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Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread

Cream cheese cinnamon swirl banana bread with a soft cream cheese center and a cinnamon ribbon swirled through the golden banana crumb. Baked in a 9x5 loaf pan for clean, dramatic slices every time.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Banana bread batter
  • 3 ripe bananas Mash until mostly smooth.
  • 0.5 cup butter Melted.
  • 0.75 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs Crack into a bowl before mixing.
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
Cream cheese layer
  • 8 oz cream cheese Softened.
  • 0.25 cup sugar
  • 1 egg Use the egg for the filling.
  • 1 tsp vanilla
Cinnamon swirl
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1.5 tsp cinnamon

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and filling
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Set up a sheet pan for easier handling while baking.
  2. Beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth for the filling. Stop when no lumps remain and the mixture looks glossy.
Make the batter and assemble
  1. Whisk melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla into mashed bananas for the batter. Mix until the batter looks uniform and slightly thick.
  2. Fold in flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until no dry streaks of flour are visible.
  3. Pour half the banana batter into the pan, spreading it into an even layer. Keep it level so the filling sits cleanly.
  4. Spread all the cream cheese filling evenly on top. Use a gentle, flat motion so the filling layer stays intact.
  5. Sprinkle the cinnamon swirl mixture over the cream cheese. Cover the surface lightly and evenly for a consistent ribbon.
  6. Pour the remaining batter on top and swirl once or twice with a knife. Create a marbled look without over-mixing the layers.
Bake
  1. Bake for 65–75 minutes until deeply golden and a toothpick inserted in the outer banana bread comes out clean. Let the loaf cool briefly before slicing to keep the layers distinct.

Notes

For the cleanest cream cheese center, make sure the filling is fully smooth and softened before assembling. Store tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; reheat slices in the microwave for 15–25 seconds. Freeze up to 2 months (wrapped well) and thaw overnight in the fridge. For a lighter option, replace half of the butter with unsweetened applesauce (use 1/4 cup melted butter + 1/4 cup applesauce) and expect a slightly softer crumb.