Cream Cheese Banana Bread

This loaf of cream cheese banana bread contains all the nostalgic flavors of your favorite banana bread, but with a swirly surprise within. Cream cheese banana bread boasts a moist but dense crumb, with the sweetness of ripe bananas tempered with a ribbon of tangy cream cheese. The edges turn slightly crisp and golden while baking, creating a pleasant contrast to the soft banana bread within.

This banana bread is a perfect pairing for your morning cup of coffee, but we also love it as an afternoon snack—a one-of-a-kind treat when you could really use a pick-me-up.

Learn how to make cream cheese banana bread. If you want to save some for later, slice the bread, and freeze individual slices. They thaw at room temperature in minutes for a treat that's fresh and ready to serve when a craving strikes.

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Cream cheese, ripe bananas, light brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon add deep flavor to this banana bread, for a unique twist on an everyday treat that takes it to the next level. To make cream cheese banana bread, you'll need:

• Baking spray with flour: Coats the pan for easy removal.
• Cream cheese: The base of the cream cheese swirl, adding a tangy flavor and creamy texture to each slice of banana bread.
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cream cheese layers.
• All-purpose flour: Gives the banana bread its structure.
• Vanilla extract: Adds depth of flavor. Substitute with rum or bourbon if preferred.
• Kosher salt: Enhances the overall flavor.
• Large eggs: Binds the batters.
• Ripe bananas: For a classic banana bread flavor and moisture.
• Unsalted butter: Gives the bread a rich, buttery crumb.
• Light brown sugar: Sweetens the banana bread with light notes of caramel and molasses to complement the banana flavor.
• Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and spice to the loaf.
• Baking soda: Gives the banana bread its rise.

Choosing the Right Bananas for Banana Bread

If you've ever had a slice of banana bread that's missing flavor, it's probably due to using underripe or just-ripe bananas.

Very ripe bananas aren't just easier to mash and incorporate into banana bread batter, they're also sweeter and more intense in flavor. Fragrant bananas that are browned on their exteriors are best for this purpose, imparting the most flavor and moisture possible into your loaf.

How To Make Cream Cheese Banana Bread

While you do need to make two separate batters for this banana bread (a banana bread batter and cream cheese batter), the total 20 minutes of active time is well worth the results. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

• Step 1. Prepare oven and pan: Coat a loaf pan with cooking spray.
• Step 2. Make cream cheese mixture: Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add in sugar, flour, vanilla, salt, and egg; set aside.
• Step 3. Prepare banana bread batter: Whisk together banana, butter, remaining vanilla, and remaining egg. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, remaining flour, and remaining salt and stir until smooth.
• Step 4. Layer batters: Spoon half of the batter evenly into prepared loaf pan. Top evenly with half the cream cheese mixture. Repeat.
• Step 5. Swirl: Use a butter knife or small spatula to swirl the batters lightly.
• Step 6. Bake: Bake until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean tenting with foil, if needed, toward the end of baking.

Cream Cheese Banana Bread Variations

For a twist on this flavorful quick bread recipe, consider these variation ideas:

• Spice: Add ground ginger, nutmeg, or other spices as desired.
• Citrus: Add orange or lemon zest to the cream cheese filling for a citrusy touch.
• Nuts: Fold chopped walnuts or pecans into the banana bread batter for a nutty crunch.
• Baking chips: Add cinnamon chips, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or other flavored chips as desired into the banana bread batter.
• Vanilla: Substitute the vanilla extract called for with almond extract, or a splash of rum or bourbon, if preferred.
• Toppings: Top the loaf with a buttermilk or cream cheese frosting or glaze, or a lemon or rum glaze for additional flavor.

How To Store Cream Cheese Banana Bread

While this loaf can be left out for a short period of time, it should be refrigerated for longer storage. Wrap well and refrigerate, then bring to room temperature before serving.

Wrapped tightly, it should last for at least five days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the loaf for up to two months. Thaw and bring to room temperature before serving.

What To Serve With Cream Cheese Banana Bread

This quick bread makes a great addition to your breakfast routine, but can also be the perfect afternoon pick-me up or dessert. Serve with coffee or tea, yogurt, and fresh fruit, or amp things up for dessert by topping with a dollop of whipped cream, scoop of ice cream, drizzle of caramel sauce, and/or a sprinkling of candied nuts.

More Flavorful Quick Bread Recipes You'll Love

With no yeast needed, no waiting for dough to rise, and additions ranging from apple butter to zucchini, these sweet and flavorful quick bread recipes are delicious for snacking on throughout the week:

• Zucchini Quick Bread
• Cranberry-Orange Bread
• Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread
• Hummingbird Bread
• Seeded Pumpkin Bread
• Banana Nut Bread

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.