Banana Bread with Cream Cheese and Chocolate Chips

Recipe updated: April 2nd, 2024

This amazing banana bread recipe with cream cheese and chocolate chips is a delight to eat, whether it has butter spread on top of it or not. It tastes so good in the morning, for an afternoon snack, or even as an after-dinner dessert.

The riper the bananas, the sweeter the banana bread. Ripe bananas are soft and also streaked with black color or black or brown spots. So don’t throw out your overripe bananas, try this easy banana bread recipe, or our double chocolate banana bread with cocoa powder instead. Also, if you want an extra treat added to your banana bread, try drizzling some powdered sugar icing on top, or spread some cream cheese frosting on the top of the banana bread.

For this recipe, one loaf of banana bread will have white chocolate chips and dark chocolate chips in it, and the other loaf won’t. If you want white chocolate chips and dark chocolate chips in both loaf pans, you will need to double the amount in the ingredients list.

We did this to give us two different loaves of banana bread. However, this banana bread recipe tastes great without the chocolate chips too, so you don’t have to add any chocolate chips at all if you prefer not to.

🍴 Key Ingredients

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 4 large bananas
• 2 cups of granulated sugar – aka white sugar
• 8 ounces of cream cheese
• 3/4 cup butter (1 and 1/2 sticks)
• 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips (optional)
• 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips (optional)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of table salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

👩‍🍳 How to Make Banana Bread with Cream Cheese and Chocolate Chips

These step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed photos for enhanced clarity and guidance.

Step 1. Preheat the Oven

Turn the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2. Prepare the Butter

Cut up one and a half sticks (or 3/4 of a measuring cup) of butter and place it in a small bowl that is safe for the microwave.

Step 3. Microwave the Butter

Then, soften the butter by melting it in the microwave for 20 seconds. If you prefer, you can set the butter on the countertop at room temperature for about 15 minutes to soften.

Step 4. Prepare the Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, or a bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, add the melted butter together with 8 ounces of the cream cheese, and 2 cups of the granulated sugar.

Step 5. Mix Until Fluffy

Using an electric mixer, mix cream cheese, melted butter, and sugar until fluffy. Start on low speed, gradually work up to medium speed, then high speed.

Tip: If you start with high speed when using the electric mixer, the ingredients can fly out of the bowl.

Step 6. Add an Egg to the Cream Cheese Mixture

Add one of the eggs together with the cream cheese, melted butter, and sugar mixture.

Step 7. Mix the Cream Cheese Mixture Again

Next, using the electric hand mixer again, whip the egg together with the cream cheese, melted butter, and sugar mixture.

Step 8. Add the Second Egg

Then, add the second egg to the cream cheese, melted butter, and sugar mixture.

Step 9. Mix Thoroughly

And again, using the electric hand mixer, whip the second egg together with the melted butter, cream cheese, and sugar mixture.

Step 10. Add the Bananas

Mash the 4 ripe bananas using a fork and then add the bananas together with the melted butter, cream cheese, and sugar mixture.

Step 11. Add the Vanilla Extract

Next, add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract together with the cream cheese, melted butter, sugar, and banana mixture.

Step 12. Combine the Bananas and Vanilla Extract

Using a spoon or spatula, mix the vanilla extract together with the mashed bananas and cream cheese mixture. There should be small pieces of bananas visible in the mixture. Set the mixture aside for now.

Step 13. Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a mixing bowl, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt together with 3 cups of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Stir the dry mixture until the salt, flour, baking powder, and baking soda are thoroughly blended.

Step 14. Combine the Dry Ingredients and Wet Ingredients

Slowly add the flour mixture together with the banana and cream cheese mixture. It is easier to use a spoon or spatula when mixing the flour mixture with the cream cheese and banana mixture. We used a wooden spoon, but you can use whatever you have handy.

Step 15. Add the Remaining Dry Ingredients

Continue to add the rest of the flour mixture together with the cream cheese and banana mixture.

Step 16. Stir until Completely Blended

Blend the flour mixture and the banana and cream cheese mixture until thoroughly mixed into the banana bread batter.

Step 17. Prepare the Loaf Pans

Generously spray two loaf pans with non-stick cooking spray.

Tip: If you prefer, you can line each loaf pan with parchment paper instead of spraying with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 18. Fill the Loaf Pans with Banana Bread Batter

After spraying the loaf pans, separate the banana bread batter mixture evenly into each prepared loaf pan.

Step 19. Sprinkle with Chocolate Chips (Optional)

This step is optional, so you can skip it if you prefer. Add 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips to one loaf pan.

Step 20. Stir in the Chocolate Chips

Mix the dark chocolate chips and the white chocolate chips together with the banana bread batter in the loaf pan.

Step 21. Bake the Banana Bread

Use heat-resistant oven mitts to place both loaf pans in the preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake them for one hour. A toothpick inserted into the center of the banana bread should come out clean when done.

Step 22. Cool the Banana Bread on Wire Racks

After baking, remove the banana bread from the oven using the heat-resistant oven mitts and allow the bread to completely cool on wire racks for about a half an hour or so.

⭐️ Recipe Variations for Banana Bread with Cream Cheese and Chocolate Chips

There are many different ways to make this classic banana bread recipe. Listed below are a coupe of suggestions you might like to try:

• Make banana nut bread by adding about one cup of your favorite nuts, such as chopped walnuts or chopped pecans.
• Add one cup of raisins to the banana cream cheese batter before baking.
• You can make this banana bread without the chocolate chips that we used in this recipe.

🙋 FAQs

✏️ Final Thoughts

This cream cheese banana bread recipe with chocolate chips tastes great chilled in the refrigerator or heated in a toaster oven. Whether you eat it hot or cold, it will melt in your mouth because the cream cheese added to the recipe makes it extra moist and delicious.

Not only is this a perfect loaf of banana bread after it is baked, but it is also undeniably amazing. It has crispy edges on the outside that complement the creamy texture and the soft and fluffiness of the inside. This yummy cream cheese banana bread is, by far, our favorite banana bread recipe, whether it is made with or without dark and white chocolate chips.

📑 Recipe Card

💟 More Recipes You Will Love

• Try this amazing peach bread recipe for a wonderful change in bread desserts.
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• Do you love peach pie? Here is a recipe that is super simple to make and so good.