Our Cream Cheese Banana Bread takes things to a whole new level with a luscious, creamy filling that makes every bite feel indulgent. It’s still all the things you love about banana bread—moist, fluffy, and full of banana goodness—but with a twist that makes it truly special.
The Best Banana Bread But Even Better!
You’ve had banana bread but haven’t had anything like this. Soft, moist, and with a luscious cream cheese layer that melts in your mouth, this Cream Cheese Banana Bread will make you rethink banana bread forever.
My Chocolate Chip Banana Bread has always been my go-to for overripe bananas, but this one’s different—it’s like getting two treats in one. With a hidden layer of creamy goodness, every slice feels extra special.
I’m a bit of a banana bread enthusiast and may be biased, but I think I’ve got the best banana recipes around. From banana bread cookies and muffins to skillet and cast iron banana bread, I won’t pick favorites, but trust me—you’ll love this one!
Ingredients Notes
- Salted butter: If using unsalted butter in your bread batter, you may want to add a pinch of salt.
- Sugar: I used granulated white sugar, but you can use your favorite type of sugar.
- Eggs
- Milk: Whole milk produces extra rich batter but 2% milk will work.
- Bananas: Use very ripe bananas for optimal sweetness.
- All-purpose flour.
- Baking soda
- Cream cheese: I prefer to use full-fat cream cheese for this banana bread cream cheese loaf because it makes the filling more rich.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Cream Cheese Banana Bread
- Make The Banana Bread Batter: In a large bowl, using a electric mixer, beat the sugar and butter together until fully combined. Add the bananas, egg, and milk and beat until smooth. Lower the speed, then mix in the flour and baking soda with the wet ingredients.
- Make The Cream Cheese Mixture: Whisk together the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and flour.
- Pour In The Pan: Pour half of the bread batter into the bottom of the pan, cover with the cream cheese mixture, then add a top layer of remaining banana bread batter.
- Bake: Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick tester comes out clean.
- Slice And Serve: Cool before cutting and serving. Enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
You can enjoy your slice as a decadent dessert, a semi-healthy snack, or smear it with a spread (like jam or honey) for breakfast.
To serve this banana bread as a dessert, try drizzling it with salted caramel sauce, dusting it with powdered sugar, sprinkling on some cinnamon sugar, or brushing melted butter on op. A scoop of No Churn Vanilla Ice Cream will taste delicious on the side.
Tips & Variations
- Make Sure To Measure: The ratio of flour to banana makes all the difference for the most moist banana bread. If you use too much flour, you’ll end up with dry bread; not enough, and your bread will be too wet. The secret is in how you measure the flour.
- Bread Is Done Baking: Because the cream cheese layer is in the middle, it may seem like it should affect your ability to tell if your bread is baked or not. The cream cheese layer will firm up and take on the consistency of bread when baked, so you can use a toothpick tester to check the bread for doneness just like you usually would.
- Completely Cool Before Cutting: The cream cheese layer will cause the bread to flatten slightly when cooled.
- Create Some Crunch: For extra crunch and a boost of nutrition, you can add chopped nuts to make a banana nut bread batter. I like using pecans, walnuts, or almonds in this banana cream cheese bread because they have a sweet and toasty taste.
Best Bananas For Cheesecake Banana Bread
You want to use ripe or overripe bananas for your cream cheese-filled bread. You can tell if your banana is ripe enough when it begins to soften and develops brown spots or streaks. If you use a banana that is not quite ripe, it will lack the sweetness that makes this banana bread so tasty (and, in my opinion, the best banana bread recipe ever).
Proper Storage
- To Store: Do not store your banana bread in the refrigerator, as it will dry it out. Instead, leave it on the countertop at room temperature in an airtight bag or container for up to one week.
- To Freeze: You can freeze this banana bread for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
More Quick Bread Recipes
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Cream Cheese Banana Bread
Ingredients
Banana Bread
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons salted butter room temperature
- 1½ ripened bananas (about ½ cup mashed bananas)
- 1 large egg
- 2½ teaspoons whole milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Prep a 9×5 inch loaf pan by spraying it with cooking spray or line with parchment paper and setting it aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Use a mixer to beat the sugar and butter together until fully combined.¾ cup granulated sugar, 6 tablespoons salted butter
- In the same bowl, beat in the bananas, egg, and milk until smooth, about 1 minute.1½ ripened bananas, 1 large egg, 2½ teaspoons whole milk
- On low speed, mix in the flour and baking soda. Do not overmix. Set batter aside for now.1 cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda
- In a bowl, whisk together the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and flour4 ounces cream cheese, 1 large egg, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Take the loaf pan and pour half of the bread batter into the bottom of the pan.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the bread batter. Carefully create a top layer with the remaining bread batter. Make sure all these layers are spread evenly but are not mixed into each other.
- Bake in the oven for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown and a tester comes out clean. Let completely cool before cutting and serving.
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Do not store your banana bread in the refrigerator, as it will dry the bread out. Instead, leave it on the countertop at room temperature in an airtight bag or container for up to one week.
- To Freeze: You can freeze this banana bread for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- The ratio of flour to banana makes all the difference for the most moist banana bread. If you use too much flour, you’ll end up with dry bread; not enough and your bread will be too wet. The secret is in how you measure the flour.
- Because the cream cheese layer is in the middle, it may seem like it should affect your ability to tell if your bread is baked or not. The cream cheese layer will firm up and take on the consistency of bread when baked, so you can use a tester to check the bread for doneness just like you normally would.
- The cream cheese layer will cause the bread to flatten slightly when cooled.
- For extra crunch and a boost of nutrition, you can add chopped nuts to make a banana nut bread batter. I like using pecans, walnuts, or almonds in this banana cream cheese bread because they have a sweet and toasty taste.
Excellent!
Delicious w/special surprise baked in!
Made it today,excellent