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Lightened-Up Special Banana Bread Recipe

Lightened-Up Special Banana Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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This cream cheese banana bread has lots of banana flavor and a nutty texture. And with help from our pros, now it’s lighter, too! Beverly Sprague — Baltimore, MD

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Lightened-Up Special Banana Bread Recipe

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 55 min. + cooling

Yield: 24 Servings

25 55 80

Ingredients

1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans, divided
ORANGE GLAZE:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon grated orange peel

Directions

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and sugar until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in 1/2 cup pecans.
Transfer to two 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining pecans. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients; drizzle over loaves. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves (12 slices each).

Nutritional Facts 1 slice equals 235 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 34 mg cholesterol, 157 mg sodium, 34 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Originally published as Lightened-Up Special Banana Bread in Simple & Delicious January/February 2010, p46

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Reviews for Lightened-Up Special Banana Bread

Lightened-Up Special Banana Bread

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Reviewed on Mar. 06, 2012 by mojomo

The recipe was great just the way it is written. However, if other reviewers are going to change EVERYTHING in the recipe your not really reviewing this one now are we...this so not benefical to the person who posted it.

Reviewed on Feb. 04, 2012 by lurky27

So delicious & flavorful! I had fat-free cream cheese home and that worked great. My husband said it was the best bread I've ever baked.

~ Theresa

Reviewed on Jun. 08, 2011 by biking32

I followed exactly what the recipe said and it only cooked on the outside. It was terrible. Had to throw it out.

Reviewed on Jun. 08, 2011 by biking32

I followed exactly what the recipe said and it only cooked on the outside. It was terrible. Had to throw it out.

Reviewed on Jun. 08, 2011 by biking32

I followed exactly what the recipe said and it only cooked on the outside. It was terrible. Had to throw it out.

Reviewed on May. 20, 2011 by joceyw

This bread is super moist and delicious! Try it!

Reviewed on May. 20, 2011 by joceyw

This bread is super moist and delicious! Try it!

Reviewed on May. 18, 2011 by drjacobs359

This is the best banana bread recipe! I do use regular cream cheese though and add chocolate chips yum!!!

Reviewed on Jan. 26, 2011 by l2bake

LOVE this version of banana bread!

Reviewed on Jan. 10, 2011 by Buttemontanagirl

Jeez! When did this site become a forum/ I just want to see if otheres liked the recipe or not, and decide for myself whether to make it. Forget about all the personal wrangling.

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