Orange You Glad I Didn’t Say Banana Bread With Cream Cheese Filling

Ingredients:


Cream cheese filling:

  • 4 ounces of cream cheese, room temperature

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 2 tablespoon orange juice

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour


For the bread:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

  • 1/3 cup melted butter, then let cool for 5 minutes

  • 1/3 cup sour cream

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 1/4 cup mashed bananas (about 3 medium bananas)

  • 1 tablespoon orange zest


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 5 inch bread pan. Or check out my blog on seamless bread pan parchment paper hack.

2. For the cream cheese filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer using a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and 1/4 cup granulated sugar until creamy. Add the 1 egg and beat for 1 minute. Add vanilla and orange juice, mix until combined. Add flour and mix until combined. Set mixture aside for later. Mixture will be very wet, but don’t worry it will set up during baking.

3. For the bread: in a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

4. In a separate large bowl, whisk and beat the 2 eggs, then add and whisk 1/2 cup granulated sugar, butter, sour cream, vanilla, mashed bananas and orange zest until combined.

5. Add the flour mixture to the wet banana mixture until just combined.

6. Spread half of the bread mixture into the prepared bread pan. Using a flat rubber spatula, spread mixture to cover the bottom of the pan and also making sure that it is level. Add the cream cheese mixture evenly over the top. Using a tablespoon, drop the rest of the bread mixture over the top, trying to cover as much of the top as you can.

7. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove pan to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Cover the bread pan with a plate and flip the bread out (bread will be upside down). Remove the parchment paper from the bread. Cover the bread with a second plate and flip the bread right side up.