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My favorite Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting. This is a simple loaf of banana bread made with carrots. It’s SO DELICIOUS! Mix overripe bananas and sweet grated carrots with coconut oil, honey or maple syrup, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Bake until set, then add a layer of creamy cream cheese frosting. This is sure to become your favorite banana bread. It’s perfect for an afternoon snack or served for dessert.

Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com

Mother’s Day is around the corner, and I’m already planning a simple but very spring-like menu. I’ve only recently started baking carrot cake; it’s not something I grew up eating, so I’m having a lot of fun sharing new recipes!

My mom and little sister, Asher, both love banana bread or banana cake. I decided that mixing in carrots and using cream cheese frosting could be fun for this time of year.

And delicious, of course!

To make this recipe, I used my favorite banana bread recipe as a base and added carrots to the batter. The bread—or maybe it’s more of a cake—turned out so yummy!

This is definitely a recipe you can make for mom, but truly, you can bake this any time of the year!

Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com

These are the details

Step 1: start with the bananas

The key is using very ripe bananas. I’m talking brown spots all over. These are perfect for banana bread.

Mash up the bananas. Tip I love to use a potato masher!

Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com

Step 2: mix the batter

Add the mashed bananas and grated carrots. Then mix with coconut oil, pure maple syrup, or honey; both are great.

Next, crack in a couple of eggs and a splash of vanilla. Add flour, a pinch of cinnamon, and a dash of salt. The cinnamon adds a warmth that I find lovely with these flavors. It’s subtle enough that you can’t really tell it’s there, but it adds a special touch.

Bake the bread in a 1-pound bread loaf pan.

Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com

Step 3: the frosting

While the bread is baking, make the frosting.

I love cream cheese frosting with any kind of carrot cake, so I felt like we needed a thick layer. I make mine with butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, vanilla, and sea salt. Beat this all together, then mix in powdered sugar to your taste. I never use more than a cup.

Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com

Some might skip this frosting, but please, I’m begging you all, make it!

It’s so delicious when slathered over an ever-so-slightly warmed piece of bread.

The bread with the frosting slathered on is very tender, very banana-y, lightly sweetened, and full of yumminess.

A slice of carrot cake banana bread is perfect any time of day, yet special enough to serve mom too!

Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting | halfbakedharvest.com

Looking for other sweet recipes? Here are a few ideas: 

Blender Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Giant Double Blueberry Muffin Cookies

Bakery Blueberry Vanilla Crunch Muffins

Blueberry Swirl Coffee Cake Muffins

Double Strawberry Cupcakes

Maple Glazed Doughnuts

Baked Chocolate Fudge Glazed Doughnuts

Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze

Lastly, if you make this Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Banana Bread Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 436 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Frosting

Instructions

  • 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a 9×5 inch bread pan.
    2. In a bowl, stir together the mashed bananas, carrots, coconut oil, honey/maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, and mix until just combined. Fold in the walnuts if using. 
    3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until the center is just set. Remove and let cool for 30 minutes before frosting.
    4. To make the frosting. In a bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Mix in the sugar, using it to your taste. Frost the top of the bread. Slice and enjoy!
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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love the combination of carrot cake and banana bread! I have Celiace disease and was able to make it Gluten Free by using GF cup for cup flour and it turned out great. (Not all baking recipes taste as good when made GF- this one did!) The frosting was a great addition. Thanks!

    1. Hi Cathy,
      Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! Happy Monday! xT