Kick up a classic quickbread with a fast and fresh recipe for Cream Cheese Banana Bread swirled with a tangy cheesecake-like filling.
We’ve covered nearly every mix-in and topping when it comes to banana bread, from nuts and fruit to chocolate and peanut butter. And given my love of cream cheese in all things baked (ahem, Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies), I am quite surprised it’s taken 806 recipes (!!!) to get us to this point. And what point is that?
Four words: Cream Cheese Banana Bread.
It’s sweet. It’s tangy. It’s moist. It’s the perfect balance of banana flavor and creamy consistency. And it took me three different technique attempts to land on this perfectly marbled, sensationally swirled version.
I first attempted to simply layer banana bread batter with a single stripe of cream cheese (read: cheesecake) filling smack-dab in the center. This caused two issues:
- The banana bread loaf never rose to its full potential given the girth of said layer of cream cheese filling.
- The banana bread never really baked through because the cream cheese filling interfered with the classic “insert a toothpick” trick to test for doneness.
So for my second attempt, I went for a slightly marbled version. But then the issue was that the cream cheese filling was resting on top and you weren’t really getting that creaminess in every bite. And we need creaminess in every bite.
So that leaves us here, with Cream Cheese Banana Bread perfection. And it all comes down to a few swipes with a good ol’ knife…
By layering intermittent dollops of both the banana bread batter and the cream cheese filling, you get that dense, and yet ever-so-moist cheesecake flavor and consistency throughout the entire loaf. You also get a banana bread loaf with a solid rise and a visually pleasing swirl of two complementary colors.
Were all technique attempts edible? You better believe it. But this final recipe test proved that the third time’s definitely the charm, especially when it comes to the best banana bread.
Read to see all that swirling in action? Tune in to the video below for all of my Cream Cheese Banana Bread tips and tricks!
Craving more? Subscribe to Just a Taste to get new recipes, meal plans and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! And stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Find more inspiration for making the most of overripe bananas with additional quickbread recipes.
Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread: Get the Recipe
The Ultimate Moist Banana Bread: Get the Recipe
Mixed Berry Banana Bread: Get the Recipe
Ingredients
For the banana bread:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoons baking soda
- 3 medium very ripe bananas, mashed well
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the cream cheese filling:
- 5 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
Make the banana bread:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper so that it hangs over on the longer sides then grease the parchment paper with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, eggs, buttermilk, melted butter and vanilla extract.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Set the batter aside.
Make the cream cheese filling:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, egg, sugar and flour. (Alternately, use a handheld beater to combine the ingredients.)
- Add ⅓ of the banana bread batter to the prepared loaf pan then alternately add dollops of the cream cheese filling and remaining banana bread batter to the pan. Using a knife, swirl together the mixture.
- Bake the bread for 50 to 60 minutes until the top is set. (If the bread is getting too dark around the edges, you can tent the pan with foil and continue baking.)
- Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before using the parchment paper overhangs to lift the bread out of the pan and onto a rack to cool completely. Slice and serve.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
Shoutout
Did you try this recipe?
Share it with the world! Mention @justataste or tag #justatasterecipes!
This post may contain affiliate links.
Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
I modified this as I didn’t have buttermilk and substituted with vanilla Greek yogurt. I also decided to make muffins and a mini loaf of this bread. Some of the muffins I added some chocolate chips, some I added white chocolate chips and to some others I added chocolate toffee pieces. I did reduce the cook time by then minutes so as not to overcome and dry out the muffins/mini loaf. Delicious!
YUM! Love those additions, Kat!
I am honestly impressed that this turned out okay given the stupid substitutions I had to make. I couldn’t go get groceries, and I discovered part way through making the recipe that I didn’t have any eggs and that one of my three bananas was too old to use. I pressed on because I wasn’t about to waste all the stuff I already mixed together. Luckily I had an egg substitute thing because I make vegan stuff sometimes (works really well, just a tiny bit drier). The final product didn’t look like the picture, I think because the cream cheese filling didn’t have the same consistency as it would with an actual egg. But remarkably it tasted REALLY good! Despite the missing banana it was perfectly moist. So… props to Kelly for making a recipe that held up under the circumstances haha. Will definitely make this again! Although next time I’ll make sure I actually have the ingredients. My dad loved it as well.
I’ve made this recipe several times and my family loves it! This time I soaked raisins in hot water and added it with chocolate chips in the dough. When I added the cream cheese layers I sprinkled coconut on it. I also sprinkled coconut, chocolate chips, pecans, walnuts, coconut, and brown sugar on top! It was definitely amazing!!!
YUM! I’m so thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe, Shanita!
I made this without the cream cheese filling because my son won’t eat it that way. It really was very delicious and moist.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Lowe!
Can I add walnuts to this if so how? Lol thank you?
Absolutely, Amanda! I recommend adding no more than 1 cup of walnuts. :)
I did not have buttermilk and substituted vanilla yogurt (light) and it turned out fantastic and likely a little less calories. Great recipe! It baked perfectly.
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Laurie!
Awesome but better with some walnuts you hit it girl never thought I could have a better piece of banana bread than my momma’s but it is
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, William!
WOW! I’ve always struggled with making moist banana bread so I figured I’d give this a try thinking the cream cheese swirls would help combat any dryness. Far exceeded my expectations, the bread is moist and the swirls just add an extra yummy layer and texture! This will be my new go-to banana bread recipe!
Thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Stephanie!
My new favorite recipe! Everyone loves it. I’ve made it several times now in cupcake papers in muffin tins. I put about 1/4 cup batter then add about a tblsp of cream cheese filling and add another tblsp. of batter. If my younger cooks are helping we sprinkle some sprinkles on top. Makes about 15 cupcake. I like the individuality of the cupcakes.
LOVE this, Gayle! I’m thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe!
I made this many times and it’s a winner!
Friends and family loved it!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe to us. You’re awesome!
You are so welcome, Darlene! I’m thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe!
I made the Cream Cheese Banana Bread recipe yesterday, and it was incredible. The recipe was easy, the instructions were perfect, and the Banana bread was so delicious! I plan to add this recipe to my go-to recipe collection. Thanks!
You are so welcome, KC! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Fantastic
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Jorge!
It tastes so good. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
You are so welcome, Vallada! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!