Description
Moist and tender banana loaf with a cinnamon sugar swirl and a rich cream cheese glaze.
Ingredients
- Cinnamon Sugar Filling: 0.33 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- Banana Bread Batter: 3 large overripe bananas mashed smooth
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or alcohol free vanilla extract
- 1.5 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.25 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Cream Cheese Glaze: 2 ounces full fat cream cheese softened block style
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 0.75 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 0.5 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or alcohol free vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper so the edges overhang for easy removal.
- Whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a small bowl until the mixture is uniform and set it aside.
- Mash the bananas in a large bowl until smooth and whisk in the melted butter, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla until fully combined.
- Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt directly into the wet ingredients and fold gently with a spatula just until no flour streaks remain.
- Pour half of the banana batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth it into an even layer with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon.
- Drizzle half of the cinnamon sugar filling over the batter layer and use a butter knife to swirl it gently into the batter without overmixing.
- Spread the remaining banana batter carefully over the swirl layer and top with the remaining cinnamon sugar filling.
- Run the knife through the top layer in a figure eight pattern to create the final swirl effect.
- Bake the loaf for 55 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the bread in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before lifting it out to cool completely.
- Beat the softened cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl until smooth, then whisk in the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until creamy.
- Spread the glaze generously over the completely cooled loaf before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for the best natural sweetness.
- The loaf must be completely cool before applying the cream cheese glaze.
- Raw eggs should be fully cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure food safety.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American