Cream Cheesed-Filled Banana Bread

Cream Cheesed-Filled Banana Bread

A few months ago, I put several packs of cream cheese, actually thinking I would have the time to bake while being at home with my then-newborn. And boy, was I wrong. To be honest, my first few months at home were filled with changing a newborn, feeding a newborn, and sleeping with a newborn because we would be up for some part of the night. Ya. Let me rethink that baking thing.

Forward to 4+ months post-partum, those packs of cream cheese are just weeks away from going bad, so my oh-so smart husband suggested I make cheesecakes or cream cheese-filled banana bread. Added bonus: Since Lukey and I have finally started getting into the groove of a more established routine, and he is more independent, I have more time to pick up baking and other hobbies I enjoy doing. So I got to experiment, and the results were delish!

I realize it's not the HEALTHIEST recipe out there, but who doesn't enjoy something sweet stuffed with something else? Oh, and if you don't want your banana bread looking like mine, make sure to follow my instructions below and LET IT COOL DOWN before you cut it. :)

Give it a try, I promise it will not disappoint!

Cream Cheese-Filled Banana Bread

Ingredients
For banana bread:

• 3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed;
• ⅓ cup butter, melted;
• ¾ cup brown sugar;
• 1 egg, beaten;
• 1½ cups flour;
• 1 tsp vanilla extract;
• 1 tsp baking soda;
• pinch of salt;
• ½ tsp cinnamon (or to taste); and
• rolled oats (for decoration at the end).

For cream cheese filling:

• 1 pack of cream cheese (regular or light) at room temperature; and
• ¾ cup powdered sugar.

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (or 175°C) and butter a 4"x8" loaf pan.
2. Place bananas in medium-sized bowl and mash them as well as you can.
3. Start adding all other ingredients for the banana bread to this bowl. Mix well.
4. For the cream cheese filling, combine both ingredients and blend.
5. Pour half of the banana bread batter into greased pan, then pour all of the cream cheese filling, followed by the rest of the banana bread mix. 
6. Sprinkle some oats on top for decoration.
7. Place in the oven for 53 minutes. My oven is strong, so 53 minutes is all I need, but depending on the strength of your oven, you may want to use a cake tester, such as a fork, knife or toothpick, to make sure your loaf is done.
8. Remove your yummy treat from the pan, let it cool in the fridge for 30 minutes (this allows the cheese cheese filling to firm up a bit), then cut and serve!

Until the next post!

-Alesia D.

Let's get social!

Come and join me on Instagram @ChezAlesiaDunn

Did you like this recipe? Tell me about it and tag me in your photo on Instagram!
It would mean so much. :)