this recipe ever since. Click here to know what's the difference between the two. I generally use bread flour on all of my bread recipes.
Slowly slowly slowly incorporate the flour into the mixing bowl. I use a 1/4 measuring cup to add a heapingful of flour and then wait for it to be incorporated before adding the next cup.
You can toast your walnuts in the oven, which is the proper way to do but if you're in a hurry, you can toast them in the pan where you melt your butter. By the way, you can use any nuts you want (I used pecans here) or you can remove them if you're allergic to them. Won't matter, the buns will still be delicious!
Every oven is different but the general rule is to preheat your oven for 20 minutes.
Always rotate your pans in the mid-mark of your baking time.

BRANDS:

Milk

Philippine bakers: Click the picture below and you can easily get them from Lazada, delivered right to your doorstep.

Other bakers that can buy from Amazon:

Unsalted Butter

My favorite brand is still KerryGold unsalted butter but if you want a cheaper alternative, Magnolia or Anchor will be fine.

Click the picture below to go directly to Lazada and deliver this right to your door!

Instant yeast

For Philippine bakers:

This brand is what I use because I have no other options. Just click it and you'll be redirected to the Lazada app!

Other bakers that can buy from Amazon:

Egg

For Philippine bakers: Click the picture below and you'll get it delivered right to your door! By the way, brown eggs are healthier than white ones.

Other bakers that can buy from Amazon:

Bread flour

There's only one brand that I love and use. Thankfully, it's available in Lazada. Click the picture below and it will be delivered right to your door!