The Ultimate Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread Recipe

Have you ever been caught in a delightful predicament, unable to decide between the comforting, gooey warmth of a cinnamon roll and the timeless, homely fragrance of banana bread fresh from the oven? We’re here to tell you there’s no need to choose. We have developed a recipe that marries these two cherished bakes into one phenomenal loaf: the ultimate Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread. This is far more than your average banana bread; it is a true baking event. Picture a supremely moist, tender banana loaf with a luscious ribbon of tangy cream cheese nestled inside, all interwoven with a sweet, spiced cinnamon sugar swirl. It’s the sort of bake that fills your home with an irresistible aroma and has everyone gathering in the kitchen. Are you ready to elevate those overripe bananas into a truly spectacular treat? Let’s begin baking!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A Perfect Hybrid: This recipe masterfully combines the classic comfort of banana bread with the rich, spiced sweetness of a cinnamon roll. It’s a genuinely unique creation that satisfies several cravings in one go.
• Exceptionally Moist and Tender: Utilising very ripe bananas and a perfectly balanced batter, this is a genuinely moist banana bread recipe that remains wonderfully soft and delicious for several days.
• A Visually Stunning Swirl: The gorgeous layers of banana bread, cream cheese, and cinnamon sugar result in a beautiful marbled pattern in each slice, making it a delight for the eyes as well as the palate.
• A Surprise Creamy Centre: The tangy, almost cheesecake-like filling provides a wonderful textural and flavour contrast to the sweet, spiced bread. This is what makes it such a superb banana bread with cream cheese filling.
• Ideal for Any Occasion: Whether you’re preparing it for a special brunch, a delightful afternoon tea, or simply as a weekend indulgence, this loaf is absolutely guaranteed to wow your family and friends.

Ingredients

To bring this masterpiece to life, we will prepare three distinct components: the banana bread batter, the cream cheese filling, and the cinnamon swirl. Rest assured, each part is straightforward to make!

• For the Banana Bread:
• 3 large, very ripe bananas, mashed (about 350g)
• 125g unsalted butter, softened
• 150g soft light brown sugar
• 100g caster sugar
• 2 large free-range eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 250g plain flour
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• For the Cream Cheese Filling:
• 120g full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 50g caster sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• For the Cinnamon Swirl:
• 50g soft light brown sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Step-by-Step Instructions to Bake the Perfect Loaf

Crafting this beautiful cinnamon swirl banana loaf is all about the art of layering. We will walk you through every stage to guarantee a flawless bake each and every time. Let’s get started!

Preparing the Batters and Swirl

1. Preheat and Prepare: To begin, set your oven to preheat at 180°C (160°C Fan/Gas Mark 4). Thoroughly grease a 900g (2lb) loaf tin and line it with baking parchment, ensuring there is some overhang on the longer sides to help you lift the loaf out later.
2. Make the Cinnamon Swirl: In a small bowl, thoroughly combine the 50g of soft light brown sugar with the 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon. Set this mixture aside for now.
3. Mix the Cream Cheese Filling: Using a separate medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with the 50g of caster sugar until it is perfectly smooth and creamy. An electric mixer works well for this. Next, beat in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until they are just combined. Take care not to overmix. Set this filling aside too.
4. Create the Banana Bread Batter: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter together with both sugars (150g brown and 100g caster) until the mixture is light and airy. This process typically takes about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer.
5. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs one by one, beating well after each is incorporated. Following this, stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract.
6. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a different bowl, whisk the plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, and salt together. Gently fold these dry ingredients into the wet banana mixture until they are just incorporated. Don’t worry about a few lumps; overmixing at this stage can result in a tough loaf!

Assembling Your Cream Cheese Stuffed Banana Bread

This is the part where the real magic unfolds! The layering method is essential for achieving those distinct, eye-catching swirls.

1. First Layer of Batter: Spoon slightly more than half of the banana bread batter into your prepared tin, spreading it into an even layer.
2. Add the Cinnamon Sugar: Sprinkle approximately half of your prepared cinnamon-sugar mix evenly across the top of the batter.
3. The Cream Cheese Layer: Gently spoon the cream cheese filling over the cinnamon sugar, carefully spreading it towards the edges while trying not to disturb the batter underneath.
4. More Cinnamon: Dust the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the cream cheese layer.
5. Final Batter Layer: Carefully spoon the rest of the banana bread batter over the top, spreading it gently to ensure the cream cheese filling is fully covered.
6. Create the Swirl: Take a butter knife or a thin skewer and gently glide it through the layers in a figure-of-eight pattern a couple of times. This action creates the beautiful marbled swirl effect. Be careful not to do this too much, or the layers will blend together.

Baking to Perfection

1. Bake the Loaf: Transfer the loaf tin to your preheated oven and let it bake for 60–75 minutes.
2. Check for Doneness: After about 50 minutes, check on the loaf. If the top appears to be browning too fast, you can loosely tent it with a piece of foil. The bread is perfectly baked when a skewer inserted into the centre (trying to avoid the cream cheese part) comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, but no liquid batter.
3. Cool Down: Once out of the oven, allow the banana bread to cool inside the tin for 15–20 minutes. Afterwards, use the parchment paper handles to carefully remove it and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before you attempt to slice it. This requires patience, as slicing it while still warm may cause it to crumble.

Tips for the Best Results

We are committed to helping you have the finest baking experience. By following these straightforward tips, you can ensure your Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread turns out to be a magnificent success.

The Secret to Overripe Bananas

The true key to a wonderfully flavourful and moist banana bread lies in using very ripe bananas—those generously speckled with brown spots! These bananas possess a greater sweetness and a softer texture, which makes them ideal for mashing and incorporating into your batter. To learn more about the science, King Arthur Baking explains why ripe bananas are essential for achieving the best possible taste and texture.

Room Temperature Ingredients are Key

To achieve the smoothest batter and filling, it is vital that your butter, eggs, and cream cheese are all at room temperature before you begin. This allows them to blend together much more easily, resulting in a more consistent and uniform texture in your finished loaf.

Don’t Overmix!

When you are combining the wet and dry ingredients for the banana bread batter, it is crucial to mix only until they are just incorporated. Overmixing will develop the gluten within the flour, which can lead to a dense and tough bread rather than the light, tender crumb we are aiming for.

Storage and Delicious Variations

How to Store Your Banana Bread

Due to the cream cheese filling, this banana bread should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 5 days. You can serve it chilled straight from the fridge or allow it to return to room temperature first. It also freezes exceptionally well! You can wrap the whole loaf or individual slices securely in cling film, followed by a layer of foil. It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Delicious Variations to Try

While this recipe is truly wonderful as it is, it’s also very adaptable. You could consider trying:

• Adding Nuts: For a lovely textural crunch, stir 75g of chopped walnuts or pecans into the banana bread batter.
• Chocolate Chips: To create an even more decadent version, fold 100g of milk or dark chocolate chips into the batter. If this appeals, you may also like our classic Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe.
• Streusel Topping: To transform this into more of a banana coffee cake with cream cheese, whip up a quick streusel topping using flour, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, then sprinkle it over the loaf before baking.

For anyone who fancies a more straightforward bake, our traditional Moist Banana Bread Recipe is another excellent option to explore.

FAQ

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Bake Awaits!

We are entirely confident that this Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread is destined to become a new favourite in your baking collection. It presents the perfect harmony of comforting, sweet, tangy, and spiced flavours—a genuine delight for all the senses. It elevates the humble banana loaf into something truly extraordinary, creating a spectacular cream cheese stuffed banana bread that is ideal for sharing.

So, on the next occasion you spot those bananas browning on your worktop, don’t just think of ordinary banana bread; see it as an opportunity to bake something truly memorable. We wholeheartedly encourage you to try this recipe and find your new go-to treat. When you do, please leave a comment below to tell us how you got on, or even better, share a photo of your magnificent creation on social media and be sure to tag us! Happy baking!

Recipe Card

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 60-75 mins
Yields: 1 loaf (10-12 slices)

Ingredients

• For the Banana Bread:
• 3 large, very ripe bananas, mashed
• 125g unsalted butter, softened
• 150g soft light brown sugar
• 100g caster sugar
• 2 large free-range eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 250g plain flour
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• For the Cream Cheese Filling:
• 120g full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 50g caster sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• For the Cinnamon Swirl:
• 50g soft light brown sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan). Grease and line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking parchment.
2. Cinnamon Swirl: In a small bowl, mix 50g soft light brown sugar and 1 tbsp ground cinnamon. Set aside.
3. Cream Cheese Filling: In a separate bowl, beat 120g softened cream cheese and 50g caster sugar until smooth. Beat in 1 egg yolk and 1/2 tsp vanilla until just combined. Set aside.
4. Banana Bread Batter: In a large bowl, cream 125g softened butter with 150g brown sugar and 100g caster sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 2 eggs one at a time, then stir in the mashed bananas and 1 tsp vanilla.
5. In another bowl, whisk together 250g plain flour, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda, and 1/2 tsp salt. Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. Do not overmix.
6. Assemble: Spoon a little over half of the banana batter into the prepared tin. Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon-sugar mix.
7. Gently spoon the cream cheese filling over the top, spreading it out. Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon-sugar.
8. Top with the remaining banana batter, covering the filling completely.
9. Use a butter knife or skewer to gently make a figure-of-eight motion through the layers a few times to create a swirl.
10. Bake: Bake for 60-75 minutes. If the top is browning too quickly, tent loosely with foil. The loaf is done when a skewer inserted into the bread part comes out with a few moist crumbs.
11. Cool: Let the loaf cool in the tin for 15-20 minutes before lifting it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Nutrition: Nutritional information is not available for this recipe.