Cream Cheese Banana Bread

¾ cup butter, softened

1 (8oz) cream cheese softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

 3 cups flour

 ½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

 1 ½ cups mashed bananas (about 4)

1 cup chopped pecans

½ teaspoon vanilla

 Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

 Combine flour and next 3 ingredients gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended, Stir in bananas, pecans and vanilla.  Spoon batter into 2 greased loaf pans

Bake at 350 for 1 hour use wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and sides pull away from pan, use foil last 15 minutes if needed to prevent browning.

Muffins: Bake 350 25 minutes

Toasted Coconut-Topped Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread

Prepare and bake bread and muffins

Stir together in small saucepan

¼ cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup milk

Bring to boil, stirring constantly, Remove from heat,

Stir in 1 cup sweetened coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

2 teaspoons vanilla

Spread over hot bread or muffins

Broil 6” from heat 2-3 minutes until topping starts to turn brown

Cool on wire rack 20 minutes Remove from pans and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing

Submitted by: Diane Batschi