Pumpkin Banana Bread with Chocolate Chunks and Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Frosting
It is finally starting to feel like fall in Atlanta and I am fully leaning into it! Fall is my favorite season, but it’s hard to get in the spirit when it’s still 90 degrees outside. The cooler temps this weekend made me so happy and I loved being outside and soaking up the crisp fall air! Not to mention, our whole neighborhood is starting to decorate for Halloween so it’s really starting to feel festive around here. Since it finally feels like autumn, I had to celebrate with a pumpkin recipe. Cue this pumpkin banana bread with pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting. It’s perfect moist from the bananas and pumpkin puree, and it’s full of gooey chocolate chunks. The absolute best part though is the homemade pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting. You’ll make a simple cream cheese frosting with cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar, but give it a fall twist by adding some pumpkin spice seasoning. Let’s just say this loaf didn’t last long in our house! You can save it for a fun festive occasion, but it’s so easy to make you could also just enjoy it on a chilly morning with your coffee. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!
Pumpkin Banana Bread with Chocolate Chunks and Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Frosting
The only thing better than a fresh loaf of banana bread is a fall inspired pumpkin banana bread with a pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting! This comforting bread has hints of banana, pumpkin, and melty chocolate chunks baked right in. The best part is the homemade pumpkin spice cream cheese frosting that really brings all the flavors together. It's perfect to enjoy on a crisp autumn morning or bring to any festive gathering!
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter room temp
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1.5 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 overripe bananas
- 2 oz. semi sweet baking chocolate bar, roughly chopped into chunks
- 4 oz. cream cheese
- 4 tbsp. room temp butter
- 1/2 tsp. pumpkin spice
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add butter, sugar, eggs, pumpkin puree, and vanilla to a bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat together until mixed well.
- Add in flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in with a spatula until well combined.
- In a small separate bowl mash bananas with a fork or a potato masher.
- Add bananas and the chocolate chunks to the batter. Stir in with spatula.
- Transfer batter to a well greased loaf pan. (Pro tip: save the butter wrapper and use it to grease the pan).
- Bake for 1 hour. (Check after about 50 minutes, depending on your oven it might need a little more or less than one hour).
- For the frosting add the cream cheese and butter to a bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat together until it is mixed well. Add in the pumpkin spice and powdered sugar and use a spatula to mix well.
- Once the bread has cooled completely, remove it from the bread pan and top it with the cream cheese frosting. You do not want to add the frosting before the bread has cooled or it will slide off.