Decadent Cream Cheese Banana Bread

This easy banana bread recipe is famous for one special ingredient: cream cheese!

By: RecipeLion.com Test Kitchen

10 Comments

Decadent Cream Cheese Banana Bread

By: RecipeLion.com Test Kitchen

This Decadent Cream Cheese Banana bread is one of our all-time favorite banana bread recipes. And it's easy to see why!

If you're a fan of banana cake, which is typically topped with cream cheese frosting, then you have an idea of why this cream cheese banana bread is so amazing. It's like you get a layer of cream cheese frosting inside the banana bread loaf. It's magic!

This banana bread also looks amazing when you serve it. The cream cheese layer will impress your guests and prove to them that you are a wizard in the kitchen. And they will be even more impressed once they take a bite! This recipe has the perfect blend of sweet banana flavor and lively cream cheese filling. Each bite will have you wondering why it took you so long to make this banana bead.

Even though this recipe is a little more advanced than your average banana bread recipe, it's still not too hard to make. The most difficult part is deciding when the banana bread is done. Since the cream cheese filling layer never totally sets, checking for doneness with a toothpick is a little tricky. Try these tips from King Arthur Flour for knowing when your banana bread is truly done. Once you've got that part figured out, the rest is simple!

Enjoy this delicious cream cheese banana bead recipe!

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Ingredients

Bread
1 large egg
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup liquid-state coconut oil (canola or vegetable may be substituted)
1/4 cup sour cream (lite is okay; or Greek yogurt may be substituted)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 small mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt, optional and to taste
Cream Cheese Filling
1 large egg
4 ounces softened brick-style cream cheese (lite is okay)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Cream Cheese Banana Bread Recipe

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray one 9×5-inch loaf pan with floured cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside.
For the bread: In a large bowl, add the egg, sugars, coconut oil, sour cream, vanilla, and whisk to combine.
Add the bananas and stir to incorporate.
Add 1 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda, optional salt, and fold with a spatula or stir gently with a spoon until just combined; don’t over-mix; set aside.
For the Cream Cheese Filling: In a large bowl, add all ingredients and whisk to combine. Alternatively, mix with a hand mixer.
Turn about two-thirds of the batter out into the prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula and pushing it into corners and sides as necessary.
Evenly pour cream cheese filling over the bread, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula and pushing it into corners and sides as necessary.
Top with remaining batter, smoothing the top very lightly with a spatula as to not disturb cream cheese layer and pushing batter into corners and sides as necessary.
Bake for about 48 to 50 minutes or until the top is domed, golden, and the center is set, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter.

Note: This is tricky because the cream cheese never gets totally solid so the toothpick test isn’t the most accurate.

Pro Tip: Tent the pan with a sheet of foil draped over it at the 30 minute-mark if you feel the tops and sides will become too browned before center cooks through. Baking times will vary based on moisture content of bananas, cream cheese, climate, and oven variances. Bake until done; watch your bread, not the clock.
Allow bread to cool in pan for about 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving. Bread will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

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Chef 1066073

Mar 07, 2020

The recipe states 1 small mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas). I don't understand how l small mashed ripe banana could equal about 2 large bananas. Did you mean l cup mashed ripe bananas?

Princess Carolyn

Mar 02, 2018

I love this recipe. It's so indulgent and makes for such an elegant breakfast!

Morehouse17

Dec 30, 2017

I am not much of a baker but I love to partake of these tasty bakes goods. I love banana bread and I wonder if this baking technique can be used in any bread loaf. Anyone have any ideas on it?

Delphine Bryant

Nov 30, 2017

This sounds so delicious. Instead of having to spread the cream cheese on the bread, it is baked right in. Unfortunately, I probably never prepare this recipe. Too much work for busy me.

EditorLP

Nov 30, 2017

OMG, I think this recipe will be the death of me. I have always loved banana bread, but adding a cream cheese layer sounds incredibly delicious and decadent. This seems like a lot of work, but probably worth it.

Rnbowgrl

Oct 12, 2017

Banana bread is something I've been experimenting with for many years...as it's my favorite, but I never considered combining it with cream cheese. Yum! I'd definitely have to add some chopped walnuts and I prefer a lot of banana taste so doubling the bananas would be a must and I found out in doing do it really doesn't hurt your recipe at all...it just makes it moister, which is never a bad thing in my world.

FoodLover

Sep 30, 2017

What a novel idea! Truly awesome. I have to try this. It is OMG! I would love to have some cream cheese in the middle of banana bread. I can't wait to try this one. I would imagine it is that 'died and gone to heaven' taste. I think it may be nice to add in some nuts to the banana batter.

sharonsandoz 25462 55

Aug 31, 2017

Please clarify the amount of bananas. 1 small about 2 large??? Does not make since,

Seth

Aug 30, 2017

I made this today and it is so delicious that we have already eaten far more than is good for us, haha. We had some with morning coffee, after lunch and when a friend popped in for coffee this afternoon. This is the best banana bread we have ever had.

Helga Pataki

Aug 25, 2017

Omg...that picture is just making my mouth water! I bet the creaminess of the cream cheese pairs beautifully with the banana bread. I can't wait to try this one out!