Yesterday I was sitting there wondering what to make. I knew it had to be something good and something with bananas, what with the 3 overly ripe beauties sitting on my counter.
Not only that, I also had a craving for banana bread but had some cream cheese in the fridge to use up. Suddenly Cream Cheese Banana Bread was born! I used this recipe, adding and taking away ingredients according to what I had on hand and what I know works at high altitudes. The only problem? It says to make 2 8×4 loaf pans, and since I only have one (and wasn’t about to spend hours on end baking banana bread) I made a pan of muffins and a 9×5 loaf pan. Perfection!
Yeah…there are only 6 left. That would be because…well…ahem…because I at them all. Within 15 minutes. Oops…
I will say that the culprit though…the reason I couldn’t stop eating them (despite the fact that the muffins are outrageously good on their own) is because I might have taken the leftover salted caramel frosting and spread it all over the muffins.
Does that make them cupcakes?
Oh well if it does…it was divine! Hence the wearing of yoga pants for the entire rest of the weekend…
The loaf turned out perfectly as well, crisp on the outside and wonderfully moist on the inside. I also love that the cream cheese in the bread adds a wonderful underlying tartness. It’s a perfect balance of flavor!
Recipe from Diana’s Desserts, adaptions made based on on-hand ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, room temperature
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed well
- 1/4 cup milk, stirred in at the end
Preheat oven to 350. In a bowl beat together the cream cheese and butter until creamy and well combined. Add the sugar and eggs and mix well for 2 minutes. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Add the bananas and milk, and mix until everything is well incorporated. For muffins, fill each muffin cup 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. For the loaf, grease a 9×5 pan and bake at 350 for 60-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
I highly recommend the frosting serving suggestion, but plain butter would be fabulous as well!
Now, if you’ll excuse, I’m off to finish of the rest of loaf. It’s what I do and I’ve already resigned myself to stretchy pants the remainder of the weekend!
Megan says
I have some over ripe bananas sitting on my counter too. Hmmm, I better go find my yoga pants!
Kelly @ Laughter, Strength, and Food says
This sounds so good! I can’t wait to try it! I have a hard time turning down anything made with cream cheese! Also, I just recently found your blog and I love it! 🙂
marla {family fresh cooking} says
It is essential that I try something like this asap. Cream cheese and bananas pair perfectly together!
Bluej says
looks sooo delicious cant wait to try the recipe!
Mads says
These look divine!
Aaaaand they are now bookmarked. If the salted carmel frosting forced you to eat 6 muffins, then they must be worthy of a bookmark.
mmmm
Natalia - a side of simple says
Mmm cream cheese and bananas win my heart. It’s pretty much been a yoga-wearing month, not gonna lie 🙂
Cookin' Canuck says
I’ll bet this banana bread is so moist. What a great recipe for a weekend morning.
Nicole says
Ooh, that looks SO good!!
Runeatrepeat says
Ben’s mom made banana bread with cream cheese frosting this Christmas and I totally dominated that loaf!
Miri Leigh says
This banana bread looks delicious… I think I’ve just found my project for the night! Thank you!
Lisa (Dishes of Mrs. Fish) says
I’ve saving banana bread recipes like nobody’s business this week!
Guess I’m adding to my collection, and whipping up some banana bread this weekend!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
My all time favorite banana bread is made with cream cheese too. It is SO good!
Jenny says
Wow that bread looks amazing. I’ve never thought to put cream cheese and banana together. Yummy 🙂
shylab1 says
What! Cream cheese banana bread?! That’s music to my ears, eyes, nose and belly!
Lauren from Lauren's Latest says
This looks SO GOOD! I need to make some pronto!
KeepItSweet says
Oh wow, this sounds so good! I agree with J3nn, it does look like a pound cake:-)
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Yummy! Looks like pound cake. 🙂
annie says
oh cream cheese is good in everything!!
Shannon says
umm, girl, where do you find the time to bake so much!!!
Melissa (MelissaLikesToEat) says
I hate bananas but really like banana bread. Go figure.
Bekki says
you put a smile on my face- I love that you are so honest and comfortable with who you are- that is truly something that isn’t common anymore! THanks
Ang says
Brilliant idea with the cream cheese. What a beauty-of-a-loaf.
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says
Sounds so delicious! I haven’t used cream cheese in a quick bread before, but I’m sure it makes all the difference!
Bethany @Bridezilla Bakes says
Yummm, cream cheese in quick bread is SO good. And I can’t even imagine it with the frosting…. !!!
brandi@BranAppetit says
that bread looks so dense – i love it!
and I have a ton of bananas that need to get used, too.
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Cupcakes, muffins, bread…I want it all.
Kelly says
Yum! Sometimes you just need a stretchy pants type of a weekend! 🙂
Evan Thomas says
That bread looks so soft and smooth. I’m sold.