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Cottage Cheese Banana Bread

If you think you’ve tried every kind of banana bread, think again! This easy cottage cheese banana bread recipe is a fun twist on the classic loaf, and it’s a game-changer for super-moist bread. Make banana pudding cups or Kodiak banana pancakes for even more banana flavor.

Sliced banana bread on a cutting board.

Why Use Cottage Cheese in Banana Bread?

You may be asking yourself, ‘cottage cheese in banana bread?’ But trust me on this one. Add cottage cheese to baked goods, increasing moisture and giving it a subtle tangy flavor. Plus, cottage cheese is a great source of protein (11 grams per serving) to keep you full for longer. The creaminess of the cottage cheese blends into the other ingredients to create a fluffy texture in bread, cake, and muffin recipes.

Key Ingredients

The banana bread recipe combines everything to love about homemade bread—moist, tender, and flavorful—with a little extra protein, thanks to cottage cheese. It’s the perfect way to put those overripe bananas to good use. Here’s what you’ll need to get started.

  • Bananas: Include three ripe bananas, depending on how sweet you want the banana bread.
  • Eggs: Two large eggs to bind everything together.
  • Cottage Cheese: Full-fat cottage cheese adds richness and moisture.
  • Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract sweetens the bread.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour is a staple in most pantries.
  • Brown Sugar: Use light brown sugar to sweeten the bread.
  • Baking Soda: The baking soda helps the bread rise.
  • Spices: Balance the flavor of the homemade banana bread with ground cinnamon and sea salt.

Additions and Substitutions

How to Make Cottage Cheese Banana Bread

The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Mash the bananas with a fork in a large bowl. Add the eggs, cottage cheese, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.

Wet ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Whisk flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl to distribute the baking soda.

Dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Step 3: Transfer the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients and combine. Cover and set it aside for 1 hour.

Wet and dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Prep Tip

Stir until the ingredients combine, but do not over-mix. Instead, fold them together with a spatula until fully incorporated. 

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C), then pour the mixture into a prepared loaf pan. Bake uncovered for 1 hour. Let the banana bread cool on a wire rack before serving.

Banana bread batter in a bread tin.
Cottage cheese banana bread in a bread tin.

Expert Tips

  • Measure with accuracy. Spoon and level the flour into measuring cups for baking accuracy.
  • Use ripe bananas. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your bread will be. Mash the bananas with a fork before adding them to the batter. If you don’t have overripe bananas but want to make the recipe, I’ve got you. Preheat the oven to 250°F (121°C). Place the bananas (peel and all) on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes until they darken. Let the bananas cool before using them.
  • Use room temperature ingredients. Let the ingredients come to room temperature before baking for the best results, especially the eggs. Room-temperature ingredients blend more smoothly into the batter, giving you a better texture.
  • Don’t over-mix. When combining the wet and dry ingredients, be careful not to over-mix. This will keep your banana bread light and fluffy.
  • Prepare the loaf pan before baking. Prepare the loaf pan with butter or cooking spray. You can also line it with parchment paper to prevent the bread from sticking.

If you enjoy cottage cheese banana bread, try more banana bread recipes!  

Sliced banana bread on a cutting board.

What Goes with Banana Bread?

There is something cozy and comforting about the smell of banana bread baking in the oven. Slice into the cottage cheese banana bread and find a moist and tender crumb. The bread is perfect on its own, or slather it with a pat of butter, fig jamwhipped ricotta dip, cream cheese, or nut butter. Top the bread with banana slices or berries and drizzle with honey for a sweet treat.

Whether it’s a quick breakfast, a post-workout snack, or an afternoon pick-me-up, banana bread is versatile enough to enjoy any time of the day.

What To Do With Leftovers

  • Storage: Keep the leftover cottage cheese banana bread in an airtight container or bread box on the counter for 3-4 days.
  • Freeze: Let the bread cool and wrap it in plastic, followed by foil to freeze for next time. Transfer the bread to a freezer-safe bag or container. Banana bread freezes for 2-3 months.
  • Thaw: Defrost the bread on the counter overnight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to blend the cottage cheese?

It’s up to you, but skip the extra step and dishes since the cottage cheese blends seamlessly into the other ingredients without blending it beforehand.

It’s up to you, but you can skip the extra step and dishes since the cottage cheese blends seamlessly into the other ingredients without blending it beforehand.

How ripe do the bananas have to be?

Use bananas that have become too soft to snack on for the best results. The riper the bananas, the tastier the bread will be.

More Bread Recipes: 

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Sliced banana bread on a cutting board.

Cottage Cheese Banana Bread

Tressa Jamil
This easy cottage cheese banana bread recipe is a fun twist on a classic banana loaf, and it's a game-changer for super-moist bread.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Bread, Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 234 kcal
Ingredients
  
Instructions
 
  • Mash the bananas with a fork in a large bowl. Add the eggs, cottage cheese, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.
  • Whisk flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl to distribute the baking soda.
  • Transfer the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet ingredients and combine. Cover and set it aside for 1 hour.
    Tip: Stir until the ingredients combine, but do not over-mix. Instead, fold them together with a spatula until fully incorporated. 
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C), then pour the mixture into a prepared loaf pan. Bake uncovered for 1 hour. Let the banana bread cool on a wire rack before serving.
Notes
Expert Tips:
  • Measure with accuracy. Spoon and level the flour into measuring cups for baking accuracy.
  • Use ripe bananas. The riper the bananas, the sweeter your bread will be. Mash the bananas with a fork before adding them to the batter. If you don’t have overripe bananas but want to make the recipe, I’ve got you. Preheat the oven to 250°F (121°C). Place the bananas (peel and all) on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes until they darken. Let the bananas cool before using them.
  • Use room temperature ingredients. Let the ingredients come to room temperature before baking for the best results, especially the eggs. Room-temperature ingredients blend more smoothly into the batter, giving you a better texture.
  • Don’t over-mix. When combining the wet and dry ingredients, be careful not to over-mix. This will keep your banana bread light and fluffy.
  • Prepare the loaf pan before baking. Prepare the loaf pan with butter or cooking spray. You can also line it with parchment paper to prevent the bread from sticking.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 Serving | Calories: 234 kcal | Carbohydrates: 48 g | Protein: 6 g | Fat: 2 g | Saturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 48 mg | Sodium: 260 mg | Potassium: 238 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 19 g | Vitamin A: 109 IU | Vitamin C: 4 mg | Calcium: 35 mg | Iron: 2 mg
Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and follow @thejamilghar or tag #thejamilghar on Instagram!
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