Recipe: Nutella Swirl Banana Bread

Banana bread is a favorite at our house and this is the only way that I can eat bananas.  Just before Christmas, I bought one of these big bags of very ripe bananas for next to nothing so that I could make some banana bread for our friends and family for Christmas.  I have a recipe that has never let me down...super moist and delicious every time I make it!  I made a few loaves but really wanted to jazz up the next few batches.   Chocolate and banana just seems to go together and I though about adding some chocolate chips to the batter but then I had a light bulb moment....nutella!  I mean, who doesn't love that yummy goodness!  I decided to give it a try and let me tell you it was so good my family devoured the first loaf before it even had a chance to cool down.  It has just enough chocolate yum, but it is not so overly sweet that you can't enjoy the wonderfulness of a slice.  I think it is kind of pretty too!  It was well liked by all my family and friends and my children have already requested it several times.  

Enjoy!

Nutella Swirl Banana Bread

by Wende Rickett/The Rickett Chronicles

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups banana (about 4 medium), mashed
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 nutella, divided

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Add bananas and vanilla, beat well.
6. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
7. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients mixing until just combined. Do not over mix.
8. Spoon half the batter into the pan.
9. With a spoon, dollop 1/3 cup nutella over the entire surface of the batter.
10. Spoon the rest of the batter into the pan.
11. Dollop 1/3 cup nutella over the surface of the batter.
12. With a knife, insert into the batter and gently swirl the batter and the nutella.
13. Place pan in the oven and bake 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
14. Remove from oven to a wire rack and cool about 15 to 20 minutes.
15. Remove from pan and cool completely.

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