Creamy Banana Bread

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Servings: 16
Yield: 16 servings

Description

A ribbon of pecan streusel runs through this rich cream cheese-banana bread.

Ingredients

1/2 cup margarine, softened
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8x4-inch loaf pans.
2 Cream the margarine and cream cheese together. Gradually add the white sugar, and continue beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the mashed bananas and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder, and baking soda; mix until batter is just moist.
3 In a small bowl, mix together chopped pecans, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and cinnamon.
4 Divide half the batter between the two prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle pecan mixture over the batter in the pans, and top with remaining batter.
5 Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of each loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes.