Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Thought banana bread couldn't get any better? Try this riff on our original banana bread recipe by adding cream cheese in big, bold swirls.

By
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia is the Community Manager for Simply Recipes and has contributed numerous articles focused on cooking on a budget, quick and easy meals, and kid-friendly foods.
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Updated February 08, 2023
Claudia Cash
Overhead view of a loaf of cream cheese filled banana bread on a plate.
Claudia Cash

It’s no secret that we love banana bread here at Simply Recipes. Our original banana bread has been baked all over the world, we have other versions that feature peanut butter and chocolate, and even a vegan version.

As I started to dive deeper into the site, I realized we didn’t have a cream cheese version and I couldn’t sleep until we had one up. Why? Because cream cheese and banana bread are basically best friends, don’t you know? The creamy texture of the cream cheese mixture complements the banana bread so well and adds a depth of flavor that will make you swoon.

Once I started testing different ways to incorporate that cream cheese flavor, I knew I didn’t want just a layer of cream cheese—I wanted SWIRLS of it. My vision came to life! Once this bread was baked it lasted a mere five minutes because my family inhaled it.

How to Get the Best Cream Cheese Flavor

When I first tested this recipe, I used 4 ounces of cream cheese. However, my husband (and official taste tester at La Casa de Cash) said it lacked flavor, and I wasn’t a fan of how fluffy it was. Since I wanted a richer taste and a creamier texture, I bumped the cream cheese up to a full 8 ounces. Go big, or go home! After my husband tasted that batch, his eyes lit up and I instantly knew he approved.

Overhead view of a loaf of banana bread with cream cheese on a plate. Three slices are laying in front of the loaf.
Claudia Cash

How to Achieve the Perfect Swirl

I think that the beauty of the swirl lies in its imperfections! No two swirls are alike, and it’s fun to see how it’ll turn out with each new batch.

However, there are a few things you need to know to become a Champion of Swirls:

  • Pour half the banana bread batter into the greased loaf pan.
  • Then add dollops of the cream cheese mixture to the batter, followed by the rest of the batter.
  • Take a butter knife and run it through the batter in a swirly pattern. I like to run it in a ribbon pattern going horizontally and then going vertically.

Your swirl pattern may be different from mine, and that’s okay! The cream cheese batter is a little on the thicker side, so you’ll want to swirl the batter a few times.

Slices of cream cheese filled banana bread on a plate.
Claudia Cash

Storing and Freezing Banana Bread

Banana bread can keep at room temperature for up to 4 days. If you’re just going to store it overnight, you can keep it directly in the loaf pan and just throw a clean kitchen towel over it. (I grew up with this method, so it’s what I do.) If you’d like, you can put it in an airtight container.

Can you freeze banana bread? ABSOLUTELY! You can store it in slices, half loaves, or whole loaves.

Try These Other Banana Bread Recipes!

Overhead view of Cream Cheese Banana Bread recipe
Claudia Cash

Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 60 mins
Total Time 75 mins
Servings 8 to 10 servings
Yield 1 loaf

This recipe calls for an 8x4-inch loaf pan, which produces a tall loaf. The recipe will also work in an 8 1/2x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan, producing a slightly shorter bread. Since the pan is a bit larger, the bake time is shorter: 47 to 57 minutes. A 9x5-inch pan will yield an especially short but still delicious bread; bake for 45 to 55 minutes.

Adapted from Elise's recipe for Classic Banana Bread.

Ingredients

For the banana bread:

  • 2 to 3 very ripe bananas, peeled (about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups mashed)

  • 1/3 cup (76g) melted butter, unsalted or salted

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • Pinch salt

  • 3/4 cup (150g) sugar (1/2 cup if you would like it less sweet, 1 cup if you want it sweeter)

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 1/2 cups (205g) all-purpose flour

For the cream cheese filling:

Method

  1. Preheat the oven:

    Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 4x8-inch loaf pan.

  2. Make the banana bread batter:

    In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until completely smooth. Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.

    Mix in the baking soda and salt. Stir in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour.

    Homemade cream cheeese banana bread recipe being mixed in a metal bowl.
    Claudia Cash
    Batter for banana bread with cream cheese being mixed in a metal bowl.
    Claudia Cash
  3. Make the cream cheese swirl:

    In another bowl, beat together all the ingredients for the cream cheese filling.

    Overhead view of cream cheese filling in a bowl to make cream cheese stuffed banana bread.
    Claudia Cash
    Overhead view of cream cheese filling to make cream cheese filled banana bread.
    Claudia Cash
  4. Swirl the batters in the pan:

    Pour half of the banana bread batter in the loaf pan. Top the batter with half of the cream cheese filling, one dollop at a time. Top with remaining batter. Top with the remaining cream cheese filling one dollop at a time. Insert a butter knife about halfway into the batter and run through the batter vertically and horizontally to swirl the cream cheese into the banana bread batter.

    Easy cream cheese banana bread batter in a pan with dollops of cream cheese on top.
    Claudia Cash
    Unbaked homemade cream cheese banana bread in a pan with a butter knife swirling the batter.
    Claudia Cash
  5. Bake:

    Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

    Simple Tip!

    If the top starts to brown too much before the middle is done, tent the top with foil.

  6. Cool and store:

    Cool the banana bread for a few minutes in the pan, then remove from pan and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

    Store covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
331 Calories
15g Fat
45g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 331
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 9g 44%
Cholesterol 76mg 25%
Sodium 274mg 12%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 16%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 3mg 15%
Calcium 34mg 3%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 195mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.