Cream Cheese Filled Banana Bread

This indulgent banana bread features a soft and moist banana flavored loaf with a luscious layer of cream cheese baked right in almost like cheesecake hidden inside. Perfect for breakfast, afternoon snacks, or dessert, it's delightfully flavorful without needing a fancy mixer.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the banana bread:

• 1 large egg

• ⅓ cup melted coconut oil (you may substitute vegetable or canola oil)

• ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt (for added moisture)

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (about 2–3 bananas)

• 1 ½ cups all purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon salt

For the cream cheese filling:

• 8 oz (about 225 g) cream cheese, softened (brick-style, not whipped)

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg

• 1–2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (to help it set)

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Grease a 9×5-inch (or similar) loaf pan.

2. Mix the banana batter: In a bowl, whisk together the egg, brown sugar, granulated sugar, melted coconut oil, sour cream, and vanilla. Stir in the mashed bananas. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until just combined avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender. 

3. Layer the batter: Pour about two-thirds of the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.

4. Make the cream cheese filling: In another bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sugar, egg, and flour until smooth. 

5. Add filling: Carefully spoon or pour the cream cheese mixture over the batter layer. Smooth gently.

6. Top with remaining batter: Spread the remaining banana batter over the cream cheese layer, smoothing the top.

7. Bake for about 50–60 minutes, until the top is golden, domed, and a toothpick inserted into the banana bread part (not through the cream cheese layer) comes out clean. You may tent with foil after ~30 minutes if it's browning too quickly.

8. Cool completely in the pan before slicing. Cooling is crucial to allow the cream cheese layer to firm up and prevent it from oozing.

Nutritional Estimate (per slice, assuming 12 slices)

• Calories: ~250–300 kcal

• Total fat: ~12–15 g (from coconut oil and cream cheese)

• Carbohydrates: ~30–35 g (from sugar, banana, flour)

• Protein: ~4–5 g (from egg, cream cheese)

• Additional notes: Rich in moistening dairy and banana yet balanced by the creamy layer. Not a calorie-light recipe, but rich and satisfying.