Carrot Cake Banana Bread

This Carrot Cake Banana Bread recipe combines the best of both worlds for a treat you’re going to love. Made with maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pecans or walnuts for a flavor-packed dessert!

A delicious blend of two dessert favorites

Carrot cake and banana bread are, own their own, both wildly delicious. So why not combine them? Today, I’m showing you how to make this fabulous carrot cake banana bread dessert recipe. It’s guaranteed to become your new favorite!

For the bread we bring together a combination of bananas, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, carrots, and more, along with a delicious 5 ingredient cream cheese frosting. There’s even a way to make it vegan!

Ingredients in this banana and carrot bread

This recipe is made in two parts: the bread and the cream cheese frosting. Below is everything you’ll need!

Carrot Cake Banana Bread

• Bananas: Begin with 2 medium overripe bananas. They’ll need to be mashed before using in the recipe.
• Eggs: Next up, 2 eggs! These will need to be whisked.
• Coconut oil: Help the bread achieve a nice and moist texture by using 1/2 cup of melted coconut oil.
• Maple syrup: Then, use 1/2 cup of maple syrup for an all natural sweetener.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla is a must in this carrot and banana bread. Use 1 tsp.
• Flour: Next is the flour. 1.5 cups of white whole wheat flour will create a dense yet fluffy result.
• Baking soda: Use 1 tsp of baking soda to help the bread cook properly.
• Spices: Now for the flavor! Include 1/2 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp of nutmeg.
• Carrots: You can’t have carrot cake banana bread without the carrots! Use 1 cup of grated carrots. You can use pre-shredded carrot or grate them yourself.
• Nuts: Add a bit of crunch with 1/2 cup of nuts. Use either walnuts or pecans, and chop them before adding to the recipe.
• Raisins: With the addition of 1/2 cup of raisins, the bread is complete!

Cream Cheese Frosting

• Cream cheese: The frosting base starts with 1 8oz block of softened cream cheese.
• Butter: Then, add 2 tbsp of softened butter.
• Powdered sugar: Next, create more of a frosting texture by adding 1 cup of powdered sugar.
• Cinnamon: Use 1/4 tsp of cinnamon for a bit of flavor.
• Vanilla extract: Last but not least, finish off the frosting with 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract.

Tools used to make this banana and carrot loaf

To make this banana and carrot loaf, you’ll need a few kitchen tools. Before you get started, gather the following:

• Bread pan
• Nonstick spray or parchment paper
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Medium mixing bowl
• Stirring utensil
• Vegetable grater
• Hand mixer
• Measuring cups: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup

How to make carrot cake banana bread

Ready to make this banana bread with carrots? Let’s dive in! You can expect this recipe to take around 10-15 minutes of prep time and a 45-55 minutes of baking time.

First, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a bread loaf pan with nonstick spray or parchment paper.

Then, in a large bowl, whisk together the mashed ripe bananas and eggs.

Add the oil, maple syrup, and vanilla, and stir until combined.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg.

Then, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until fully combined.

Add the grated carrots, nuts, and raisins and stir in any desired mix-ins.

Next, pour the batter into a prepared bread pan and bake in the oven for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

While the bread bakes, use a hand mixer to blend together the softened cream cheese and butter. Once smooth, blend in the powdered sugar. Then, mix in the cinnamon and vanilla.

When the loaf is completely cooled, ice the top of the bread.

Can I make the frosting vegan?

Absolutely! To do so, start by soaking 1.5 cups of raw cashews in hot water for at least 2 hours (overnight preferred). Then, combine with 1/2 cup of filtered water, maple syrup, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.

Is it better to use butter or oil in carrot cake?

Either can work! Oil makes cakes and breads moister, while butter contributes to the flavor. Some recipes use both. Ours uses coconut oil for the best texture!

What causes a cake to not be moist?

A variety of things can cause a cake to wind up dry. Those include using too much flour (measure carefully!), not using enough oil, or simply baking the bread for too long. Be sure to follow the directions precisely, and your bread will turn out just fine!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

Want to try some similar recipes? Here are some ideas. The carrot cake pancakes are to die for!

• Healthy Carrot Cake Pancakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
• Healthy Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Carrot Cake Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa