Cream Cheese-Filled Walnut Banana Bread

ANYONE that knows me knows I love to cook, so today, I'm some what snowed in and I'm making my Cream Cheese-Filled walnut Banana Bread. Hope you'll indulge and make it too.

INGREDIENTS:

Bread 1 large egg 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup liquid-state coconut oil 1/4 cup cup sour cream (or vanilla Greek yogurt may be substituted) 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas) 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup finely crushed walnuts pinch salt to taste

Cream Cheese Filling 1 large egg 4 ounces softened brick-style cream cheese (lite is okay) 1/4 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray one 9×5-inch loaf pan with floured cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside.

2. Bread – In a large bowl, add the egg, sugars, coconut oil, sour cream, vanilla, and whisk to combine.

3. Add the bananas and stir to incorporate.

4. Add 1 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, finely crushed walnuts and fold with spatula or stir gently with a spoon until just combined; don’t overmix; set aside.

5. Turn about two-thirds of the batter out into the prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula and pushing it into corners and sides as necessary; set aside.

6. Cream Cheese Filling – In a large bowl, add all ingredients and whisk to combine. Alternatively, mix with a hand mixer.

7. Evenly pour filling mixture over the bread, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula and pushing it into corners and sides as necessary.

8. Top with remaining batter, smoothing the top very lightly with a spatula as to not disturb cream cheese layer and pushing batter into corners and sides as necessary.

9. Bake for about 48 to 50 minutes or until the top is domed, golden, and the center is set, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Note this is tricky because the cream cheese never gets totally solid so the toothpick test isn’t the most accurate.

10. Allow bread to cool in pan for about 15 minutes before turning out on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.