Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl Protein Loaf (Print Version)

Moist protein-packed loaf with cinnamon cream cheese swirl, ideal for breakfast or snacks.

# Ingredient List:

→ Loaf Base

01 - 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1/3 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
04 - 1/2 cup milk of choice
05 - 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
07 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
08 - 1/2 cup vanilla or unflavored protein powder
09 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Cream Cheese Cinnamon Swirl

13 - 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
14 - 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
15 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar or coconut sugar
16 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
17 - 1 egg yolk
18 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the interior.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, eggs, Greek yogurt, milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine flour, protein powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
04 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix to maintain a tender crumb structure.
05 - In another bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, sugar, cinnamon, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
06 - Pour half of the loaf batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly to the edges.
07 - Spoon half of the cream cheese mixture over the batter and gently swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
08 - Add the remaining loaf batter on top, then spoon and swirl the remaining cream cheese mixture across the surface.
09 - Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. A few moist crumbs are acceptable, but no raw batter should remain.
10 - Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like dessert but actually delivers real protein and nutrition, so you won't feel guilty enjoying a second slice.
  • The cream cheese swirl creates those pockets of richness that make every bite feel a little luxurious, even on an ordinary morning.
  • It comes together in under two hours, which means you can have warm, homemade loaf by brunch without spending your whole day in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Overmixing the batter is the quickest way to ruin this loaf; once you can't see dry flour streaks, stop mixing immediately or it'll turn dense and tough.
  • Don't skip the cooling time in the pan—I learned this the hard way when I got impatient and the loaf crumbled apart, but those 10 minutes make the difference between a beautiful sliceable loaf and a pile of chunks.
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are your best friend—they blend smoothly and create a more cohesive crumb structure that bakes evenly.
  • If you notice the cream cheese mixture getting too soft while you're working with it, pop it in the fridge for 5 minutes to firm up slightly, which makes swirling cleaner and more controlled.
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