Cream Cheese Cinnamon Protein Loaf (Printer View)

Moist protein loaf with sweet cinnamon cream cheese swirl, perfect for nutritious snacking

# Components:

→ For the Loaf

01 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
04 - 1/4 cup milk of choice
05 - 1/4 cup light olive oil or melted coconut oil
06 - 1/3 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
09 - 1/2 cup vanilla or unflavored whey protein powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
11 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
13 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ For the Cream Cheese Swirl

14 - 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
15 - 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
16 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
17 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
18 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, eggs, Greek yogurt, milk, oil, sugar, and vanilla until well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine flour, protein powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
04 - Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined without overmixing.
05 - In a small bowl, beat together cream cheese, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth.
06 - Pour half of the loaf batter into the prepared pan. Dollop half of the cream cheese mixture over the batter and gently swirl with a knife. Repeat with remaining loaf batter and swirl the remaining cream cheese mixture on top.
07 - Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a small amount of cream cheese residue acceptable.
08 - Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • High Protein: Each slice provides approximately 9g of protein, making it an excellent post-workout snack or breakfast option.
  • Cheesecake-Inspired: The cinnamon cream cheese swirl adds a luxurious, dessert-like quality while remaining health-conscious.
  • Moist and Flavorful: The combination of Greek yogurt and mashed bananas ensures a tender crumb that stays fresh for days.
02 -
  • Don't Overmix: When combining wet and dry ingredients, stop as soon as the flour streaks disappear to ensure a light texture.
  • Temperature Check: Using room temperature eggs and yogurt will help the batter emulsify more smoothly.
  • The Toothpick Test: Because of the cream cheese swirl, a little moisture on the toothpick is normal, but the loaf batter should be fully set.
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