Cream Cheese Banana-Nut Bread

Submitted by Erin Crable

"This recipe is from Southern Living magazine and is not your ordinary banana bread. The texture and flavor are so rich and creamy. Your family will love this treat. I always use reduced fat cream cheese."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Serves: 16

ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 medium bananas)
• 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions

1. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with electric mixer until creamy.
2. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until just blended.
4. Combine flour, baking powder and soda, and salt.
5. Gradually add this to butter mixture beating at low speed just until blended.
6. Stir in bananas, pecans, and vanilla.
7. Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured loaf pans (or 4 mini loaf pans).
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
9. You may need to shield the top with foil for last 15 minutes to prevent browning.
10. Cool bread in pans for 10 minutes, remove from pan, and let cool additional 30 minutes.

Reviews

[Barb G.]

WOW, so moist, rich & tasty banana bread! I used lower fat cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter plus 1/2 cup applesauce & 1 cup Splenda for Baking instead of sugar. For the nuts I used Black Walnuts, Yummy. My DH Said, this is the best banana bread. Erin, thank you for posting the recipe I will be making this again & again.

 

[Jennifer B.]

This is my FAVE banana nut bread recipe!! Its,one of my favorite quick breads, and I have been searching for the "pot of gold" since 1997. I found this recipe 2 years ago and am ashamed I haven't sang it's praises until now! Thank you for sharing this recipe. I make it according to the recipe every time and each time... perfect! To all you banana nut bread lovers... give this a shot. It will be your go to recipe and will make you a quick favorite in your office and home!!

 

[Courtney W.]

The best banana nut recipe I or my mother have ever had! My tweaks: •I only had 2 medium bananas, equaling 1 cup mashed. So to finish up the last 1/2 cup I needed, I added 1 4oz cup of Cinnamon Applesauce. •I added approx 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 1/2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice. •I didn't have enough pecans, so I used the 1/2 cup bag of pecan chips I had and the 1/2 cup bag of chopped walnuts.

 

[Jenn Da Bean]

This bread was soo moist and yummy. I don't care for walnuts, so I was glad it used pecans to begin with. That is what I would have replaced walnuts with. The cream cheese really made it creamy. I will be making this one often. I think next time I am going to use strawberries. MMMM. Delicious. Thanks for the great recipe!

 

[FLUFFSTER]

I have made this banana bread 3 times, and can't believe I haven''t rated it! Erin, this is a to-die-for recipe. It's so creamy, the bread just about melts in your mouth. I have a very finiky hubby. So I've been trying all kinds, searching for just the right one, and I've finally found it! Everyone who has a finiky spouse will know what I mean.Thank you so much for a winner!!