It’s been a long time since I made banana bread. I got into the habit of only buying enough bananas to get us through the week and what’s the fun in that? The best thing about bananas is knowing that there’s going to come a time when the bananas are so brown that you absolutely have to bake something.
I haven’t really been on that quest to be the perfect banana bread. I mean, sure, I enjoy trying new recipes and get excited when I find a good one but odds are I’ll never go back and make the same recipe again (unless we’re talking Dorie’s banana cake, different story completely). Anyway, even though I wasn’t on that quest, I did find it. The best banana bread ever.
The only way to describe the texture of this bread is silky. It bakes up completely different from any other quick bread I’ve made and I guess I can thank the cream cheese for that. The flavor is perfect, not too much banana or too little, and the nuts add the perfect contrast to the silky smooth bread. This is one banana bread recipe that I actually can see myself making over and over again.
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup mashed bananas about 2 medium
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg beating just until blended. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in banana, walnuts, and vanilla. Spoon batter into a greased and floured 8- x 4-inch loafpans.
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Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and sides pull away from pan, shielding with aluminum foil last 15 minutes to prevent browning, if necessary. Cool bread in pan on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pan, and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing.
Darn! I just used all of our ripe bananas yesterday to make banana bread. Guess I’ll have to wait until next time to try this. It sounds great!
.-= Shelley´s last blog ..Barbasol Not Just for Grandpas Beard =-.
Mmmm….that looks wonderful. I never thought of adding in cream cheese. I’ll have to give it a whirl. ;)
.-= briarrose´s last blog ..Hummus Vegetable Pizza =-.
Ohhhhh!!!! Cream cheese in a banana bread! Wow! It sounds so delicious! I love it (wich means: “I’m gonna try it when my bananas are going to be over ripe”)
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Pancakes au yogourt- coulis de fraises =-.
I have my all-time favorite version of banana bread, but I get bored and love to try new variations. I once made another quick bread with cream cheese in it and remember that I loved the flavor and texture. I can’t wait to try this!
.-= Natalie (The Sweets Life)´s last blog ..Oreo Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Truffles =-.
This sounds so great! I will definitely try this one next time I have extra bananas. I made your Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Blondies. They are awesome!
.-= Michelle Sturges´s last blog ..Four Cheese Baked Ziti =-.
Woo! Can’t wait to try this! Like you, I always make a different recipe each time I bake banana bread. This one’s next – and hopefully the one that’ll “stick”. :) Thanks, Amanda!
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..The Winner! =-.
This is in the oven right now. It smells heavenly. <3 it!
I just made this and had a slice… OMG you’re not kidding about it being the best banana bread ever! I’ve tried so many recipes and hands down this one is the yummiest. Moist, not too sweet, SILKY absolutely delightful! THANK YOU!!!
I made this the other day when I was on the search for a great go to zuchinni bread recipe! All I did was substitute shredded zuchinni for the banana and left everything else the same! It was soooo good my husband is requesting it everyday LOL He went through two loafs in two days ;) Guess Ill break down today and use more of the zuchinni I have for him =)
I made this today! Fantastic!
.-= Michelle Sturges´s last blog ..Cookie Carnival- Coconut Cherry Bars =-.
i made this using 1 cup of shredded zucchini instead of the bananas, and added 1.5tsp cinnamon and 1/4 tsp nutmeg. turned out great! will be keeping this recipe for sure.
This has been my go to recipe for about 8 years! Thanks!