cream cheese-filled banana bread

Here’s a Cream Cheese–Filled Banana Bread recipe 🍌🧀 — moist, rich banana bread with a luscious cheesecake-style ribbon baked right through the center. It’s a bakery-level loaf that’s easy to make at home!

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🍌 Cream Cheese–Filled Banana Bread

Makes: 1 (9×5-inch) loaf
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 60–70 minutes

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Ingredients

For the banana bread batter:

• 2–3 ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

• ¾ cup brown sugar (or white sugar)

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional but adds warmth)

For the cream cheese filling:

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven:
   Heat to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper (for easy removal).

2. Make the banana batter:

   • In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and mashed bananas until smooth.

   • In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

   • Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined (don’t overmix).

3. Make the cream cheese filling:
   In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

4. Assemble the loaf:

   • Pour half of the banana batter into the prepared pan.

   • Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over it.

   • Top with the remaining banana batter, spreading carefully to cover.

5. Bake:
   Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (a few moist crumbs are okay, but no wet batter).
   If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil during the last 15 minutes.

6. Cool:
   Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Cool completely before slicing — this helps the cream cheese layer set.

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Tips & Variations

• 🍫 Chocolate twist: Add ½ cup chocolate chips to the banana batter.

• 🥜 Nutty version: Stir in ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts.

• 🍯 Healthier option: Replace half the butter with Greek yogurt or applesauce.

• ❄️ Storage: Wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze slices up to 2 months.

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Would you like me to turn this into banana cream cheese muffins (same flavor, but portable and faster to bake)?