Decadent Banana Cream Cheese Bread with Toasted Nuts

Ingredients

For the Bread:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Topping:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup toasted nuts (e.g., walnuts or pecans), roughly chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan with butter or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.

2. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Set aside.

3. Mix the Wet Ingredients:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream 1/2 cup of softened butter and 1 cup of granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Beat in two large eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
- Mix in 1 1/4 cups of mashed bananas, 1/2 cup of sour cream, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until well combined.

4. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Do not overmix, as it could make the bread dense.

5. Prepare the Cream Cheese Topping:
- In a separate bowl, beat together 8 oz of softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.

6. Assemble the Bread:
- Pour the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly.
- Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the batter, then use a knife to gently swirl it into the batter for a marbled effect.
- Sprinkle 1/2 cup of toasted nuts over the top for a delightful crunch.

7. Bake the Bread:
- Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Check at the 30-minute mark; if the top is browning too quickly, cover with aluminum foil.

8. Cool and Serve:
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Preparation & Cooking Times

- PT10M
10 minutes preparation
- PT1H10M
1 hour 10 minutes cooking

Total Time

- PT1H20M
1 hour 20 minutes

Type of Dish

- Dessert

Keywords

- Banana Bread
- Cream Cheese
- Toasted Nuts
- Baking Recipe
- Dessert Bread
- Sweet Bread
- Nutty Flavor
- Homemade Desserts
- Oven-Baked
- Easy Baking

Recipe Yield

- Feeds 4 adults

Calories

- 1800 calories for the entire dish

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