The Best Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread: Our Favorite Loaf!

Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread
Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread – There are some recipes that just weave themselves into the very fabric of your home, becoming more than mere instructions on a page – they become cherished kitchen adventures. For us, that’s undeniably our Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread, a loaf whose origin story began one crisp Saturday morning years ago when a bounty of fresh blueberries practically begged to be combined with a lonely block of cream cheese. What started as a simple, whimsical experiment quickly blossomed into an absolute family obsession, filling our home with the most incredible, comforting aroma and a promise of pure deliciousness.
This isn’t one of those overly complicated baking projects; it’s real talk, a surprisingly simple process yielding a truly show-stopping loaf every single time. Every bite offers a tender crumb, bursting with sweet-tart blueberries and a dreamy, tangy cream cheese ribbon, all kissed with that comforting homemade goodness – the kind of treat that rivals even our beloved pumpkin streusel bread for a cozy morning. Whether you’re enjoying it with a quiet cup of coffee or serving it at a lively brunch alongside other delights like black raspberry lemon shortbread cookies, you’ll quickly understand why this recipe became a staple in our kitchen’s story.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Bread: Our Favorite Loaf!
Course: BreadsCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings30
minutes40
minutes300
kcalA tender, moist quick bread swirled with sweet cream cheese and bursting with juicy blueberries. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a delightful dessert!
Ingredients
For the Bread:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 cup milk (whole or 2%)
1/4 cup vegetable oil (or melted unsalted butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw if frozen)
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Optional Streusel Topping:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan, or line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until well combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; a few lumps are okay.
- Gently fold in the blueberries. If using frozen, add them directly from the freezer.
- To make the cream cheese filling, combine the softened cream cheese, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, egg yolk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract in a small bowl. Beat with a fork or small whisk until smooth and creamy.
- Pour half of the bread batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly.
- Dollop spoonfuls of the cream cheese mixture over the batter in the pan. Use a knife or a skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese into the batter, being careful not to overmix.
- Spoon the remaining bread batter over the cream cheese layer and gently spread.
- If using the optional streusel, combine streusel flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in cold butter with your fingers or a pastry blender until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center (avoiding the cream cheese swirl) comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
- Let the bread cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes before carefully removing it from the pan to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- The Secret to No-Bleed Blueberries: If you’re using fresh blueberries and want to prevent them from bleeding into your batter too much, lightly toss them with a tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter. This trick helps them hold their shape and color beautifully.
- Cream Cheese Swirl Perfection: Don’t overdo the swirling! Just a few gentle passes with a knife or skewer are enough to create that beautiful marbled effect. Too much mixing can cause the cream cheese to disappear or sink.
- Storage Savvy: This bread stays wonderfully moist for days! Store any leftovers tightly wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It also freezes beautifully for longer storage – just wrap it well and thaw at room temperature.
