Description

This Cottage Cheese Banana Bread is a moist, protein-packed twist on classic banana bread. Combining ripe bananas with creamy cottage cheese, it yields a tender, flavorful loaf that’s perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack. Enhanced with warm cinnamon and optional nuts, this recipe is simple to prepare and sure to please everyone at the table.

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

3 ripe bananas
1 cup cottage cheese (full-fat recommended for extra moisture)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup melted unsalted butter

Dry Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Optional Ingredients

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Mash Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas using a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth with a few small lumps for texture.
Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the cottage cheese, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter to the mashed bananas. Whisk or stir thoroughly until the mixture is well combined and smooth.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift or stir together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt until evenly distributed.
Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Gently fold them together using a spatula until just combined—avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
Add Nuts (Optional): If using, fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans gently to distribute them evenly throughout the batter.
Transfer and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool and Serve: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

For extra moisture and a creamier texture, use full-fat cottage cheese.
Blending the cottage cheese before adding it to the batter creates a perfectly smooth bread texture.
Try adding chocolate chips, shredded coconut, or swirling in peanut butter for delicious variations.
This bread freezes well for up to three months; wrap tightly and thaw before serving.