Description
This Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is a moist, flavorful loaf featuring ripe bananas, a rich cream cheese layer, and a delightful cinnamon-sugar swirl on top. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or dessert, it combines the classic comfort of banana bread with a creamy and spiced twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
Cream Cheese Layer
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
Cinnamon Swirl
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and creamy. This creates a good base for the batter.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs into the butter mixture one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Bananas: Stir the mashed ripe bananas into the wet ingredients until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually fold the dry flour mixture into the wet batter, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the batter which can make bread tough.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Layer: In a separate bowl, blend the softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and 1 large egg until the mixture is smooth and creamy with no lumps.
- Mix Cinnamon Sugar Topping: In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and brown sugar. This will create the signature cinnamon swirl topping.
- Layer the Batter and Cream Cheese: Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the surface. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over this layer then top with the remaining banana batter.
- Add Cinnamon Sugar Swirl: Sprinkle the cinnamon and brown sugar mixture evenly over the top of the loaf to create a flavorful crust once baked.
- Bake: Place the loaf in the oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating it is fully cooked.
- Cool: Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes to set, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Make sure bananas are very ripe for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
- Do not overmix the batter once the flour is added to keep the bread tender.
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing and better texture.
- If you prefer a stronger cinnamon flavor, you can increase the cinnamon to 2 tablespoons.
- Store leftover banana bread wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
