Glazed Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Banana Bread is delicious! The glaze and cream cheese swirl adds an amazing chocolaty sweetness to the banana bread!
Glazed Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Banana Bread is even better than Glazed Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread! Well I think so!
My husband Ken thinks the glaze is not needed and the bread is perfect just the way it is. I think the glaze adds an amazing chocolaty sweetness to the bread that makes it even better! The decision to add the glaze is totally up to you.
I am curious to hear opinions on which you all like better! To be honest I do not make this bread that often because I can't stop eating it! The cream cheese swirl is so delicious and I think makes the original recipe even better!
This Glazed Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Banana Bread tastes as good as it looks. With or without the glaze. You will make it over and over again!
My husband doesn't even swirl the cream cheese mixture around at all when he makes this Glazed Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Banana Bread! He leaves the cream cheese mixture in one thin, flat, straight layer. He is right, the bread is still delicious but I prefer a bit of the cream cheese mixture in every bite!
The easiest way to prepare this Glazed Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Banana Bread, and the way I love it, is to pour about two thirds of the chocolate batter across the bottom of your bread pan.
Next, spread the cream cheese mixture across the chocolate batter. Grab a knife and swirl it around, from one end to the other.
Use the flat end of the knife to move the cream cheese mixture around. Kind of lifting the chocolate batter from the bottom upwards while continuing to swirl around your knife. Finish it off with the remaining chocolate batter spread across the top of the loaf.I have also made this Glazed Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Banana Bread by layering it in the bread pan. About an inch or so of the chocolate batter on the bottom, then a layer of the cream cheese mixture, about half on top.
You can swirl your knife around at this point if you desire. Again, do your best not to hit the bottom of the pan.
Next, add another layer of chocolate batter followed by the remaining cream cheese mixture, followed by the last of the chocolate batter.
Then I grab my butter knife and I begin to swirl the knife around some more. Back and forth. Over and over, making sure to reach the bottom of the pan.
Well, as close as I can get without touching it! Do your best. This bread is delicious and it is worth the effort to swirl!
If you love chocolate banana bread as much as I do you have to check out our video below and our other banana bread recipes! Glazed Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread and Our Favorite Banana Bread. Both are definitely worth a look too! Also if you like pumpkin, try our incredible Pumpkin Banana Bread!
Glazed Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Banana Bread Video
Glazed Chocolate Chunk Cream Cheese Banana Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups mashed banana 2-3 overripe bananas mashed well
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- ⅓ cup salted butter softened
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Swirl
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
Glaze
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 1 ½ cups milk chocolate chips plus more for topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper or nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth. Add banana and mix again.
- In a separate large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and combine well. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, using a hand or stand mixer, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and egg.
- Pour half of your chocolate banana mixture into the prepared loaf pan, and then add the cream cheese into the middle of it. Be careful not to spread the cream cheese to the edges; keep it in the center.
- Pour the remaining chocolate banana mixture over the cream cheese, and then use a thin knife to gently swirl the cream cheese through the chocolate banana mix. Not too much, a swirl or two is enough.
- Bake uncovered for 1 hour. If you touch the center of the loaf and it is not firm, bake 10 minutes longer or until the center is firm.
- Once baked, remove from the oven. Let it cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes, and then remove it from the pan and cool on a cooling rack completely.
- While it's cooling, make the chocolate glaze. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in your microwave on high for 1 minute or until hot and bubbly. Quickly add the chocolate chips and stir until melted and smooth. (You could also do this in a pot on the stove.)
- Drizzle the chocolate glaze over the loaf and sprinkle with extra chocolate chips.
- Slice and serve!
Nutrition
This is one of the first recipes I posted and this was the photo that went along with this recipe. At least my photos are getting better! What I need for you to see is all of the delicious ribbons of the cream cheese mixture throughout each slice. I left this photo up so you can see what the bread could look like the more you swirl! My son, who made the video, did not swirl the knife around as much as he could have! This bread is delicious either way! To swirl or not to swirl, that is the question!
Boomer says
Just tried this recipe complete with glaze. Did a double batch. WOW this is good! Thanks
Karin and Ken says
You’re most welcome! I’m sorry glad you enjoyed this recipe! I love it. Thanks for commenting! I’m sorry glad grateful. Enjoy the rest of your day. Karin
Keiko says
Very delicious! Tried it yesterday and turned out really well. The cream cheese swirls are such a fun addition. Thank you.
Karin and Ken says
As always you are most welcome! I try my best. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much. All the best. Karin
Jesse says
I made your chocolate chunk banana recipe last week. It's my favorite now. Can't stop eating it. ❤️
Karin and Ken says
Thank you for taking the time to let me know. You made my day! All the best. Karin
Lynnea says
Trying this recipe out. Tired of regular banana bread. In instructions it called for vanilla in the bread part but did not see it listed in ingredients. So added 1 tsp. Can’t wait to try it.
Karin and Ken says
I can't thank you enough for pointing out the error in the recipe. I am so glad you included the vanilla. A little bit of vanilla definitely makes a difference. This is my favorite banana bread recipe. When I make it I add the cream cheese mixture, chocolate chunks or chips and the glaze. I just love it all and hope you feel the exact same way once you get to eat a slice. My fingers are crossed. Also I hope your swirl turns out better than the one in the photograph. My son made the video and his swirling wasn't as good as it is now! My swirl looks like the horrible photo near the bottom of the post. Either way this bread is delicious and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. If you have a moment I would love to hear what you think! Regardless, take care and all the best to you. Karin
Judy Kahansky says
Oh wow we are definitely trying this recipe! Big banana bread fans and chocoholics, it's a match made in heaven. 🙂 Pinning for later too. Thanks so much!
Karin and Ken says
You are welcome! I love this recipe so much I never make it when I am alone because I’m too tempted and have way too many small pieces and before you know it I ate one big piece! (If you know what I mean.) I swirl the cream cheese much better than my son but either way it always turns out beautifully. In my opinion the glaze makes it even better! Please let me know what you think when you try it. I can’t wait to hear! One banana bread-chocoholic to another! ? If you prefer it without the cream cheese I have the recipe posted here https://kitchendivas.com/glazed-chocolate-chunk-banana-bread/ I love them both. Enjoy and take care. Talk soon. Karin
Bonnie Merrill says
Is there really 1 cup of eggs needed for the banana/chocolate bread?
Karin and Ken says
Oh my goodness! Just 1 egg! Not 1 cup. Thank you so much for telling us. I really can't thank you enough! This recipe is delicious! I really hope you try it. Take care and thank you again. Be well. Karin