This easy Banana Bread with Cottage Cheese recipe is a delicious twist on the classic banana bread everyone loves! It’s moist, full of flavor, and packed with protein thanks to the cottage cheese, making it the perfect snack or breakfast treat. Plus, it’s simple to make and uses just two ripe bananas!
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If you’ve tried my cottage cheese ice cream, you already know how much I love incorporating cottage cheese into recipes. So, I thought—why not add that same protein-packed goodness to banana bread?
I had four ripe bananas sitting on my counter and was craving a rich, chocolatey banana bread. So, I split them in half to make two different batches—two bananas went into my Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread, and the other two went into this Banana Bread with Cottage Cheese. The result? Two incredibly delicious and unique takes on classic banana bread!
Love all things banana? Don’t miss some of my other favorites: sweetened banana, banana egg rolls, banana split ice cream, and crispy fried bananas!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe?
- Quick and Easy: This recipe comes together in no time with simple ingredients and a straightforward process.
- Moist and Flavorful: Thanks to the cottage cheese, this banana bread is incredibly moist and full of rich banana flavor.
- Protein Boost: The cottage cheese adds extra protein, making this a more satisfying snack or breakfast option.
- Customizable: You can easily switch up the ingredients to suit your taste—add chocolate chips, nuts, or other mix-ins.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether you’re having a cozy morning at home or need a quick snack for an afternoon pick-me-up, this banana bread fits the bill.
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 Additions
- 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
- 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
- Peanut butter: Spread some creamy peanut butter on a slice of banana bread for extra protein.
- Cream cheese: Add a spread of cream cheese for a tangy contrast to the sweet bread.
- Fresh berries: Pair with a handful of fresh raspberries or strawberries for a refreshing bite.
- Maple syrup: Drizzle a little maple syrup over the bread for extra sweetness.
- Nut butter: Almond or cashew butter pairs wonderfully with the soft texture of banana bread.
- Ice cream: A scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream makes this banana bread even more of a treat.
- Chia seeds: Sprinkle chia seeds on top for some added crunch and health benefits.
- Honey: Drizzle honey on top for a sweet, natural touch.
- Coconut flakes: Sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top for a tropical twist.
- Milk: A glass of cold milk makes a perfect complement to a slice of banana bread.
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.
Expert Tips
- Make sure your bananas are ripe! Overripe bananas are key to getting the best flavor and moisture in the bread.
- Don’t overmix the batter—mix just until the dry ingredients are incorporated to keep your banana bread light and tender.
- If you’re adding chocolate chips or nuts, fold them in gently at the end to avoid breaking them down too much.
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.
Unripe bananas will be too firm and less sweet, making your banana bread drier and less flavorful.
Store it wrapped tightly in plastic or foil at room temperature for a few days, or freeze it for longer storage.
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Banana Bread with Cottage Cheese Recipe (using 2 bananas)
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 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.
- 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.
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