Cream cheese banana bread is a type of quick bread that incorporates ripe bananas and cream cheese into the batter. The cream cheese adds a rich, creamy texture and enhances the overall flavor of the bread. It’s typically sweet and moist, making it a delicious treat for breakfast or as a snack. The bread is often made with other ingredients like sugar, eggs, flour, and baking soda, and you can also add nuts or chocolate chips for extra flavor. It’s a great way to use up overripe bananas!
Here’s a simple recipe for cream cheese banana bread:
Ingredients:
- For the Cream Cheese Mixture:
- 8 oz (1 package) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- For the Banana Bread:
- 2 to 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup sugar (you can adjust based on your sweetness preference)
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- Make the Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.
- Prepare the Banana Bread Batter:
- In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas with 1/2 cup sugar and melted butter.
- Add in the eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract, mixing well.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture, stirring until just combined. If you’re using nuts or chocolate chips, fold them in now.
- Combine and Layer: Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Then, add the cream cheese mixture on top, spreading it evenly. Finally, pour the remaining banana bread batter over the cream cheese layer.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for about 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy!
This cream cheese banana bread is perfect for breakfast or as a sweet snack. Enjoy baking!