This easy, moist cream cheese banana bread with a tangy cream cheese filling is one of the best quick breads you’ll ever make. It uses just two ripe bananas and a bit of sour cream for a light, flavorful loaf that stays moist for days. It’s a wonderful way to use up ripe bananas and makes a perfect breakfast or dessert.
CREAM CHEESE BANANA BREAD
Cream cheese banana bread is an elevated version of classic banana bread. The cream cheese swirl adds a rich, tangy contrast to the sweet banana batter, producing a loaf that’s ultra moist, smooth and buttery in texture. Because of the sour cream and cream cheese, this bread tends to stay moist longer than many traditional banana breads.
I updated this recipe and refreshed the photos to make the steps clearer. The swirl is simple to create and gives the loaf a beautiful marbled look.
Ingredients you’ll need
Bananas: Use very ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots for the best flavor. Two average-sized ripe bananas are enough. If bananas are leaking or moldy, discard them.
Eggs: Use room-temperature eggs for best mixing and texture. You can warm refrigerated eggs by placing them in a bowl and pouring hot water over them for a few minutes, or take them out 30 minutes before starting.
Butter: Use unsalted melted butter. If you only have salted butter, reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe.
Vanilla extract: I use a generous amount for depth of flavor; a full tablespoon gives great aroma and taste.
Baking soda and baking powder: Baking soda reacts with the sour cream to give lift, while baking powder adds extra rise when it meets moisture. If using double-acting baking powder, work quickly once the batter is mixed.
All-purpose flour: Unbleached flour works well in this recipe.
White sugar: Granulated white sugar keeps the bread balanced and not overly sweet. The listed amount yields moist, flavorful results.
Sour cream: Sour cream contributes moisture, tenderness and a subtle tang that keeps the loaf soft for days.
Salt: A small pinch of salt helps balance and enhance the sweet and tangy flavors.
Powdered sugar: Powdered sugar is used in the cream cheese filling because it blends to a silky, smooth texture more quickly than granulated sugar.
Cream cheese: Use a full 8-ounce package of cream cheese for a pronounced tangy swirl. Reduced amounts will make the filling less noticeable.
Cream Cheese Filling
In a bowl, beat the cream cheese with the powdered sugar and one egg until smooth and lump-free. Set aside while you prepare the banana batter.
How to make the cream cheese swirl
The swirl is easy to create. Pour half of the banana batter into a well-greased loaf pan, then drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the batter. Add the remaining batter on top, then add more cream cheese dollops. Insert a butter knife halfway through the batter and gently swirl a few times to create a marbled pattern.
How to make Cream Cheese Banana Bread
Make the banana bread batter:
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan well. In a mixing bowl, mash two ripe bananas with a fork until smooth and free of large lumps.
Add melted butter, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla extract and one egg. Mix until smooth. Stir in the flour and granulated sugar until combined, then mix in the sour cream and a tiny pinch of salt until the batter is uniform.
Assemble and bake
Pour half the batter into the prepared loaf pan and top with half the cream cheese filling using a spoon to drop dollops. Pour the remaining batter over the cream cheese and top with the remaining filling. Bake for 45–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, tent the loaf loosely with aluminum foil for the remaining baking time.
Video
Cream Cheese Banana Bread
April Boller Wright
Pin Recipe
10 mins
50 mins
55 mins
Ingredients
The cream cheese swirl filling
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
The banana bread batter
- 2 bananas
- 3 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (unbleached)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- tiny pinch of salt
Instructions
How to make the cream cheese filling
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and egg until smooth.
How to make the banana bread batter
- Mash the bananas until smooth.
- Add melted butter, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla and egg; mix until smooth.
- Stir in flour, sugar and salt, then add sour cream and combine.
Make the cream cheese swirl
- Pour half the batter into the prepared pan and drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over it.
- Pour the remaining batter on top, add the remaining cream cheese dollops, then bake 45–60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil until done.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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