Cream Cheese Banana Bread

Yum!  I'm not sure if anything tops warm banana bread with butter on top.  When I saw this recipe, I couldn't resist trying cream cheese in a banana bread recipe.  The jury is still out on whether it's better than my family's traditional banana bread (which I just realized is not on my blog!), since the cream cheese definitely makes it denser.  I wish I would've had the pecans on hand because that would've added a great flavor to it.  Next time.  Makes 2 loaves. I hope you enjoy!  

• 3/4 c. butter, softened
• 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 2 c. sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 medium bananas)
• 1 cup roughly chopped pecans, toasted
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in bananas, pecans, and vanilla. Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 8x4 inch loaf pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and sides pull away from pan, shielding with aluminum foil last 15 minutes to prevent browning, if necessary. Cool bread in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing.



Courtesy of: http://sugarandspice-celeste.blogspot.com/2010/10/cream-cheese-banana-nut-bread-southern.html (Found on Pinterest)