Healthy Banana Cinnamon Rolls
with Dates & Raisins

Photo of Susan Gast
Susan Gast, Author and Food Preservation Enthusiast
Susan has been dehydrating and preserving foods for over a decade, sharing practical, tested methods that help readers make healthy, long-lasting meals at home.

Who says cinnamon rolls have to be loaded with sugar and butter? These banana cinnamon rolls use naturally sweet bananas, chewy raisins, and rich dates to create a treat that’s as wholesome as it is indulgent.

✅ Quick Answer: How do you make banana cinnamon rolls with dehydrated fruit?
To make banana cinnamon rolls, slice ripe bananas and lightly dehydrate them. Spread on a cinnamon-date-raisin mixture, roll up, and return to the dehydrator for a chewy, naturally sweet treat—no refined sugar needed.

Best of all, they’re made in your dehydrator—so you get that chewy, roll-like texture without a bit of guilt.

Healthier Cinnamon Rolls from Chef Alicia Ojeda

short video, just for fun...

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💡 Tip: Use ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness. The riper they are, the more natural sugars they contain—giving your rolls an even richer flavor.

This recipe, created by Chef Alicia Ojeda, proves that indulgence and nutrition can go hand in hand!

Top of Recipe

Banana Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 large ripe bananas, sliced 1/8" thick (chill overnight for easier slicing)
  • cinnamon powder to taste
  • 1/2 cup of raisins
  • 1 cup of dates, re-hydrated in good water

Instructions

  1. Re-hydrate the dates overnight in good clean water, preferably distilled. (See TIPS in the video here!).
  2. Slice the bananas lengthwise, about 1/8" thick. They slice better chilled. Put on dehydrator trays for about 2 hours to remove some stickiness (at 135°F - use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!)
  3. When the dates are quite soft, mash them up with a fork in a glass bowl and add cinnamon powder to taste. Add raisins too at the end of the date mashing, but don't mash the raisins!
  4. Carefully spread the date and raisin mixture onto the slightly dehydrated banana slices. Roll them up.
  5. Put the banana cinnamon rolls back on the dehydrator for a couple more hours. I had to use the top tray of my Nesco due to the height of the rolls. An Excalibur dehydrator wouldn't have this problem, as you can easily remove a tray and have tons of room!

Nutrition Information

  • Servings: 8 servings
  • Calories: 125kcals
  • Fat: 0.1g
  • Protein: 1g
  • Carbohydrates: 33.4g
Bottom of Recipe

Fresh Ingredient Swaps: Make Your Own Raisins & Dates

If you want to use fresh ingredients, simply make your own raisins, and once you do, you'll never look back.

dates-rehydrate-exc-content-area.webprehydrating store-bought dates

But don't forget, you still must rehydrate the store-bought dates and that's what I'm doing in the image above. I've never personally dehydrated "fresh" dates.

Warning! These ARE Delicious!

As some of you may know, I'm a big fan of raw food—good old greens and salads and fresh fruits and veggies. My friend, Andrew Perlot, and his friend, Brittany Taylor, first shared this Banana Cinnamon Rolls recipe on their Facebook page.

Brittany made these for Andrew's birthday—with inspiration from their friend Alicia Ojeda (a great raw vegan chef).

I'll be the first to admit that Alicia's version looks MUCH better than mine, but my only excuse is that I'm not a chef and that it was my first attempt! LOL

Please also note that this is MY variation of the recipe as Alicia hadn't posted the exact recipe—so this is how I interpreted the photo and I worked off the ingredients and info. that Brittany gave me initially.

Why Rehydrating Dates Is the Secret to Perfect Rolls

Publix brand dates, re-hydrating in a tub of water

Just remember, when eating more fruits—you may need to cut your fat intake to 10 - 15% of your total calories.

Why? So that the sugars that our bodies need can get through our bloodstream and give us the energy nature provides.

The dates I used are store-bought dried dates, as the photo shows. If you have juicy fresh dates, there's no need to rehydrate them obviously, but the juicier the better. Check out the taste differences between fresh and dried dates here.

Keep on scrolling to see the sliced bananas on the dehydrator!

Cut the DATES into Evenly-Sized Pieces

TIP: It's far FAR easier and faster to rehydrate the dates by cutting them up first. Slice them down the middle and then halve and quarter them into uniformly sized pieces. Works like a charm!


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Raisin Tip: Get the Best Texture and Flavor

How to Dehydrate Bananas for Cinnamon Rolls

Remember to chill your bananas first if they're VERY ripe and a bit on the squishy side. Cold bananas are easier to slice! Bananas are best eaten when they have speckled skins, about 40% covered with speckles, roughly.

I used FOUR dehydrator trays (read more HERE about why four trays are the minimum to use) even though only two trays had banana slices on them.

In the image below, you'll see the bananas after they've been on the dehydrator for a couple of hours to dry them out a bit - so they're not overly sticky.

Lengthwise-sliced bananas on a Nesco dehydrator tray

Next, mash up the rehydrated dates and add the raisins. Now it's time to spoon the mixture on the banana slices and roll 'em up!

Actually, the stuff is pretty tacky, making the rolling up an easy task.

Rolling Banana Cinnamon Rolls Without the Mess

Rolling up the sliced dehydrated bananas and dates with the cinnamon mix

If your bananas split apart while rolling them up, the mixture and the banana at this stage are still sticky and act like glue to "join" the broken pieces back together.

NOTE: Put the rolls on the top tray of a Nesco dehydrator with three empty trays below it. Why? Nesco states you should NOT use their dehydrator with less than four trays SO THAT THE AIR can circulate properly. The reason for the top tray ONLY being used is due to needing 'head room' as these banana cinnamon rolls are taller than the height of a single tray. With the fan being in the lid and concave-shaped, there's enough room!

Again, if you have an Excalibur dehydrator, this is not a problem as alternate trays are easily removed to create plenty of "headroom" between trays.

ALSO NOTE: You may SKIP this drying after rolling step completely if you like the color of your banana slices "as is." Putting them on the dehydrator to dry out isn't necessary. (Ask me how I know!)

Easy Food Dehydrating's Banana Cinnamon Rolls

See My Banana Cinnamon Rolls

Admittedly NOT as pretty as Chef Alicia's, but absolutely every bit as delicious!

We have other sweet-tooth delights!

Namely: Apple Sauce, Delicious Carrot Cake, and my Mom's borrowed recipe: Cranberry Pineapple Pie.

Regarding the Cranberry Pineapple Pie - it's quite decadent. I love it for special occasions. It does take quite a while to make, but is so TOTALLY worth it!

Banana Cinnamon Rolls FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered

Do I need to rehydrate the dates before making banana cinnamon rolls?

Yes — unless you’re using juicy fresh dates. Store-bought dried dates need to be rehydrated overnight in clean water so they mash smoothly into the filling.

Can I use an oven instead of a dehydrator?

Yes, but keep the oven on its lowest setting (around 150°F) and check frequently. The texture may be slightly different, but you’ll still get a chewy, sweet result.

How ripe should the bananas be?

Choose bananas with speckled skins (about 40% covered). Riper bananas slice easier when chilled overnight and give the rolls more natural sweetness.

Do I have to roll them up, or can I leave them flat?

Rolling makes them look like cinnamon rolls, but you can also keep them flat “banana sandwich” style with the filling in the middle — less chance of splitting.

How long do banana cinnamon rolls last?

Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, they’ll last up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them in single layers with parchment paper between rolls.

What if my bananas split when rolling?

Don’t worry — the date mixture is sticky and works like glue to press the banana back together. It won’t affect the taste at all.

Can I add nuts or seeds for crunch?

Absolutely. Chopped walnuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds mix well with the date-raisin filling and give extra texture.

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Inside you’ll find comforting soups like carrot, minestrone, and split pea, plus savory spicy beef jerky and, of course, these very banana cinnamon rolls. It’s the perfect way to keep your dehydrator working for every craving!

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