Cream Cheese Swirled Banana Zucchini Bread - The Recipe Critic (2024)

Overripe bananas and zucchini get used in this delicious and perfectly moist bread. The cream cheese swirl hidden inside is the best part! Enjoy a slice of cream cheese banana zucchini bread fresh out of the oven and thank me later.

If you love quick bread, you’ll have to try some of my other favorites: chocolate zucchini bread, blueberry banana bread, and strawberry quick bread!

Banana Zucchini Bread With Cream Cheese Filling

My little girlloves bananas. But the problem is I get a big bunch every week at the store, which means she can’t eat them fast enough. It’s not always a bad thing because I have over ripe bananas on hand. And since it’s zucchini season I always have that on hand as well. So, when I saw this recipe for banana zucchini bread I knew just the thing to make!

But I decided to add just one thing. Cream cheese. This took the bread to a whole different delicious and amazing level! The bread is moist and baked to perfection and then you have the cream cheese swirled in the center of the bread. It tastes like cheesecake! I didn’t think that banana bread or zucchini bread could get any better, but this is the ultimate combination. It’s one of the best quick bread recipes that I have had to date! I know you’ll love it just as much.

Ingredients Needed

Get ready to enjoy a fantastic treat with this cream cheese banana zucchini bread! It’s a tasty mix of ripe bananas, fresh zucchini, and a creamy, sweet cream cheese swirl. Each ingredient has a job to make this bread super delicious. (Measurements are in the recipe card below.)

• All-Purpose Flour: Used as the base dry ingredient for the bread. Also used to thicken and stabilize the cream cheese swirl mixture!
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to the bread and the cream cheese swirl.
• Ground Cinnamon: For some warm spice!
• Baking Powder and Soda: The dynamic duo that helps the cream cheese banana zucchini bread rise.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the bread. A little goes a long way!
• Large Eggs: Add structure and moisture to the bread. They also help to give the cream cheese swirl structure.
• Mashed Ripe Bananas: The perfect way to use up overripe bananas!
• Canola Oil: So your bread turns out extra tender.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a pleasant vanilla aroma and flavor. I recommend using pure vanilla extract.
• Shredded Zucchini: Adds moisture and a subtle earthy flavor.
• Cream Cheese: Forms the creamy swirl inside the bread.

How to Make Cream Cheese Banana Zucchini Bread

Not only is this bread easy to make, but it’s a great way to use up overripe bananas and excess summer zucchini! Mix everything up, and then let the oven work its magic!

1. Preheat Oven, Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×5 inch loaf pan with pan spray and, if desired, line with parchment paper leaving 2 inches hanging over both sides. Then set aside.
2. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients Separately: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate large mixing bowl beat the egg, bananas, oil, and vanilla extract.
3. Combine: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just moistened. Fold in zucchini. Pour half of the mixture into the prepared baking pan.
4. Cream Cheese Mixture: Prepare the cream cheese swirl by beating together the cream cheese, sugar, egg, and flour until smooth. Spoon evenly over the batter in the pan and carefully smooth it with an offset spatula or a rubber scraper. Top with remaining batter.
5. Bake: Bake for 60-70 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center. The baking time may be longer, depending on your oven. If the top starts to brown too fast, cover it with a foil tent. Allow bread to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.