Carrot Cake Banana Bread with Thick Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

What do you get when carrot cake and banana bread come together? This is a recipe everyone will love! Our Carrot Cake Banana Bread is about to become a new favorite in your cookbook.  Oh, and don’t forget the low-fat cream cheese frosting — it’s to die for! Perfect for any occasion!

PREP TIME15 MINUTES

COOK TIME50 MINUTES

TOTAL TIME1 HOUR 5 MINUTES

SERVES12

Ingredients

Dry Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups whole wheat pastry flour 
• ½ cup quick oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ¼ teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

• ¾ cup mashed bananas (very ripe)
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• 2 tablespoons melted and cooled coconut oil
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup shredded carrots 
• 1/3 cup Almond Milk
• ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (save an additional 2 tablespoons for topping)
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

For the frosting:

• 4 oz whipped low-fat cream cheese, softened (room temperature)
• 1/3 cup Icing Sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350’F. Spray 8×4 or 9×5 inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat pastry flour, quick oats, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together the mashed banana, coconut sugar, egg, and vanilla until well combined and creamy. Add in applesauce and almond milk, then fold in carrots. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined — DO NOT OVERMIX. Gently fold in melted coconut oil, chopped walnuts or pecans, raisins, and coconut.

Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 45-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean with a few crumbs attached. Hint: Ours took about 55 minutes in an 8×4 inch loaf pan. If you use a 9×5 inch pan, you may need to check the bread at 40 minutes.

Remove from oven and place pan on wire rack to cool for 15 – 20 minutes. Gently, remove bread from pan and place on wire rack to finish cooling completely (Cool to the touch)

Now it is time to make the cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Beat the room temperature cream cheese, icing sugar, vanilla and cinnamon together using a medium speed for 1-2 minutes or until smooth. Spread over the cooled room temperature bread. 

Finally, sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts or pecans. Cut your Carrot Cake Banana Bread into 10-12 slices and enjoy!  It’s bound to be a big hit with all your family and friends.