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Moist Pumpkin Banana Bread: Best Cream Cheese Swirl Recipe

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A tender, moist pumpkin banana bread featuring a tangy cream cheese swirl. This one-bowl recipe uses ripe bananas for natural sweetness and moisture, resulting in a comforting fall treat that is easy to make and crowd-pleasing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree (100% pure, not pie mix)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 oz full-fat cream cheese, block style, softened
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp milk or cream (optional, for swirling consistency)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan with butter or non-stick spray; lining with parchment paper is optional but helpful.
  2. In a large bowl, mash ripe bananas until mostly smooth with some small chunks remaining.
  3. Add softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to the bananas. Beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy (or whisk vigorously by hand for 5 minutes).
  4. Beat in eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated. Stir in vanilla extract and pumpkin puree until the mixture is smooth and orange.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
  6. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed or fold with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix.
  7. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add milk if needed to loosen for swirling.
  8. Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Dollop half of the cream cheese mixture on top. Add remaining batter, then dollop remaining cream cheese.
  9. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese into the batter to create ribbons. Avoid over-mixing.
  10. Bake for 55-65 minutes. Check at 55 minutes; tent with foil if browning too quickly. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out with moist crumbs.
  11. Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely or serve warm.

Notes

Ensure butter is softened but not melted. Use ripe bananas with black spots for maximum sweetness and moisture. Do not overmix the batter to avoid a dense texture. Use full-fat block cream cheese for the best swirl consistency. Fresh pumpkin can be used if roasted, mashed, and drained of excess liquid.

Nutrition

Keywords: pumpkin banana bread, cream cheese swirl, moist pumpkin bread, fall baking, easy bread recipe, cream cheese bread, pumpkin spice

Find it online: https://bakebeam.com/moist-pumpkin-banana-bread-best-cream-cheese-swirl-recipe/