- 2
Ingredients
- 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 c. mashed bananas (1 1/4 lb. unpeeled bananas, about 4 medium)
- 1 c. chopped pecans, toasted
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Preparation
Step 1
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 8 4-inch loaf pans.
Bake @ 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 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing.
VARIATIONS -
CREAM CHEESE-BANANA-NUT MUFFINS: To bake muffins, spoon batter evenly into 24 paper-lined muffin cups. Bake @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. Makes 24 muffins. Prep: 15 minutes, Bake: 25 minutes.
ORANGE-PECAN-TOPPED CREAM CHEESE-BANANA-NUT BREAD: Prepare bread batter as directed, and spoon into desired pans. Sprinkle 1 c. coarsely chopped, toasted pecans evenly over batter in pans. Bake as directed. Cool bread or muffins in pans 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Stir together 1 c. powdered sugar, 3 Tbsp. fresh orange juice, and 1 tsp. grated orange rind until blended. Drizzle evenly over warm bread or muffins, and cool 30 minutes on wire racks.
TOASTED COCONUT-TOPPED CREAM CHEESE-BANANA-NUT BREAD: Prepare and bake bread or muffins in desired pans. While bread is baking, stir together 1/4 c. butter, 1/4 c. granulated sugar, 1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar, and 1/4 c. milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 c. sweetened flaked coconut; 1 c. chopped, toasted pecans; and 2 tsp. vanilla extract. Remove baked bread or muffins from oven, and immediately spread tops with coconut mixture. Broil 5 1/2" from heat 2-3 minutes or just until topping starts to lightly brown. Cool in pans on wire racks 20 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing.
CINNAMON CRISP-TOPPED CREAM CHEESE-BANANA-NUT BREAD: Prepare bread batter as directed, and spoon into desired pans. Stir together 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar; 1/2 c. chopped, toasted pecans; 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour; 1 Tbsp. melted butter; and 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture evenly over batter. Bake and cool as directed.
PEANUT BUTTER STREUSEL-TOPPED CREAM CHEESE-BANANA-NUT BREAD: Prepare bread batter as directed, and spoon into desired pans. Combine 1/2 c. plus 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour and 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar in a small bowl. Cut in 1/4 c. butter and 3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles small peas. Sprinkle mixture evenly over batter in pans. Bake and cool as directed.