Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Printable)

Moist banana bread layered with creamy cheese filling and sweet cinnamon swirl

# What You'll Need:

→ Banana Bread

01 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
03 - 3/4 cup brown sugar
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Cream Cheese Filling

10 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
11 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
12 - 1 large egg
13 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Sugar Swirl

14 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
15 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# How to Cook:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, allowing excess to overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a large bowl, mash bananas until smooth. Stir in melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
04 - Gently fold dry ingredients into banana mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
05 - Beat softened cream cheese with granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
06 - In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
07 - Pour half of banana bread batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar mixture.
08 - Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over batter. Top with remaining banana bread batter and smooth the surface. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar on top.
09 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs remaining.
10 - Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Lift out using parchment overhang and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cream cheese layer adds a surprising tangy richness that balances the sweetness perfectly.
  • It looks impressive when you slice it, like you spent hours planning the swirl, but it comes together in one bowl.
  • Leftovers actually get better after a day in the fridge, the flavors meld and the texture becomes even more moist.
02 -
  • If your cream cheese isn't soft enough, the filling will be lumpy and won't spread evenly, microwave it in short bursts if you forgot to take it out early.
  • Don't skip lining the pan with parchment, this bread is so moist it can stick even to a greased pan.
  • Check the bread at 50 minutes because ovens vary wildly, overbaking dries out the edges and you lose that perfect tender crumb.
03 -
  • Use bananas that are almost black on the outside, they're sweeter and mash more easily, making the bread incredibly moist.
  • Let the bread cool completely before slicing or the cream cheese layer will smear and the slices won't hold their shape.
  • If the top starts browning too fast, tent it loosely with foil halfway through baking to protect it while the center finishes cooking.
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