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Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Cream Cheese Banana Bread
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This Cream Cheese Banana Bread recipe delivers a moist, flavorful loaf bursting with tender banana notes and a luscious cream cheese swirl. Perfectly balancing rich creaminess with classic banana sweetness, this easy-to-follow recipe is suitable for all skill levels and ideal for breakfast, snacks, or dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 3–4 ripe bananas (heavily spotted or mostly brown)
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened (reserve ½ cup for swirl)
  • 1¾ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free)
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan with butter or line it with parchment paper to ensure easy removal later.
  2. Mash the Bananas: In a large bowl, mash your ripe bananas well using a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth with a few lumps remaining for texture.
  3. Mix the Wet Ingredients: Add softened cream cheese (except the reserved ½ cup), melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Beat everything together until the mixture is creamy and well combined, ensuring a smooth batter.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients Separately: In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour (or gluten-free blend), baking soda, and salt to distribute evenly and prevent clumps.
  5. Incorporate Dry Ingredients into Wet: Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using a spatula or wooden spoon. Mix until just combined to avoid overmixing and keep the bread tender.
  6. Add a Cream Cheese Swirl: Reserve ½ cup of softened cream cheese and gently swirl it into the top of the batter in the loaf pan for that signature tangy burst in every slice.
  7. Bake to Perfection: Place the loaf pan in your preheated oven and bake for 55 to 65 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, let the banana bread cool completely in the pan before slicing to ensure clean slices and fully developed flavors.

Notes

  • Use overripe bananas for natural sweetness and moisture.
  • Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature to blend evenly.
  • Fold ingredients just until combined to avoid tough bread.
  • Check the bread for doneness after 50 minutes to prevent overbaking.
  • Allow the loaf to cool completely to improve texture and flavor depth.

Nutrition

Keywords: banana bread, cream cheese, moist banana bread, breakfast bread, easy banana bread, cream cheese swirl

Find it online: https://marybaking.com/cream-cheese-banana-bread/