Can I use frozen bananas?

Yes! Just thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before mashing.

Can I make this recipe without cream cheese?

Absolutely — just skip the filling and bake as regular banana bread!

Insert a toothpick into the center; it should come out mostly clean (some cream cheese on it is okay).

Yes! Stir ½ cup of chocolate chips into the banana batter for a delicious twist.

You can grease and flour the loaf pan well — but parchment makes removal easier.

Definitely! Just use two loaf pans or bake in batches.

That’s normal sometimes! It depends on how thick your batter is. It’ll still taste amazing!

Scale

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mash bananas. Add melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.
Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Gently fold until just combined.
In another bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
Pour half of the banana bread batter into the loaf pan. Spread cream cheese filling evenly on top.
Pour remaining batter over the cream cheese layer.
Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.
Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Use super ripe bananas for extra sweetness. Gently fold the batter to keep the loaf soft. Add chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans for extra flavor!

Keywords: cream cheese banana bread, banana bread, easy banana bread, breakfast bread