Carrot Cake Banana Bread – Moist with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot Cake Banana Bread brings two classic baked treats together in one moist, warmly spiced quick bread. Mashed bananas and shredded carrots give the bread its tender texture, while cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice create the familiar flavor of carrot cake. Once cooled, the loaves are covered with homemade cream cheese frosting and can be finished with crushed pecans and shredded carrots. With 20 minutes of prep and about 30–35 minutes of baking, this carrot cake banana bread is a comforting dessert bread for holidays, gatherings, or an everyday baking project.

Quick Recipe Snapshot

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Servings: Not specified
• Cooking Method: Oven-baked quick bread

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Two favorites in one: Banana bread and carrot cake flavors come together in a single bake.
• Moist texture: Mashed bananas and shredded carrots are incorporated directly into the batter.
• Warm spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice give the bread its carrot-cake character.
• Cream cheese frosting: The cooled loaves are finished with a rich homemade frosting.
• Optional crunchy topping: Crushed pecans and shredded carrots add an appealing finish.

Ingredients

Carrot Cake Banana Bread

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups mashed bananas, about 3-4 medium bananas
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tso ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground all spice
• 1 cup shredded carrots

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Optional Toppings

• 1/2 cup crushed pecans
• 1/4 cup shredded carrots

The mashed bananas and shredded carrots are the key additions that give this quick bread its combined banana bread and carrot cake character. The cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice provide the warm spice profile, while the cream cheese frosting adds a rich finish.

How to Make Carrot Cake Banana Bread

1. Prepare the pans and oven

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8×4 pans.

2. Cream the butter and sugars

In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the eggs and vanilla

Add the eggs and vanilla to the butter mixture. Beat until mixed.

4. Add the dry ingredients

To the wet ingredients, sift in the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and salt.

Stir until just combined.

5. Add the carrots

Add the shredded carrots and mix until combined.

6. Add the bananas

Pour in the mashed bananas and mix until combined.

7. Bake the bread

Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Allow the breads to cool.

8. Make the cream cheese frosting

Beat the cream cheese and butter together until combined.

Add the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and powdered sugar. Mix until combined.

9. Frost and decorate

Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled breads.

If desired, sprinkle the tops with chopped pecans and shredded carrots.

Important Baking Tips

• Soften the butter before mixing. The bread batter starts by creaming softened butter with the granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy.
• Stir the flour mixture only until combined. The instructions specifically call for stirring the sifted dry ingredients until just combined.
• Add the carrots before the bananas. The recipe mixes the shredded carrots into the batter before incorporating the mashed bananas.
• Wait until the bread has cooled before frosting. The frosting is spread over the cooled breads.
• Check with a cake tester. The bread is ready when a cake tester comes out clean after the 30–35 minute baking time.
• Grease both pans. The recipe makes two loaves using two 8×4 pans.

Storage & Make-Ahead

Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Because the finished bread is topped with cream cheese frosting, refrigeration is part of the supplied storage instructions. No specific refrigerator duration or freezing instructions were provided, so no additional storage times are added.

Simple Variations

Add the Optional Toppings

The original recipe allows you to finish the frosted loaves with crushed pecans and shredded carrots. Both toppings are optional.

Leave the Topping Off

For a simpler finish, spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled bread without adding the optional pecans or shredded carrots.

Make Two Loaves

The recipe is written for two 8×4 pans, making it convenient to bake both loaves together.

Serving Ideas

• Slice the frosted bread and serve it as a dessert.
• Arrange slices on a platter for a family gathering or holiday table.
• Finish the top with the optional crushed pecans and shredded carrots.
• Serve the bread once it has cooled and the frosting has been spread over the top.
• Keep the finished bread refrigerated between servings.

FAQ

How many loaves does this recipe make?

The instructions call for two 8×4 pans, so the recipe makes two loaves.

When should I frost the banana bread?

Allow the baked breads to cool first. The cream cheese frosting is then spread over the cooled breads.

How do I know when the bread is done?

Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Can I use the pecans and carrots on top?

Yes. The recipe lists 1/2 cup crushed pecans and 1/4 cup shredded carrots as optional toppings.

How should I store the leftovers?

Store leftovers in the refrigerator, as specified in the recipe.

Nutrition

The supplied recipe does not provide specific calorie, protein, carbohydrate, fat, or fiber values. It states that nutrition information is calculated using a third-party tool and is only an estimate, so no numerical nutrition values are added here.

Final Thoughts

Carrot Cake Banana Bread is a fun combination of two familiar favorites, with mashed bananas, shredded carrots, and warm spices baked into tender quick bread. The homemade cream cheese frosting gives the cooled loaves a rich finishing touch, while pecans and shredded carrots can add extra texture and color. Bake both loaves, frost them once cooled, and keep this recipe ready whenever banana bread and carrot cake cravings meet.

Print