Cream Cheese Banana Bread ~ Simple Sweet Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is banana bread so comforting? ›

Psychologist Liam Casey says it's all part of our attempts to self-soothe. “Food is a reward — we often use words like 'treat' to describe foods like banana bread. In a time when we feel uncertain, giving ourselves a literal treat can be a way of feeling soothed and cared for.

Bananas can go from yellow with brown spots to totally black and still be okay to eat and use for baking. In fact, black bananas are some of the best for making banana bread because they have developed more sugar as they sit around and therefore taste sweeter. They may also be moister, which is perfect for baked goods.

Cream cheese is extremely versatile. Its creamy texture makes it a popular ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes. While mainly used as a spread on bagels, crackers, and toast, it's also added to fillings for sandwiches or baked potatoes, as well as creamy sauces ( 1 , 3 ).

Cream cheese should not be left out longer than two hours at room temp (or higher than 40 degrees F) because it then becomes a playground for nasty bacteria like salmonella. No one wants a trip to the emergency room over the carrot cake. If it's been out for longer than two hours, toss it—better safe than sorry.

Thus, it's best to enjoy banana bread occasionally as part of a balanced, nutrient-dense diet. If you'd like to boost the nutrient density of your banana bread, try adding ingredients high in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, such as nut flours and flaxseed.

Once a loaf of banana bread is fully baked and taken out of the oven, it's crucial to allow it to fully cool. Banana bread retains heat, especially in the center of the loaf. If the loaf is still warm once it's wrapped for storage, condensation can form, which can lead to mold.

As it sits at room temperature, starches convert to sugars, making the fruit sweeter and softer. These brown spots, often seen as a sign of spoilage, are actually a dead giveaway of peak banana bread potential.

If they smell off, that's another good indicator that they are no longer okay to use. Rotten bananas will often have a fermented or alcohol-like smell. While it's okay if the banana peel is dark brown or even black, if the inside is too, then the fruit is beyond ripe and now on its way to rotten.

For the taste of sweet, tropical bananas to come through in the final bread, he needed to concentrate their flavor, which is what happens when bananas naturally ripen over time and turn soft and brown.

Combining bananas with citrus fruits like lime, oranges or grapefruits, may lead to indigestion or discomfort for some individuals.

What not to drink with cheese? ›

Tannic Red Wines are similar to citrus in their ability to turn cheeses bitter.

Cream cheese goes with pretty much anything, whether its spicy, sour, sweet, salty, or umami. ANYTHING. There is literally no taste sensation that goes badly with cream cheese.

Once opened, cream cheese should be eaten within two weeks and kept in the fridge, according to Healthline. Its storage, packaging and processing can also impact the dairy product's longevity. Cream cheese's pasteurization does kill microorganism, but its high water "still poses a risk of microbial contamination."

If unopened, cream cheese can easily be frozen in the original packaging; this works for both foil-wrapped bars and tubs. If it's already opened, seal it as well as possible in the original wrapper, then place it in a resealable freezer bag.