This Lemon Cream Cheese Bread is a delightful quick bread that combines the bright tang of lemon with a rich, creamy swirl of sweetened cream cheese. The result is a moist, flavorful loaf with a beautiful marbled appearance, perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack.

Lemon Cream Cheese Bread

Ingredients:

For the Bread Batter

For the Cream Cheese Swirl

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven & Prep Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a standard loaf pan thoroughly.
2. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the sugar, eggs, sour cream, lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and canola oil. Mix with a whisk or electric mixer until smooth and well combined.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Combine Wet & Dry: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined and no dry streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix. Set the batter aside.
5. Prepare Cream Cheese Swirl: In a small bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
6. Layer & Swirl (First Layer): Add half of the bread batter to the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Spoon about half of the cream cheese mixture on top of the batter. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the cream cheese into the batter, creating a marbled effect.
7. Layer & Swirl (Second Layer): Top with the rest of the remaining bread batter. Carefully spoon the remaining cream cheese mixture on top. Again, carefully swirl together with a knife to create a marbled look.
8. Bake: Bake the bread for 65-70 minutes. To prevent the top from browning too much, cover the loaf loosely with aluminum foil for the last 20-30 minutes of baking. The bread is done when a wooden skewer or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Cool: Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before attempting to slice. This is crucial for the cream cheese swirl to set properly.