This soft and fluffy cream cheese banana bread recipe with that yummy sweet cinnamon topping is the banana bread you didn’t know you needed!

I fully believe there is room in this world for a multitude of banana bread recipes. However, if you are looking for a new variation to try, this amazing cream cheese banana bread cannot be beat. It is so good!

Slice of cream cheese banana bread on cutting board.

Cream Cheese Banana Bread Batter

I think a lot of people see this recipe and think that cream cheese is swirled into the batter. Nope! It’s mixed right in. You can’t taste the cream cheese at all, but it contributes to a delightfully soft and creamy crumb texture. It’s amazing!

Along with the cream cheese, we have the usual banana bread ingredient suspects:

  • sugar
  • butter
  • mashed bananans
  • eggs
  • vanilla
  • flour
  • baking powder + baking soda + salt
  • cinnamon + a touch of nutmeg

Once mixed, the batter will be lusciously thick and not runny.

Sweet Cinnamon Topping

The other unique part of this cream cheese banana bread recipe is the sweet cinnamon topping.

It’s less of a heavy streusel and more of a light sprinkly mixture of cinnamon-sugar, and it adds the most delicious, sweet crunch to the top of the soft and fluffy banana bread.

This cream cheese banana bread is a bit sturdier than other light and cakey banana bread recipes. It reminds me of coffee cake or (a slightly fluffier) pound cake.

The crumb is so creamy and soft, and because it is different than traditional banana bread, it is always met with exclamations of delight and request for the recipe.

Top down view of seven slices of cream cheese banana bread with cinnamon streusel.

Rave Reviews

So many of you have fallen in love with this banana bread recipe. With over 300 five-star reviews, it is a must-make! I hope you love it, too!

Here are a few of your comments:

Joan A. says: Best Banana Bread ever even without the topping. I added a hint of cardamom.

Robin has this rave review: I’ve tried so many banana bread recipes in my 50 years of baking. This one is by far the best. It will be the only one I’ll use from now on. It is so moist it melts in your mouth. The cinnamon crunch on top is just enough without taking any flavor away from the banana. Everyone loves it. Should you have extra it freezes exceptionally well. 

Tara left this comment: Absolutely delicious! I have made these like the recipe, into loaves, and I also have made them a few times into muffins! They always get rave reviews. Super moist and full of flavor. You can never go wrong with a crumb topping! I bake my muffins around 16-18 minutes they come out perfect every time! Thanks for another delicious recipe! 

Three half slices of cream cheese banana bread stacked on wood cutting board.

FAQs for Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Can the topping be left off?

Yes, the bread can be baked without the topping. Baking time and temperature remain the same.

Does this bread freeze well?

Yes, you can freeze the baked and cooled bread. I freeze it in gallon-size freezer ziploc bags. I suggest slicing after the bread has been thawed.

How can I make these into muffins?

I would suggest using the same temperature, but check the muffins at about 15-16 minutes.

Do the loaves need to be refrigerated?

No, they can be stored, covered, at room temperature, for 1 to 2 days. Any longer, and I would suggest freezing the bread.

Two slices of cream cheese banana bread stacked on wood cutting board.

Cream Cheese Banana Bread with Sweet Cinnamon Topping

4.63 stars (324 ratings)

Ingredients

Bread:

  • ¾ cup (170 g) salted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 8 ounces (227 g) cream cheese, light or regular, softened to room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups (318 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (about 226 g) mashed ripe bananas, about 3 large bananas
  • 3 cups (426 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • teaspoon ground nutmeg

Topping:

  • 1 tablespoon salted butter
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8 1/2- by 4 1/2-inch loaf pans with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter, cream cheese and sugar until very light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and bananas.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined.
  • In a small bowl, mash together the topping ingredients until combined and crumbly.
  • Divide the batter evenly among the prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle with the topping.
  • Bake for 50-60 minutes until the bread is nicely domed and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Remove from the oven and let rest in the pans for 5-10 minutes before turning out on a cooling rack to cool completely.
Serving: 1 slice, Calories: 214kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 41mg, Sodium: 180mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 16g

Recipe Source: adapted from my friend Heather (I cut down the sugar and increased the bananas among a few other minor changes)

Recipe originally posted March 2014; updated January 2023 with new photos and recipe details.

Three slices of streusel-topped banana bread stacked on top of each other on a white platter.