How do I know when cheese banana bread is done?

Check the center with a toothpick around 55 minutes. You’re looking for no wet banana batter clinging to it. A few moist crumbs are fine, and a small streak of cream cheese doesn’t mean the loaf is raw. If the top looks done but the center still needs time, cover the loaf loosely with foil and bake a little longer.

Why is the center still gooey?

The center can stay gooey if the bananas were very large, the batter was overfilled in the pan, or the loaf was sliced before cooling. Banana bread keeps cooking slightly after it leaves the oven, so allow it to cool fully on a rack. Also check that your oven is properly set to 350°F.

Why did my banana bread turn out dense?

Dense banana bread often comes from overmixing after adding the flour. Stir only until the flour disappears. Another cause is using bananas that are not ripe enough, which affects both texture and flavor. Measuring flour too heavily can also make the loaf dense.

Cream Cheese Banana Bread – Easy Homestyle Loaf for Every Kitchen

Description

This cheese banana bread is a soft, buttery loaf made with ripe bananas and a creamy swirl of sweetened cream cheese baked right through the center.

Ingredients

Scale

3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup melted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cooking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups plain flour
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar (for filling)
1 egg (for filling)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (for filling)

Cook Mode Keep your screen awake while you cook

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 4×8-inch loaf pan
Mash the ripe bananas in a bowl until smooth, then stir in the melted butter
Mix in baking soda and salt, then add sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract
Stir in the flour gently until no dry streaks remain
In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth
Pour half of the banana batter into the pan, then add half of the cream cheese filling in dollops
Add the remaining batter and top with the rest of the cream cheese filling
Use a knife to gently swirl the batter without overmixing
Bake for 55-60 minutes until a toothpick comes out mostly clean
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely

Notes

Use very ripe bananas with brown spots for the best flavor
Do not overmix the batter after adding flour
If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil
Let the bread cool completely before slicing for clean layers
Store covered at room temperature for up to 4 days

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 280
Sugar: 18
Sodium: 220
Fat: 14
Saturated Fat: 8
Unsaturated Fat: 5
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 34
Fiber: 1
Protein: 4
Cholesterol: 55