Caramel Cream Cheese Bread (Printable)

Tender quick bread with cream cheese swirl and caramel ribbons. Perfect for breakfast or dessert any time.

# What you need:

→ Bread Batter

01 - 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
02 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
03 - 2 tablespoons baking powder
04 - 1 teaspoon salt
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 2 cups whole milk
07 - 2/3 cup vegetable oil

→ Cream Cheese Filling

08 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
09 - 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
10 - 1 large egg

→ Topping

11 - 1/4 cup caramel sauce

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 1-pound loaf pans thoroughly to prevent sticking.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
03 - In a large bowl or using a stand mixer, beat eggs, milk, and vegetable oil until well combined.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Do not overmix to maintain tender crumb structure.
05 - Divide half of the batter evenly between the two prepared loaf pans, spreading to create an even base layer.
06 - In a separate bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and egg until smooth and uniform.
07 - Spoon cream cheese mixture in a line down the center of the batter in each loaf pan.
08 - Top each pan with remaining batter, spreading gently to cover the cream cheese filling without disturbing it.
09 - Drizzle caramel sauce in a stripe over the top of each loaf. Using a knife, gently swirl the caramel into the batter in a figure-eight pattern. Avoid over-swirling to preserve distinct layers.
10 - Bake for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Some cream cheese residue on the toothpick is acceptable.
11 - Allow loaves to cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks bakery fancy but uses basic pantry ingredients you probably already have.
  • The cream cheese center stays creamy and rich, never dry or crumbly.
  • You get two full loaves, so one can go straight to the freezer or a friend in need.
  • It works for breakfast with coffee or dessert with vanilla ice cream, no questions asked.
02 -
  • Do not overfill the pans, leave at least an inch of space or the batter will spill over and burn on your oven floor.
  • Softened cream cheese is non negotiable, cold cream cheese will not beat smooth and you'll get lumps in every slice.
  • The caramel swirl is just for looks and a hint of flavor, if you overswirl it disappears completely into the batter.
03 -
  • Let the cream cheese and egg sit out for 30 minutes before you start, it makes the filling incredibly smooth.
  • Use a light hand when swirling the caramel, one or two passes with the knife is all you need for that marbled look.
  • If the tops brown too quickly, tent the loaves loosely with foil halfway through baking.
Return