This banana bread with cream cheese frosting is soft, moist, and full of fresh banana flavor. It's the best way to use any extra brown bananas on the counter! Thick and fluffy cream cheese frosting adds extra sweetness and a little tang, making this the best banana bread ever.
Banana bread with cream cheese frosting is the ultimate comfort treat. It's so moist and will practically melt in your mouth! The taste is incredible, but the best part is how easy it is to make. The banana bread bakes to perfection every time and only requires 1 bowl!
The small batch cream cheese frosting really brings this recipe to the next level! Slather it on and watch your quick bread transform into a dessert fit for any celebration. I used it on these brownies with cream cheese frosting too.
For more banana bread recipes, try honey banana bread, salted caramel banana bread, or banana bars with cream cheese frosting.
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Ingredient Notes
- Bananas- Making banana bread is the best way to use the brown, mushy bananas on your counter! Overripe bananas are easy to mash and are sweeter, so they're perfect for baking. Fragrant bananas with lots of brown spots and speckles are great.
- Oil- Making banana bread with oil has many benefits. It makes the bread super moist and it stays that way for days. Use a flavorless neutral oil like vegetable oil or canola oil.
- Eggs- Two large eggs bind the ingredients together. Make sure they're room temperature so they're easy to mix.
- Apple cider vinegar- Apple cider vinegar tenderizes the gluten, creating soft, moist, fluffy banana bread. White vinegar works too.
- All purpose flour- Use a kitchen scale to weigh the flour in grams for the most accurate results.
- Baking powder and baking soda- These leaveners react with heat and acid, helping the banana bread rise in the oven. Check the expiration dates before using.
- Cream cheese- Use full fat cream cheese to give the frosting the best creamy, rich texture. The cream cheese should come in a block. Make sure it and the butter are softened so they're easy to cream together.
Variations to Try
- Try adding chopped almonds, pecans, or walnuts to the banana bread batter for extra crunch. Dried fruit like raisins, craisins, or apricots would be delicious too.
- Add some chocolate chips to the batter for more sweetness.
- Leave the banana bread unfrosted if you like or use a different frosting. Coffee cream cheese frosting, brown butter cream cheese frosting, chai buttercream, or whipped chocolate ganache would be delicious!
Helpful Equipment and Tools
Bake the banana bread in a 1 pound 9x5" loaf pan lined with parchment paper or sprayed with non-stick baking spray. You can also split the batter between mini loaf pans.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: First, mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl with a fork or potato masher.
Step 2: Next, whisk the oil, eggs, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar into the bananas until well combined.
Step 3: Fold the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon into the wet ingredients. Do this gently with a rubber spatula until no dry streaks of flour remain.
Step 4: Pour the banana bread batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Because the batter is so wet and thick, it takes a long time to bake. Just be patient if it's still raw in the middle and keep baking.
Let the baked banana bread cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Make sure it cools completely before frosting or the frosting will melt off!
Step 5: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or with a handheld mixer, cream softened cream cheese and butter together on medium speed until creamy and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to get any lumps.
Step 6: Gradually mix in the powdered sugar on low one cup at a time. Then, mix in the vanilla and salt on low. Increase the speed to medium and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Step 7: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly across the banana bread. Leave as is or garnish with crushed nuts or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Slice and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
I don't recommend using frozen bananas. Ice crystals form when bananas are frozen. Because of this, thawed frozen bananas contain more water. The extra water can hurt the texture of banana bread.
This is totally normal for quick breads and pound cakes! Banana bread expands and rises as it bakes. Sometimes the top of the loaf sets before the bread is done baking. The bread continues to rise and pushes through the set top, causing a crack.
Because of the cream cheese frosting, the bread needs to be refrigerated. It'll be ok sitting out at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
More Banana Bread Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe
Moist Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting
Equipment
- 1 Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
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Ingredients
Banana Bread
- 2 cups mashed bananas 4-5 whole bananas
- ½ cup oil
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Banana Bread
- Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C and line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Mash the bananas in a large mixing bowl, making them as smooth or chunky as you want.2 cups mashed bananas
- Add oil, eggs, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar to mashed bananas. Whisk until well combined.½ cup oil, 2 large eggs, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Fold the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon into the wet ingredients with a rubber spatula until no dry pockets of flour remain.2 cups all purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Smooth out the top and bake for 60-70 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Remove from the oven and let the banana bread cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together in a large bowl with a handheld mixer on medium high speed until smooth and creamy.4 oz cream cheese, ¼ cup unsalted butter
- Gradually add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Beat on low until well combined.2 cups powdered sugar
- Mix in the vanilla and salt on low. Then increase to medium speed and mix until fluffy.½ teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Scoop the frosting on top of the banana bread and spread it across evenly. Slice and enjoy!
Beverly
Making your banana bread today. Be back to let you know.