Cinnamon Swirled Banana Bread

I have a friend that regularly brings me fruit. I love it, but he recently gave me two bunches of bananas. That's more than Tom and I can eat before they get soft, so Tom recommended that I make banana bread. I looked up recipes on Pinterest, and the one for Cinnamon Swirled Banana Bread stood out as a clear winner. The bananas were getting old, so I made it tonight.

Cinnamon Swirled Banana Bread

Ingredients
Batter:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1½ cups)

Cinnamon Sugar Swirl:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 6 thin slices of banana, for garnishing

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, melt the butter and let cool slightly. Whisk in the sugar then the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour and baking soda. Fold in the mashed bananas until just combined.
3. In a small bowl, use a fork to stir together the cinnamon sugar swirl ingredients until thick and well combined.
4. Spread 1/4 of the batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Dollop 1/4 of the cinnamon sugar mixture over the batter in the pan and then make a nice thick swirl through the batter with a table knife or bottom of a wooden spoon. Place 1/3 of the remaining batter evenly over the first layer and swirl with 1/3 of the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. Place 1/2 of the remaining batter evenly over the second layer and swirl with 1/2 of the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. Spread the remaining batter evenly over the top and dollop with the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture. Make large swirls throughout the entire loaf. Place six thin banana slices down the middle of the batter.
5. Place loaf pan on a baking sheet and bake for 60-70 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Let me tell you what, as it was baking, it smelled delicious! Ah, the smell the butter and cinnamon wafting through the air! It was good. Tom said it was a winner, so now I know what to do with old bananas. I think his biggest hang-up was that there are two whole sticks of butter in it. Oh well, he's got to complain about something. I'll be working on a pineapple next and have some really great ideas. I can't wait!!!!