Easy Frosted Banana Cinnamon Rolls

These easy no yeast Banana Cinnamon Rolls combine the classic banana bread flavor with everyone's favorite cinnamon roll. This combo is a match made in heaven.

Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls

Do you have a bunch of ripe bananas on the counter and want something new and exciting to make with them? Bananas are such a versatile ingredient that can be used so many different ways. Muffins, donuts, breads, cakes, cupcakes!  You name it, I probably have added banana to it.

Normally when we have ripe bananas I make a loaf of this Banana Bread with sour cream. But I was craving cinnamon rolls, so I decided to mash up two recipes and create banana bread cinnamon rolls.

Oh, my goodness! Best idea of the week for sure.These no yeast banana cinnamon rolls were soft, gooey, and so delicious.

The best part about these rolls is that there is no rise time. And they can be made and eaten in less than an hour. They are one of my favorite ways to use up ripe bananas on the counter.

Still have leftover ripe bananas after making the banana rolls?  Freeze them and make Banana Ice Cream for dessert later.

Bonus: If you love cinnamon rolls then try these orange sweet rolls or some funfetti cinnamon rolls.

Ingredient List

These banana sweet rolls use ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. The combo of banana and cinnamon gives these easy peasy cinnamon rolls a fun banana bread flavor.

For the Cinnamon Filling

• Sugars - A mixture of brown and granulated makes the filling sweet.
• Spices - The combination of cinnamon and nutmeg gives it a rich spicy flavor.
• Nuts - Use your favorite chopped nuts inside and on top of the frosted rolls. Leave out to keep the rolls nut free.
• Butter - Unsalted and melted.

For the No Yeast Dough

• Flour - Make sure to measure the flour
• Sugar - Just a little bit of granulated sugar adds sweetness to the dough.
• Baking Powder & Baking Soda - Provides the lift in the dough.
• Salt - Adds flavor.
• Banana - One ripe banana gives the dough a delicious banana bread flavor.
• Butter - Unsalted and melted.
• Buttermilk - Gives the dough richness and a slight tang. You can also use whole milk or half and half.

How to make Banana Cinnamon Rolls

The dough for these banana nut cinnamon rolls comes together so easily with just a bowl and a fork. Roll it out, fill with cinnamon sugar goodness, and bake. In under 1 hour you can be enjoying warm and gooey banana bread rolls for breakfast.

Step One: Make Cinnamon Filling

1. Stir together the sugar, brown sugar, spices, nuts (if using), and melted butter in a bowl.
2. Set aside until needed.

Step Two: Make Banana Cinnamon Roll Dough

1. Put all the dry ingredients in a large bowl and stir together with a fork.
2. Add the buttermilk, mashed bananas, and melted butter and continue to stir with the fork until a soft dough forms.
3. Once the dough comes together into a soft ball, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough a FEW times.
4. Press and roll the dough out with your fingers gently.  Gently keep working it until you get it into a 10" x 14" rectangle.
5. Brush melted butter on top and sprinkle the cinnamon filling.  Make sure you do not spread the cinnamon sugar all the way to the edges. Leave a 1 inch border all around.
6. Carefully roll the dough and sugar up starting from the shortest side.  The dough may stick to the counter if you do not have enough flour under it.  Use a butter knife or flat edge spatula to loosen the roll if this happens.
7. Finish rolling it up and cut the dough log into 9 even rolls.  Place the banana rolls in the buttered baking pan. Drizzle the remaining butter over the top.
8. Bake for about 18-20 minutes in a preheated oven.

Step Three: Make Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Stir together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until the mixture is creamy.
2. Spread the cream cheese icing on top of the warm banana cinnamon rolls and sprinkle with extra nuts.

Recipe Tips

• Do not knead the no yeast dough too many times because too much flour will make the dough tough.  You want soft fluffy rolls to enjoy hot from the oven.
• Make sure to keep a very thin layer of flour under the dough to keep it from sticking to the counter.
• Use a butter knife or flat spatula to gently loosen the dough from the counter as you roll everything up.
• If you or someone in your family has a tree nut allergy, leave the nuts out of this cinnamon roll recipe!
• Use a serrated knife or dental floss to cut the log of dough without smashing the roll.
• Want to make this a vegan friendly recipe? Use vegan butter and vegan buttermilk in place of the original ingredients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my cinnamon rolls tough?

Kneading the dough too many times with too much flour will produce rolls that are tough and dry.

How do you cut cinnamon rolls easily?

Using unflavored dental floss is the easiest way to cut cinnamon rolls without smooshing the roll.  Slide a long piece of floss under the roll and wrap it around the roll. Pull tightly in opposite directions until it slices through the dough. It's that quick and easy to make uniform rolls.

A serrated knife is my other favorite way to cut cinnamon rolls. Gently cut back and forth on the dough using short motions until you get all the way through the dough.

Other Easy Banana Recipes

• Best Banana Cake recipe
• Banana Scones
• Banana Waffle
• Banana Nutella Muffins
• Maple Pecan Banana Bread
• Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal
• Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Cinnamon Banana Bread
• Banana Pudding Cheesecake
• Chocolate Banana Muffins

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*The recipe for Banana Nut Cinnamon Rolls was originally published on February 23, 2014. The post and pictures were updated and republished on July 8, 2021.