Name: Protein Banana Bread with Cinnamon Sugar Crust
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3 ripe bananas (sliced and mashed); ½ cup unsalted butter (sliced); 2 large eggs (room temperature); 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; 2 cups protein pancake mix; ¾ cup light brown sugar (packed); 1 tsp baking soda; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tbsp granulated sugar; ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

It’s been a week since my last post. We were moving to a new apartment. But, we are here now and almost settled. There are a few more boxes to unpack, but things are coming together. I have completed my first bake in the new place. Naturally, I made banana bread. This Protein Banana Bread with Cinnamon Sugar Crust is everything you want in banana bread. It is moist and full of banana flavor.

The cinnamon sugar crust is really what sets this recipe above the rest. Not only is this protein banana bread, but the crust on top is utterly delicious and reminiscent of churros. Can you say delicious?

Banana Bread Ingredients

Dry: Like my other protein muffin/bread recipes, this bread starts with protein pancake mix. It adds a lovely nuttiness and overall body to this bread.
Sweeteners and Flavorings: This banana bread is sweetened with light brown sugar. In addition, cinnamon sugar (made with ground cinnamon and granulated sugar) is added to the top of the batter before baking. The cinnamon is in the batter as well.
Fats: Melted unsalted butter is the fat of choice in this banana bread. It is added into the mashed bananas in the beginning of baking.
Bananas: Of course, there are bananas in this banana bread. This recipe requires three ripened bananas. They can be mashed with a fork or in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment. They key is to use ripened bananas, so they can be easily incorporated into the batter.

Baking Procedure

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-5-in loaf pan and set aside.

In a small bowl, or the bowl of a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, mash your bananas. In a small microwave safe bowl, microwave the unsalted butter until melted. Pour the butter into the bananas and mix until well incorporated and butter has cooled.

Once the mixture is cooled, add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix only until combined, do not over-mix.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the pancake mix, light brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon. Add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix just until combined and a smooth batter has formed.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Smoothing out the top.

In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the batter, making sure all of the surface is covered. Bake for 45- 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool completely before slicing.

I hope you enjoy this protein banana bread as much as we do. The cinnamon sugar crust is really what makes it for me and I hope it brings the same satisfaction to you. Enjoy this for breakfast, as a snack, or a healthy dessert. It’s delicious with butter or softened cream cheese slathered over the top too, just saying.