Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Printable)

Moist banana bread with creamy cheese filling and aromatic cinnamon sugar layers

# 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 Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving 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 to maintain tender crumb structure.
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 ground cinnamon.
07 - Pour half the 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 batter, smooth surface, and sprinkle remaining cinnamon sugar.
09 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs acceptable.
10 - Let loaf cool in pan for 10 minutes. Lift out using parchment overhang and transfer to wire rack for complete cooling before slicing.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The cream cheese layer creates pockets of tangy sweetness that make every bite feel special, not just another banana bread.
  • It's genuinely easy to pull off but looks like you spent way more effort than you actually did.
  • One loaf disappears faster than you'd expect because people can't stop reaching for another slice.
02 -
  • Cold cream cheese will ruin your filling with lumps and streaks, so pull it from the fridge at least 30 minutes before you start—this one mistake nearly sank my first attempt.
  • Overmixing the banana batter is the reason some banana breads end up dense and gummy, so use that spatula gently and accept a few flour streaks as a good thing.
03 -
  • Using parchment paper isn't just convenient; it's actually insurance against a stuck bread that crumbles when you try to remove it, and that moment of confidence when it lifts out perfectly is worth the small effort.
  • If your toothpick test keeps showing wet batter at 60 minutes, your oven might run cool—a kitchen thermometer reveals the truth, and adjusting temp upward by 25 degrees can save a dozen future bakes.
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