Banana Cream Cheese Muffins Recipe

Banana Cream Cheese Muffins That Taste Like Dessert for Breakfast

If you’ve got a couple of overripe bananas and about 30 minutes, these Banana Cream Cheese Muffins are about to become your new favorite quick bake. Somewhere between a breakfast muffin and a banana dessert, they strike the perfect balance of sweet, soft, and just a little indulgent thanks to the creamy swirl on top.

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This recipe isn’t just easy to follow. It’s built for real mornings. The kind where you need something warm, kid-approved, and good enough to pass as a treat. These muffins check all the boxes: fast, freezer-friendly, and prettier than your average banana bread. Think of them as cream cheese muffins with personality.

Ready to turn sad bananas into something swoon-worthy? Let’s get baking.

Related Recipes

Love banana bakes that double as breakfast? After trying these Banana Cream Cheese Muffins, don’t miss the Banana Oatmeal Bars Recipe. They’re soft, wholesome, and perfect for on-the-go mornings or snack time. A great way to keep those ripe bananas working for you.

Ingredients for Banana Cream Cheese Muffins

To make moist and tender Banana Cream Cheese Muffins, you’ll need pantry staples plus a few fresh ingredients. Here’s what to grab:

For the Banana Muffin Base

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
  
• ½ teaspoon salt
  
• 4 medium overripe bananas, mashed
  
• ½ cup granulated sugar
  
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  
• 1 large egg
  
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
  
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  
• ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  

For the Cream Cheese Swirl

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  
• 1 egg yolk
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1 to 2 teaspoons milk, if needed for thinning
  

These ingredients work together to give you the sweet muffin flavor of banana nut muffins, with the added richness of a smooth cream cheese swirl.

How to Make Banana Cream Cheese Muffins

These Banana Cream Cheese Muffins come together fast using simple tools and no mixers. Here’s how to get that bakery-style swirl at home.

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with paper liners
   
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt
   
3. In a separate large bowl, mash bananas and mix in granulated sugar and brown sugar
   
4. Add the egg, oil, and vanilla extract to the banana mixture and stir until smooth
   
5. Fold in the dry ingredients just until combined, then mix in the chopped nuts
   
6. Fill each muffin liner about three-quarters full with batter
   

Make the Cream Cheese Swirl

1. In a clean bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth
   
2. Mix in sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until creamy
   
3. If needed, add a teaspoon of milk to thin the filling
   
4. Spoon about one tablespoon of cream cheese onto each unbaked muffin
   
5. Use a toothpick to gently swirl the cream cheese into the top
   

Bake for 16 to 18 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

These are best slightly warm or at room temperature and work perfectly as quick banana muffins for busy mornings.

Tips to Make the Best Banana Cream Cheese Muffins

If you want your Banana Cream Cheese Muffins to turn out bakery-worthy every time, these tips will help you get there with less guesswork.

Use ripe bananas for flavor and moisture

Bananas with lots of brown spots give the batter a natural sweetness and soft texture. Avoid underripe or bright yellow bananas, which can leave the muffins dry and bland.

Do not overmix the batter

Overmixing is a common reason muffins turn out dense instead of fluffy. Stir just until the flour disappears into the banana mixture to keep the texture light.

Swirl gently with a toothpick

For that signature cream cheese swirl, use a toothpick or skewer and make a loose figure-eight motion. A little swirl goes a long way in creating that sweet muffin top.

Let muffins rest before removing

Allow the muffins to sit in the pan for about five minutes after baking. This helps them set and avoids breaking the tops when you lift them out.

These small details can turn your batch into the best banana muffin recipe you have tried, especially for easy breakfast prep or when you want to impress without stress.

Substitutions and Variations for Banana Cream Cheese Muffins

Making these Banana Cream Cheese Muffins your own is easy with a few simple swaps. Whether you are baking for dietary needs or just want to try something different, these ideas keep the recipe flexible.

Try different mix-ins

Swap chopped pecans for walnuts or leave out the nuts entirely if you prefer a smoother bite. You can also fold in half a cup of mini chocolate chips for a dessert-style twist.

Make them cinnamon-spiced

Add half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients for a subtle flavor upgrade. This gives the muffins a cozy feel similar to banana cinnamon muffins.

Use the batter for cupcakes

Pour the banana batter into cupcake liners and swirl in the cream cheese topping for an easy batch of banana cupcakes with cream cheese. Bake time remains the same.

Go dairy-free if needed

Use dairy-free cream cheese and plant-based milk for the swirl. The results may be slightly less rich but still very satisfying.

Turn them into banana bread muffins

Pour the batter into a mini loaf tin for easy banana bread muffins. Adjust baking time to 22 to 25 minutes and test with a toothpick for doneness.

With these changes, you can enjoy this banana dessert in new ways without losing its moist texture or sweet charm.

Frequently Asked Questions About Banana Cream Cheese Muffins

These answers can help you troubleshoot or adapt your banana nut muffins recipe without stress.

Nutrition Info for Banana Cream Cheese Muffins

Each Banana Cream Cheese Muffin provides a balanced mix of energy, making it a great sweet muffin choice for breakfast or a midday snack.

• Calories: 231
  
• Carbohydrates: 32 grams
  
• Protein: 3 grams
  
• Total Fat: 10 grams
  
• Saturated Fat: 3 grams
  
• Cholesterol: 33 milligrams
  
• Sodium: 196 milligrams
  
• Fiber: 1 gram
  
• Sugar: 18 grams
  
• Calcium: 40 milligrams
  
• Iron: 1 milligram
  
• Vitamin A: 218 IU
  
• Potassium: 154 milligrams
  
• Vitamin C: 2 milligrams
  

These banana breakfast muffins offer a soft balance of natural fruit sugars and fats from cream cheese and nuts. Perfect when you need something filling without being overly rich.

Final Thoughts on Banana Cream Cheese Muffins

Whether you are after a sweet banana dessert or just need an easy win on a busy morning, these Banana Cream Cheese Muffins deliver both comfort and convenience. They bake fast, taste like something much fancier, and turn those forgotten bananas into something worth sharing.

If you have been cycling through banana recipes hoping to find the one that stands out, this might just be the best banana muffin recipe to add to your regular rotation. The cream cheese swirl gives it a soft edge, the texture stays moist for days, and they fit perfectly into any breakfast recipes easy category.

Give them a try, tweak them to your taste, and don’t be surprised if they disappear by tomorrow. Now might be a good time to double that next batch.

Banana Cream Cheese Muffins

Emily Wilson

These moist and swirled Banana Cream Cheese Muffins combine overripe bananas with a rich cream cheese filling for a quick, bakery-style treat perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 16 minutes mins

Total Time 31 minutes mins

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 18 muffins

Calories 231 kcal

Equipment

• Muffin tin
• Mixing bowls
• Toothpick
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Oven

Ingredients

  

Banana Muffin Batter

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 4 medium overripe bananas mashed
• 0.5 cup granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 0.25 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Cream Cheese Swirl

• 4 oz cream cheese softened
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon milk optional, to thin the cream cheese mixture

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• In a large bowl, mix mashed bananas, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until smooth.
• Add egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
• Fold in the flour mixture and chopped nuts just until combined. Do not overmix.
• Fill muffin liners about three-quarters full with batter.
• In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Mix well.
• If the cream cheese mixture is too thick, add milk to loosen slightly.
• Spoon one tablespoon of cream cheese mixture on top of each muffin and swirl lightly with a toothpick.
• Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Notes

For a stronger cinnamon flavor, add half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the dry ingredients. Muffins store well in the fridge for up to 5 days or can be frozen individually.

Nutrition Info:

• Calories: 231
• Carbohydrates: 32 grams
• Protein: 3 grams
• Total Fat: 10 grams
• Saturated Fat: 3 grams
• Cholesterol: 33 milligrams
• Sodium: 196 milligrams
• Fiber: 1 gram
• Sugar: 18 grams
• Calcium: 40 milligrams
• Iron: 1 milligram
• Vitamin A: 218 IU
• Potassium: 154 milligrams
  
• Vitamin C: 2 milligrams

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