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Home » Recipes » Course » Desserts

Vegan Cream Cheese Banana Bread (GF)

By: Thomas Published: 7 Aug, 22 Updated: 1 Nov, 22 38 Comments

Jump to RecipeComments
5 from 9 votes

This moist vegan banana bread is loaded with banana flavor and perfectly spiced! Plus, it comes with a layer of vanilla cream cheese that adds freshness and a subtle tanginess! Super tender, gluten-free, and SO delicious!

Mini banana bread with cream cheese and chocolate chips.
Jump to:
  • ⭐️ Why You Should Try This Recipe
  • 🍌 How to Make This Vegan Banana Bread
  • 💬 FAQ
  • 📔 More Banana Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe

⭐️ Why You Should Try This Recipe

  • It's just delicious: this banana bread is incredibly tender, moist, and perfectly sweetened. The spices (cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg) give it that "bakery-style" flavor.
  • It's a different take on your regular banana bread recipe: the layer of vanilla cream cheese takes this bread to the next level! It adds creaminess and a tanginess that balances so well with the banana flavor.
  • It's vegan, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened with coconut sugar!

Still not convinced? Stephanie, a reader, said: "★★★★★ This recipe was delicious. I especially like the texture that comes from using the three different flours. Thanks for another tasty recipe."

🍌 How to Make This Vegan Banana Bread

This recipe comes together quickly and consists of two different preparations: the cream cheese and the bread batter.

Vanilla Cream Cheese

We start by making the "cheesecake" filling that consists of:

  • Cashews - Use raw cashews that you will soak overnight. Soaking will help soften them.
  • Tofu - In addition to the cashews, we will also use firm tofu. The combination of tofu with soaked cashews yields a texture that is very similar to a cheesecake once baked.
  • Lemon juice - For tanginess.
  • Maple syrup - To sweeten the cream. You can also use agave syrup or your favorite liquid sweetener.
  • Vanilla - Preferably a high-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor.

Simply add all of the ingredients to a blender or food processor, and process until smooth.

Tofu, cashews, and maple syrup in a blender.

Banana Bread

Then comes the banana bread batter. Here is what you will need:

  • Oat, rice, and almond flour - The batter is made using a combination of those three flours. Almond flour gives the bread a super tender texture, while oat and rice flour provide texture.
  • Bananas - I went with a full cup of mashed bananas, so I can safely say you are not going to miss the banana flavor! Oat flour makes the cake suitable for breakfast. At least, that's what I like to think.
  • Coconut sugar - To sweeten the bread. If you don't have coconut sugar, feel free to use brown sugar.
  • Coconut oil - For extra richness and moisture.
  • Spices - I went with the traditional spices you can find in banana bread: ground cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. If you want chai-spiced banana bread, simply add a teaspoon of ground cardamom as well!
  • Baking powder - To help the bread rise.
  • Chocolate chips - Optional but recommended. You can use chocolate chips as a topping or stir them directly into the batter.
Whisking together flour, sugar, and mashed bananas.

To make the batter: mash the bananas (or blend them) and whisk them together with the rest of the ingredients until smooth.

Whisking together flour, sugar, and mashed bananas.

Next, divide half of the batter into two mini pans, top with a layer of vanilla cream cheese, and finally, top with the remaining batter.

I used two mini loaf pans for mini banana loaves because it's cuter, but you can definitely use a larger loaf.

Spreading vanilla cream cheese on top of a banana bread batter.

Top with chocolate chips and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Finally, let the bread cool for at least 30 minutes before enjoying it!

While the cream cheese is soft, it keeps its shape when you cut a slice, just like a cheesecake!

Vegan banana bread in a loaf pan.

💬 FAQ

  • Which type of tofu should I use for the cream cheese? Use firm tofu. Silken tofu would give you a too-liquid cream cheese.
  • Can I make this in a larger loaf pan instead of mini ones? Yes, you can use one larger loaf pan if you prefer; just increase the baking time to 45-50 minutes.
  • How long does this vegan banana bread keep? This banana bread will keep for up to 3 days at room temperature or 5 days in the refrigerator.
Slice of banana bread with cream cheese and chocolate chips.

What I love about this vegan banana bread is the contrast of the tender cake with the creamy and slightly sharp vanilla cream cheese. And this banana bread stays moist and soft for days!

📔 More Banana Recipes

If you are looking for other delicious desserts packed with bananas, check these out:

  • Self Saucing Banana Pudding
  • Vegan Banana Oatmeal Whoopie Pies
  • Brownie Oatmeal with Banana Ice Cream

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!

Vegan banana bread with a layer of cream cheese on a plate.

📖 Recipe

Vegan Cream Cheese Banana Bread (GF)

Vegan Cream Cheese Banana Bread (GF)

5 from 9 votes
Author: Thomas
Super tender and moist banana bread with a sweet vanilla cream cheese filling. Refined sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan, this banana bread is packed with banana flavor and spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg!
Print Pin Review Text Recipe
Prep Time : 30 minutes mins
Cook Time : 35 minutes mins
Total Time : 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Servings 2 mini loaves (or 1 large)
Calories 160 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Cream Cheese Filling

  • ¾ cup raw cashews soaked overnight
  • 4.5 ounces firm tofu
  • ¼ cup almond milk
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt

Banana Bread

  • ⅔ cup oat flour
  • ⅔ cup almond flour
  • ⅔ cup white rice flour
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup coconut sugar
  • 1 cup mashed bananas about 3 bananas
  • 2 tablespoon melted coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup almond milk
  • ¼ cup chocolate chips for topping optional
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Instructions
 

Cream Cheese Filling

  • Drain the cashews and place them in a blender. Add the firm tofu, almond milk, maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt. Blend on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. The cream should have the consistency of cream cheese. Set aside while you prepare the banana bread batter.

Banana Bread

  • Preheat oven to 350 °F (175°C).
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oat flour, almond flour, rice flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.
  • In another bowl, mix together the coconut sugar with the mashed bananas, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and milk. For the mashed bananas, I usually just put them in the blender and blend until smooth. If you prefer banana bread with small chunks of bananas, mash them using a fork.
  • Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredients bowl. Mix using a wooden spoon until fully combined. The batter is quite thick; this is normal. At this point, you can taste the batter and adjust the spices to your liking.
  • Line two small
    5.75x3-inch mini loaf pans with parchment paper. Divide half of the batter into the pans. Top about ½ inch of cream cheese and spread it evenly. Finally, top the cream cheese with the remaining banana bread batter and smooth the top using a spoon. Top with chocolate chips if you want.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Allow the banana loaves to cool completely before slicing.
  • Banana bread will keep for up to 3 days at room temperature or 5 days in the refrigerator. Be aware that banana bread is a bit firmer if stored in the refrigerator.

Notes

  • If you have cream cheese leftover, spread it on a slice of banana bread for extra creaminess!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Slice (of 16) | Calories: 160 kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.6 g | Protein: 3.1 g | Fat: 5.7 g | Fiber: 1.6 g | Sugar: 12.6 g
Course : Breakfast, Dessert, Sweets
Cuisine : American
Did you make this recipe? Tag @fullofplants on Instagram and hashtag it #fullofplants
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  1. Rachel

    October 06, 2018 at 2:36 pm

    I just made a list of ingredients I need cause I am definitely making this deliciousness!!

    Reply
    • Thomas

      October 08, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Awesome! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Bron Martin

    October 06, 2018 at 7:20 pm

    5 stars
    You’re a genius. I’m definitely making this!

    Reply
    • Thomas

      October 08, 2018 at 11:14 am

      Hope you will like it!

      Reply
  3. Renée

    October 07, 2018 at 3:15 pm

    5 stars
    Thank you Thomas for another tasty treat. One question regarding the type of tofu. Is the tofu solken or regular firm tofu? I look forward to trying this soon.

    Reply
    • Stephanie

      October 08, 2018 at 1:19 am

      5 stars
      I made this recipe a couple hours ago and used regular firm tofu. It was delicious!

      Reply
      • Thomas

        October 08, 2018 at 11:18 am

        Thanks for the feedback Stephanie!

        Reply
    • Thomas

      October 08, 2018 at 11:16 am

      Hi Renée,
      You're welcome! It's regular firm tofu.

      Reply
      • Renée

        October 08, 2018 at 2:31 pm

        Thank you for getting back to me. One of the reasons I love your blog so much is because you and your followers will answer questions. I will let you know how it comes out when I have time to bake it this week.
        Have an amazing day.

        Reply
  4. Stephanie

    October 08, 2018 at 1:22 am

    5 stars
    Thomas, you've done it again! This recipe was delicious. I especially like the texture that comes from using the three different flours. Thanks for another tasty recipe. I look forward to seeing more bread recipes on your blog. 🙂

    Reply
    • Thomas

      October 08, 2018 at 11:21 am

      So happy to hear you liked the banana bread Stephanie 😉
      Thanks again for the rating!

      Reply
  5. Rachel Moore

    October 09, 2018 at 1:49 am

    I think I will try this recipe for banana bread without the cream cheese. Do you know another flour I can substitute for the rice flour?

    Reply
    • Thomas

      October 16, 2018 at 4:44 am

      Maybe try millet or brown rice flour.

      Reply
    • Yuliya Pavlyuk

      February 07, 2020 at 3:27 pm

      If you have a powerful blender like Vitamix, you can grind your own rice into flour in it. Very easy.

      Reply
  6. Michele Morrison

    October 23, 2018 at 7:05 pm

    My husband has an allergy to almonds. I have made banana bread in the past with just oat flour. The measurements are even between the 3 flours you use. Could I just use oat flour? Have you tried that?

    Reply
    • Thomas

      October 25, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      I haven't tried using only oat flour but I doubt you will get the same texture, plus you would have to adjust the amount of liquid.
      Almond flour gives it a soft and moist texture, maybe you could use another nut flour like cashew flour?

      Reply
  7. Fiozznah

    October 27, 2018 at 12:02 pm

    hi Thomas , can I use the cream cheese to bake cheesecake? 🙂

    Reply
    • Thomas

      October 29, 2018 at 6:08 am

      Hi Fiozznah, I'm afraid it won't work!

      Reply
  8. Camila

    November 26, 2018 at 6:02 pm

    Hi Thomas! This looks fantastic! I have a question: Can I replace tofu with something else? I don’t find it easily where I live 🙁

    Reply
    • Thomas

      December 05, 2018 at 3:40 pm

      Hi Camila,
      If you can find vegan cream cheese then it would make a great substitute, otherwise, it will be difficult.

      Reply
  9. KIMBERLY LOIGNON

    May 26, 2019 at 12:01 pm

    Hi
    I am making this recipe today.
    I found a Bourbon infused maple syrup for the filling and I am using coconut flour instead of almond, I have increased the banana a bit and coconut milk to enhance the moisture as coconut flour requires this.
    Thank you for the basics of your recipe.

    Reply
    • Thomas

      May 28, 2019 at 2:21 pm

      Thanks for sharing your tweaks Kimberly! 🙂

      Reply
      • KIMBERLY LOIGNON

        May 28, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        5 stars
        Below post should say hummus!
        But I do know that some of my best friends are dessert humans!

        Reply
        • Thomas

          June 04, 2019 at 9:59 am

          Ahhh I understand now 🙂 Yes I tried chocolate hummus, it's good! 🙂

          Reply
  10. KIMBERLY LOIGNON

    May 28, 2019 at 9:03 pm

    5 stars
    Turned out great Thomas.
    Coconut flour at 1/2cup increased banana by one and increased the coconut milk a bit too. ( A few splashes).
    Thanks again, I think I will use the remaining filling in tartlets,
    Or dessert egg rolls!
    Have you tried chocolate dessert humans? When you combine the two in a egg roll both chocolate and almond cream cheese filling... I bet it will be great.
    Thank you again.

    Reply
    • Thomas

      June 04, 2019 at 9:58 am

      Awesome! Thanks for your feedback Kimberly!

      Reply
  11. Sylvia

    August 19, 2019 at 9:20 am

    5 stars
    Finally got around to making this! Delicious! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Thomas

      August 21, 2019 at 6:20 am

      Thanks for the feedback Sylvia!

      Reply
  12. Daniele Cox

    April 13, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    Could I use this cream cheese recipe to make cream cheese frosting?

    Reply
    • Daniele Cox

      April 13, 2020 at 10:37 pm

      5 stars
      Looks awesome! I will try this week!

      Reply
    • Thomas

      April 16, 2020 at 9:53 am

      I think that would work!

      Reply
  13. Tinne

    May 31, 2020 at 7:35 am

    I made this bread yesterday, I live with 4 non-vegans and they all loved it (I never say that my bakings are vegan before they taste them, but I guess they know by now, especially because I eat them as well ). I halved the amount of coconut sugar in the dough, though, because 1 cup seemed enormous. For me/us, it was sweet enough, especially with the nice sweet cream in it. Thanks for the great recipes, Thomas.

    Reply
    • Thomas

      June 01, 2020 at 7:31 am

      Happy to hear all your family liked the banana bread 😉
      Thanks for your feedback Tinne!

      Reply
  14. Wendy Rainbow

    August 01, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    I don't have mini loaf pans, just regular size ones. I wish you gave the amount for that also. I have no clue how to adjust two mini loafs to two regular loafs, or is it one regular loaf?

    Reply
    • Thomas

      August 02, 2021 at 6:01 am

      What sizes are regular ones? I think you can simply prepare the same amount and use a "regular" loaf pan instead of two small ones with no issue.

      Reply
  15. Brooke

    November 05, 2022 at 7:37 pm

    5 stars
    This banana bread is amazing! I've been making banana bread regularly for a couple years with a different recipe and decided to give this one a try because the cream cheese sounded delicious. Well, it sure is delicious! And the actual banana bread (bites without cream cheese) is also more flavorful than my usual recipe. I made this as written aside from using all purpose flour in place of rice flour. Oh, and I left out the coconut oil completely.

    Nice work, Thomas! I'm about to make this for a second time and it's now my go-to banana bread recipe. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
    • Thomas

      November 08, 2022 at 3:11 am

      Hi Brooke, thanks for your great feedback and for sharing your tweaks 🙂 I'm glad you liked this recipe!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Double Chocolate Raspberry Banana Muffins (Vegan + GF) - Full of Plants says:
    September 1, 2020 at 7:47 am

    […] you have tried my Cream Cheese Banana Bread, this recipe will look similar as I use the same batter […]

    Reply

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