Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Printable)

Soft banana bread swirled with creamy cheese filling and sweet cinnamon sugar layers

# Ingredient List:

→ 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:

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 mixing bowl, mash bananas until smooth. Stir in melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until fully 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, taking care not to overmix.
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 cinnamon.
07 - Pour half of banana batter into prepared 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 in center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.
10 - Allow loaf to cool in pan for 10 minutes. Lift out using parchment overhang and transfer to wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's moist and tender without being dense, and the cream cheese filling makes every bite feel a little fancier than regular banana bread.
  • You can slice into it warm while the cinnamon sugar is still slightly crispy on top, or save it for toast later in the week.
  • The recipe is straightforward enough to feel effortless but impressive enough that people ask for the recipe.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of letting your cream cheese soften at room temperature because cold cream cheese creates lumps that won't blend smoothly into that filling layer.
  • If you try to slice the bread while it's still warm, it will fall apart no matter how perfect everything else is, so patience really does make a difference here.
  • The cinnamon sugar topping is what makes people ask for seconds, so don't skip it or hold back on that final sprinkle.
03 -
  • Toast a slice of cooled banana bread in a skillet with a tiny bit of butter for a crispy exterior and warm, soft interior that tastes almost like French toast.
  • If you want to add texture and richness, fold in half a cup of chopped walnuts or chocolate chips into the batter after you combine it with the dry ingredients.
Return