Description
This Carrot Cake Banana Bread is a moist and flavorful twist on classic banana bread, combining the natural sweetness of ripe bananas and shredded carrots with warm spices and crunchy walnuts. Finished with a creamy cinnamon-spiced cream cheese frosting, it’s perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a delightful snack.
Ingredients
Bread Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup mashed banana (roughly 2 bananas)
- 3/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 cup finely shredded carrot
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups gluten free flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons almond milk, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the bread.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, mashed bananas, unsweetened apple sauce, dark brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Stir thoroughly until the ingredients form a smooth, well-combined mixture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the gluten free flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and salt to the wet mixture. Stir gently until all the dry ingredients are fully incorporated without overmixing.
- Fold in Carrots and Walnuts: Carefully fold the finely shredded carrots and chopped walnuts into the batter ensuring an even distribution throughout.
- Prepare Baking Pan: Line a 9×5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper and transfer the banana bread batter into the pan, spreading it evenly.
- Bake the Bread: Place the pan in the oven and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, remove from the oven and transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: While the bread cools, combine the room temperature cream cheese, powdered sugar, cinnamon, almond milk, and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl. Use a hand mixer to whip the frosting until smooth and creamy.
- Frost and Serve: After the bread has cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Slice the bread, serve, and enjoy this delicious treat.
Notes
- Use ripe bananas for better sweetness and moisture in the bread.
- Make sure the cream cheese and almond milk used for frosting are at room temperature for smoother consistency.
- Check the bread at around 55 minutes; oven times may vary slightly.
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or leave them out for nut-free option.
- This bread can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
