This banana bread with cottage cheese is moist and comes together with just two ripe bananas. The cottage cheese blends right into the batter, adding a bit of extra protein and richness to the texture of classic banana bread.
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If you've tried my cottage cheese ice cream, you know I like finding ways to work it into recipes. Banana bread felt like the obvious next one.
I had four ripe bananas on the counter and wanted something rich and chocolatey too, so I split them in half. Two went into my Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread, the other two into this one. Same bananas, two completely different loaves.
Love all things banana? Don’t miss some of my other favorites: No yogurt banana bread, egg free banana muffins, banana muffins with raspberries, sweetened banana, banana egg rolls, banana split ice cream, another and crispy fried bananas!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Mix, pour, bake, no stand mixer or fancy tools.
- A protein boost: 4.3 grams of protein per slice, thanks to the cottage cheese.
- Made with 2 Bananas: Uses up those last few ripe ones beautifully.
- Cottage Cheese: Keeps it moist, rich, and satisfying.
- Versatile: Great for breakfast, snacking, or dessert.
- Customizable: Add chocolate chips, nuts, or swirl in peanut butter.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need:
- 2 ripe large bananas: The star of the show! Overripe bananas work best for this recipe.
- All-purpose flour: The base of your dry ingredients.
- Baking soda: Helps your banana bread rise.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance out the sweetness.
- Cinnamon: Adds a warm, cozy flavor to your banana bread.
- Unsalted butter: For moisture and richness.
- Brown sugar: Sweetness and a little depth of flavor.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and add structure.
- Cottage cheese: This secret ingredient makes the bread extra moist and adds protein.
- Vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla enhances all the flavors.
See recipe card for quantities.
Substitution and Add-Ins
- Chocolate chips: Add a handful of chocolate chips to make this banana bread even more irresistible.
- Nuts: Chopped walnuts or pecans would add a nice crunch.
- Peanut butter: Add a few tablespoons for a nutty twist and even more protein.
How To Make Banana Bread with Cottage Cheese
Making this Easy Banana Bread with Cottage Cheese is simple and fun! Here’s how to do it:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Mash the bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth. You should have about 1 cup of mashed bananas.
- Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, mix the mashed bananas with melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, cottage cheese, and vanilla extract until fully blended. To achieve a smoother texture, I used a food processor to break down the cottage cheese into finer pieces.
- Combine the dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
- Pour into the loaf pan: Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and enjoy: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Variations To Try
- Banana Chocolate Chip Bread: Add ½ cup of chocolate chips to the batter for a sweet, gooey twist.
- Peanut Butter Banana Bread: Stir in 3-4 tablespoons of peanut butter for a creamy, nutty flavor.
- Banana Nut Bread: Add ½ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch and texture.
- Gluten-Free Banana Bread: Swap the all-purpose flour for almond flour or oat flour for a gluten-free version.
- Banana Bread Muffins: Bake the batter in a muffin tin instead of a loaf pan for individual servings.
What To Serve With This
- Spread with peanut butter or almond butter for extra protein.
- Add fresh berries or sliced strawberries for a bright, fruity bite.
- Drizzle honey or maple syrup for natural sweetness.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
- Enjoy with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee.
How to Store Leftovers
To store leftover banana bread, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temperature for 2-3 days or you can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Rose's Quick Tips
- Use super ripe bananas, black spots = flavor.
- Don’t overmix the batter; a few flour streaks are fine.
- For a smoother loaf, blend the cottage cheese before adding.
- Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top before baking for a sweet, crackly crust.
- Cool completely before slicing to keep that tender crumb intact.
Recipe FAQs
Two large bananas usually give you about 1 cup of mashed bananas.
Bananas that are heavily speckled or even turning brown are perfect for banana bread! The riper, the better.
Place bananas in a brown paper bag overnight to speed up the ripening process.
Sure. Full-fat gives the richest flavor, but low-fat works too. If it seems dry, add a tablespoon of butter or yogurt.
More Banana Recipes to Try
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Thank you!
Banana Bread with Cottage Cheese
Equipment
- 1 loaf pan
- 1 MIxing Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 large bananas
- 1 ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup butter melted
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- ½ cup cottage cheese blended
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Mash the bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth. You should have about 1 cup of mashed bananas.2 large bananas
- Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, mix the mashed bananas with melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, cottage cheese, and vanilla extract until fully blended. To achieve a smoother texture, I used a food processor to break down the cottage cheese into finer pieces.⅓ cup butter, ⅔ cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, ½ cup cottage cheese, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Combine the dry ingredients: In another bowl, mix together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.1 ½ cup all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 pinch salt, ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
- Pour into the loaf pan: Transfer the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and enjoy: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Notes
- Blend cottage cheese for a smoother texture.
- Use room temperature eggs and butter for even mixing.
- Overripe bananas = best flavor.
- Fold in chocolate chips or nuts gently at the end.
- You can add a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on top before baking.
- Reheat a slice for 10 seconds for that “just baked” taste.
Joy H says
So delicious! I added more cinnamon and lots of pecans.
Rose Sioson says
That sounds amazing Joy! More cinnamon and pecans must have made it extra delicious. So glad you enjoyed it—thanks for trying the recipe and sharing your twist!