Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Print Version)

Moist banana bread with creamy cheese filling and aromatic cinnamon sugar layers. Ideal for breakfast or sweet treats.

# 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 Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, allowing 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, ground cinnamon, and salt.
04 - Gently fold dry ingredients into banana mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Beat softened cream cheese with granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
06 - Combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.
07 - Pour half of banana 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 batter and smooth surface. Sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar on top.
09 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs acceptable.
10 - Allow loaf to cool in pan for 10 minutes, then lift out using parchment overhang and transfer to wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The cream cheese layer adds richness without making the bread heavy or overly sweet.
  • It stays incredibly moist for days, even better on day two when the flavors settle in.
  • You get dessert and breakfast in one loaf, no need to choose.
  • The cinnamon swirl gives every slice a bakery quality look with almost no effort.
02 -
  • If the cream cheese isn't softened all the way, it will be lumpy and won't spread evenly, leave it out on the counter for at least an hour.
  • Don't open the oven door in the first 40 minutes or the loaf may sink in the middle from the temperature drop.
  • The top will crack as it bakes, that's normal and actually makes it look more rustic and homemade.
03 -
  • Let your bananas get really ripe, almost black, for the deepest flavor and natural sweetness.
  • Use parchment paper with long overhangs so you can lift the loaf out cleanly without it sticking or breaking.
  • If the top is browning too fast, tent it loosely with foil halfway through baking.
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