This strawberry banana bread has quickly become one of my go-to recipes, not just because it’s easy to whip up, but because it has this perfect balance of sweetness and tang. There’s just something about the combination of strawberries and bananas that always feels like a little treat. You’ll love how the fresh strawberries add bursts of flavor throughout! We can never have just one slice - the whole loaf is gone in a day!
Why You’ll Love My Strawberry Banana Bread
The cream cheese layer in the middle—let’s just say it takes this bread to a whole new level. Whether I’m making it for a weekend brunch or just to have something to snack on during the week, it never disappoints.
Quick prep: Just 15 minutes of mixing, and the oven does the rest—great for when you need something fast.
Fresh and fruity: The combination of strawberries and bananas adds bursts of natural sweetness and tang throughout each slice.
Creamy surprise: A layer of cream cheese in the middle makes every bite feel indulgent without being too rich.
Versatile snack: Enjoy it as breakfast, dessert, or a snack anytime—it’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients & Substitutions
To make this delicious strawberry banana bread, you’ll need bananas, strawberries, sugar, eggs, oil, banana extract, sour cream, cream cheese, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
To make the strawberry icing, you’ll need powdered sugar, butter, strawberry extract, and a few drops of red food coloring.
- Bananas: Use extra ripe bananas for the best flavor and texture. If you don’t have banana extract, you can substitute vanilla extract.
- Sour cream: You can swap it with plain Greek yogurt for a tangy twist.
- Strawberries: Fresh strawberries work best, but if you’re in a pinch, frozen ones (thawed and drained) will do.
- Cream cheese: Make sure it’s softened to avoid lumps in your filling.
How to make the strawberry banana bread
Preheat oven to 350°.
Spray the bottom of a 9×5-inch loaf pan with a non-stick cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper the width of the pan and large enough to extend over the short ends of the pan by 4 inches on each end.
In a large bowl, mix egg, sugar, oil, sour cream, and banana extract. Add mashed banana and combine completely. Set aside.
In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine the wet and dry ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, using your electric mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar until creamy.
Add two tbsp. of the flour and mix until smooth.
Add the remaining one tbsp. of flour to the strawberries and fold the strawberries into the cream cheese mixture.
Pour half of the bread batter into the prepared pan. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the batter. Top with the remaining bread batter. Even out gently.
Bake for approx. 50 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the pan to a cooling rack and allow it to cool completely.
Mix powdered sugar, butter, strawberry extract, and 1-2 drops of red food coloring (as desired) until smooth.
Pipe with a #5 decorating tip across the bread or drizzle with a fork.
Expert Tips
- Keep your bananas super ripe: The browner the better! Ripe bananas will give your bread more natural sweetness and moisture. If your bananas aren’t quite there yet, you can speed up the process by placing them in a paper bag with an apple.
- Don’t overmix the batter: Once you combine the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can make the bread dense and less tender.
- Coat the strawberries: Before folding the strawberries into the cream cheese mixture, toss them in a bit of flour. This helps them stay suspended in the batter rather than sinking to the bottom.
- Use parchment paper for easy removal: This step is a game-changer! By using parchment paper, you can lift the entire loaf out of the pan in one go, which helps preserve the shape and avoids sticking.
Serving Suggestions
This strawberry banana bread is fantastic on its own, but here are some delicious ways to enhance your experience:
- With a drizzle of strawberry icing: Add a sweet and tangy touch that perfectly complements the bread.
- Spread with cream cheese or butter: A little extra creaminess elevates each slice and makes it even more satisfying.
- Serve with a side of fresh fruit: Pairing it with strawberries or bananas adds freshness and balances the flavors.
- Enjoy with coffee or tea: This bread makes a delightful companion to your favorite morning beverage or an afternoon pick-me-up.
Strawberry Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs large room temp.
- ¼ cup oil
- 1 teaspoon banana extract
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 bananas medium, extra ripe mashed
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 ounce cream cheese softened
- 3 tablespoon flour divided into 2 tbsp. and 1 tbsp.
- 1 cup strawberries diced
Icing
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoon butter softened
- 1 teaspoon strawberry extract
- red food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Spray bottom of 9×5-inch loaf pan with a non-stick cooking spray. Cut a piece of parchment paper the width of the pan and large enough to extend over the short ends of the pan by 4-inches on each end. (this will help to lift the loaf out of the pan after it is baked.) Place the paper in the pan.
- In a large bowl, mix together egg, sugar, oil, sour cream and banana extract. Add mashed banana and combine completely. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Combine the wet and dry ingredients together.
- In a large mixing bowl, using your electric mixer, combine the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Add two tbsp. of the flour and mix until smooth.
- Add the remaining one tbsp. of flour to the strawberries and fold the strawberries into the cream cheese mixture.
- Pour half of the bread batter into the prepared pan. Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of the batter. Top with the remaining bread batter. Even out gently.
- Bake for approx. 50 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove pan to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
Icing
- Mix powdered sugar, butter, strawberry extract and 1-2 drops of red food coloring (as desired )until smooth. Pipe with a #5 decorating tip across the bread or drizzle with a fork.
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