Cream Cheese Banana Bread

BY: Ben Rayl UPDATED: November 15, 2023 168 Comments

4.85 from 38 votes

This cream cheese banana bread recipe is incredibly moist, nutty, and has a creamy texture that will have you coming back for more! And with over 150+ comments and 30k+ shares, it just might be the best banana bread ever.

For a banana twist, try these 15-minute twice-fried plantains. I love the crispy texture, and as a snack or finger food, this tostones recipe is fantastic. For an over-the-top bread, try my zucchini bread with chocolate chips or my ezekiel bread recipe made with sprouted grains.

Contents

⭐ Banana Nut Bread Recipe
🍽 Key ingredients
🔪 How to make
🙋 Frequently asked questions
💭 Cooking tips
📖 Recipe variations
🥗 What to serve with
🍳 Related recipes
🥫 Storage
👪 Serving size
🎥 Watch how to make it
📋 Recipe
💬 Comments

⭐ Banana Nut Bread Recipe

If you love banana bread as much as me, you will want to add this wonderful recipe to your cookbook. The great thing with banana bread is that you can add your favorite ingredients to the mixture, and it will still taste delicious.

I have made at least 15 different versions of banana bread, each one with different fillings, like peanut butter, chocolate chips, carrot, orange, and this recipe with cream cheese, to name a few. They all taste delicious, stay fresh and moist for up to 4 days, and with kids around, banana bread is fantastic as an excellent quick and tasty snack.

The cream cheese batter I use here gives the original banana bread recipe a creamy twist throughout, and with the added crunch of toasted walnuts, it has everything you want from banana bread! Have it for breakfast or as a warm dessert with a healthy scoop of ice cream and maple syrup, you decide!

Learn how to make this fantastic cream cheese banana bread with simple instructions, detailed steps, top tips, and suggestions. You, too, can make this great recipe in the comfort of your kitchen, ready to enjoy on any occasion. If you are looking for sweet treats ideas I highly recommend my Southern hummingbird cake recipe and why not my decadent tiramisu.

Are you fan of Peanut Butter? Then check out my easy peanut butter bread recipe.

🍽 Key ingredients

A few things to note when buying the ingredients. Choose the ripest bananas you can find, or let them sit at room temperature for a few days until they start developing brown spots or going black.

The secret to know when the bananas are at their ripest is when you think you should throw them away. They become sweeter and easier to mix the longer they mature in their skins. Try my strawberry banana bread recipe!

The baking soda used in this recipe helps the banana bread to develop air bubbles giving it an airy, soft texture, and the cream cheese filling with ripe bananas keeps it moist throughout the baking process.

The eggs should be fresh if you want a fluffier cream cheese filling. Fresher eggs have a brighter yolk that gives cakes a creamier and fluffier texture!

Swaps

It is possible to make the recipe healthier by switching in ingredients like coconut oil and wheat flour. Using coconut oil or king's butter instead of regular butter makes things a lot healthier.

🔪 How to make

Learn how to make the best banana bread recipe in this easy, step by step guide.

Preparations

The first step in making the cream cheese banana bread, like many other recipes, is to preheat the oven to about 350 degrees.
Also, before we begin preparing the banana bread batter, we need to grease two bread pans with cooking spray. This is what the banana bread batter is going to bake in.
Next, put the skillet on heat for about 3 – 5 minutes. Then put the walnuts in the dry skillet and roast them on medium until they give off their signature smell. This means they're ready. Take them off the heat and allow them to cool off.

Cooking instructions

Step 1
Mix the melted butter and cream cheese in a medium bowl until they're properly combined and have a creamy mixture.

Step 2
Then add in the granulated sugar and the light brown sugar, and continue to mix until thoroughly combined.

Step 3
Add in the vanilla extract with the cream cheese filling and beat the mixture until it's all combined once more.

Step 4
Follow this up by adding in the two eggs, one after the other.

Step 5
In the separate bowl, sift the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.

Step 6
When they're mixed properly, add them to the cream cheese mixture bowl and mix slowly until combined once more.

Step 7
Stir in the mashed bananas.

Step 8
Add walnuts into the mixture until everything is once again mixed thoroughly. This is the banana bread batter that is going to go into the loaf pan.

Step 9
Pour the cream cheese banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pans, making sure it's nice and evenly spread.

Bake the banana breads for about 1 hour, checking them after 45 minutes to see if the mixture comes clean when sticking a toothpick through it. If the toothpick comes out clean, take the banana bread out of the oven and let it cool.

Step 10
Lay your cream cheese banana bread out on a cooling rack to cool for a quarter of an hour while still in the pan.

Once it is cool completely, turn the pan upside down on a chopping board and tap its top. The cream cheese banana bread should come from the pan easily, and then slice it and enjoy!

🙋 Frequently asked questions

How do I know when banana bread is ready?

The toothpick test is a tried and true test and essential when modifying a recipe or switching pan sizes. When baking, time is a suggestion and by no means exact. Everyone's oven is different (gas, electric, convection), and many are inaccurate. Baking times also vary based on moisture content in bananas, climate, and elevation.

Why is my banana bread still gooey in the middle?

I usually keep a close eye on my banana bread for the last 5-10 minutes. As soon as I think it might be ready, I open the oven door and slide a toothpick into the bread or muffin. Just stick a toothpick into the center of your banana bread. If there is wet batter still on the toothpick, it needs more time in the oven. If it comes out clean, your bread is done!

Why is my banana bread not fluffy?

Not fluffy banana bread is usually the result of an overmixed batter. When making banana bread, gently combine the wet and dry ingredients. Don't overmix! The more you stir, the more gluten is formed.

💭 Cooking tips

The more bananas you use in the recipe, the less sugar you'll need. This is because bananas are rich in natural sugar and are sufficiently sweet. So the more concentrated the banana mash is, the less artificial sweetness you'll need.
As much as it is tempting to open the oven to check if the banana bread batter and cream cheese layer are baked properly, I recommend not opening the oven for at least 45 minutes into the process. Opening the oven door will result in it caving in due to the temperature dropping and ultimately will stop it from rising and becoming airy.
Adding cream cheese mixture to the banana bread does taste delicious, but if you cannot find it or don't like it for some reason, you can substitute it for sour cream or Greek yogurt and still establish a similar flavor.
If you're on a ketogenic diet, this recipe can also give you a fantastic tasting alternative to your regular meals. By switching all the ingredients for their keto or vegan counterparts (such as coconut oil for butter, flax egg for the eggs, and so on), you can make banana bread that's perfect for your diet and still certified delicious.

📖 Recipe variations

Like all banana bread recipes, they are great for adding your favorite ingredients to mix things up. Try some of these excellent additions the next time you want to switch up your cream cheese banana bread in flavor!

Nuts & dried fruit

As well as chopped walnuts like I use in this recipe, you can also add hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, and dried fruit like raisins, coconut, figs, peach, etc. Adding nuts and dried fruit to the mixture makes the bread denser once baked but keeps it moist with the juices from the ripe bananas and fruits.

Chocolate chip banana bread

I love this version to eat as a dessert! Simply add chocolate chips to the batter in the prepared loaf pan and swirl some melted soft or crunchy peanut butter through. If you love peanut butter, I recommend using 1 tub or 500g of melted peanut butter. Check my Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe for more details.

Cookie dough bites

Cookie dough fans, beware! You can either use readymade cookie dough or make your own and then make little balls with it. Pour half of the batter into the loaf pan, add the dough bites on top, then pour the remaining batter evenly over. BAKE, REST, and ENJOY!

Banana Bread Muffins

Banana Bread Muffins encompass one of the best flavor combinations ever - banana, Nutella, and coconut. Not too sweet but perfectly rich and balanced, they're the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee.

🥗 What to serve with

Have it on its own with a bit of honey, or devour the delicious banana bread with some of these sweet and savory alternatives.

Ice cream & maple syrup

If you have tried waffles and ice cream, then you will love this! It is best served warm with a nice dollop of your favorite ice cream and syrup, so it melts slowly from the freshly baked banana bread.

Avocado & poached egg

Similar to eggs benedict, but with a sweater base! 80% of the time, this is what I eat with my banana bread for breakfast. To make this simple recipe, slice up 1 avocado, place them on top of the bread, make a perfect yolky poached egg and rest it gently on the avocado slices.

Banana bread french toast

I prefer this to classic French toast with a rustic loaf! The method is the same. The only difference is using banana bread instead of a loaf.

Mix 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and equal quantities of milk and egg to make the batter, cut the banana bread into thick slices and soak them in the batter before cooking them in a hot skillet. Turning them over until each side is golden brown, then dip them in cinnamon sugar and serve. Check out my Nutella french toast rolls up.

My family loves these homemade recipes! Check out my fantastic recipes to make any time of the day. Including my easy brioche french toast recipe.

If you're looking for something easy to bake with your kids, these 35 comforting things to bake including my pizza monkey bread and my classic monkey bread recipe. They are sure to be a hit.

🥫 Storage

Despite the rich, creamy goodness that this moist banana bread recipe brings to the table, there will always be times when you can't indulge and finish it all at once, or when you need to make the dish a while in advance.

Fear not! This cream cheese-filled banana bread stores better than most recipes, so you can always enjoy it next time! Here are three different ways to store your banana bread

Cupboard
This cream cheese-filled banana bread is fine at room temperature, covered with a large kitchen towel, foil, or other clean covering.

Fridge
If you'd rather keep your cream cheese banana bread in the fridge, you can cut it up into slices and wrap each one with saran wrap or aluminum foil. Then store in an airtight container for easy access.

Freezer
Find an airtight container and wrap your cream cheese-filled banana bread in saran wrap or foil before putting it in there. It should last about half a year frozen like this.

👪 Serving size

The amazing recipe makes 2 loafs of banana bread and yields 20 servings. I typically serve one loaf and store the second loaf in the freezer. Similar to my cinammon rolls recipe which you must check it out! Looking for an easy and quick bread as a side dish meal? Try my easy homemade pita bread recipe made with two ingredients! And for a deliciously homemade experience try my artisan bread and focaccia bread recipes!

🎥 Watch how to make it

I've tried and made more banana bread recipes than I can count. And this remains my favorite largely thanks to the cream cheese filling and toasted walnuts. These two ingredients combined give your regular boring banana bread new life.

📋 Recipe