Bake or Break
New to BAKE or BREAK? Start Here!

Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread

Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread is a quick bread-cake hybrid that features sweet strawberries and a cream cheese swirl!

sliced Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread on a white plate

Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread

Quick breads are one of my favorite things to bake. I love their versatility. There are so many flavors to explore! And I love that they’re a great treat most any time of the day.

This strawberry bread takes sweet strawberries, adds a little cream cheese, some oats and brown sugar, and puts it all into a simple quick bread with a cake-like texture.

To me, the best part of this bread is that the sweetened cream cheese mixture isn’t completely mixed into the bread. Instead, it’s just slightly mixed into the batter with a few turns of a spoon. The result is that you get little bursts of big cream cheese flavor every few bites.

I just adore this Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread! It’s such a special treat for breakfast or brunch, or even just for a sweet snack. And it’s just as good for a simple dessert! A must-bake for strawberry season!

Want more strawberry recipes? Try my Brown Butter Strawberry Muffins, Strawberry Cobbler, and Strawberry Cupcakes next!

What You’ll Need

Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for ingredient amounts and full instructions. Here are some helpful notes about the ingredients.

  • All-purpose flour – As always, measure by weight for best results. Otherwise, use the spoon and sweep method of measuring.
  • Old-fashioned rolled oats – These oats add a hearty, chewy texture.
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter – Allow the butter to soften before mixing. Learn more: How to Soften Butter
  • Light brown sugar – If you aren’t measuring by weight, be sure your brown sugar is firmly packed.
  • Eggs – Bring the eggs to room temperature before mixing.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Strawberries – You’ll need 6 ounces of strawberries, which is about 3/4 to 1 cup by volume. Chop these into bite-size pieces.
  • Cream cheese – Full-fat, block cream cheese works best. Bring it to room temperature so it will mix smoothly and easily.
  • Granulated sugar

Can I use frozen strawberries?

While fresh strawberries will work best, you can use frozen in a pinch or if that’s your preference. There’s no need to thaw them, but you may want to rinse them first in very cold water so the color doesn’t bleed into the bread. Keep in mind that frozen fruit will add more water to your baked goods. Learn more: Fresh vs Frozen Fruits in Baking

slice of Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread on a white plate

How to Make Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread

Despite the two separate components, this bread mixes quickly and easily. While most quick breads use the muffin method, this one uses the creaming method to make a bread that exists somewhere between a quick bread and a cake.

Prepare for baking. Heat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan. If you like, line the pan with parchment paper and grease the paper.

Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, and salt.

Combine the wet ingredients. Place the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl. With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat until fluffy and lightened in color. Add the eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and mix until combined.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until combined or a few streaks of flour remain.

Add the strawberries. Gently fold the strawberries into the batter with a mixing spoon or spatula.

Make the cream cheese filling. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and the remaining teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix until smooth.

Add the filling to the batter. Stir the cream cheese mixture partially into the batter, using 4 or 5 turns with a mixing spoon. You should see streaks of the cream cheese filling in the batter.

Bake. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, and bake 35 to 40 minutes. The bread is done when a pick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool. Place the pan on a wire rack and allow to cool completely before slicing.

Tips for Success

Here are a few tips to help make sure your Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread bakes up perfectly!

  • Check your pan size. A standard loaf pan can be one of two sizes. Make sure yours is 9″ x 5″. I also recommend using a light-colored metal pan for even, thorough baking.
  • Don’t over-mix. Too much mixing can affect the texture. If there are a few streaks of flour remaining, that’s fine. It will mix a bit more as you swirl the cream cheese mixture into the batter.
  • Checking for doneness. With that swirl of cream cheese, it can be difficult to tell when the bread is thoroughly baked. You may want to try testing in a few different spots to make sure it’s ready to come out of the oven.
  • Use different berries. For something a little different, try making this bread with another berry, like blueberries or raspberries.
sliced Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread

How to Store Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread

Once cooled, the bread can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days. Bring individual servings to room temperature before serving.

Can This Bread Be Frozen?

Yes, this bread should freeze well. Wrap the cooled bread or individual slices in two layers of plastic wrap, and then wrap again in aluminum foil or place in an airtight, freezer-safe container or bag. Properly stored, it should keep in the freezer up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread

Yield 10 to 12 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread is packed with oats, brown sugar, cream cheese, and plenty of fresh strawberries! You'll love this fruit-filled quick bread!

sliced Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread on a white plate

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (99g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided
  • 6 ounces (170g) strawberries, chopped
  • 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a standard 9"x 5" loaf pan.
  2. Whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla and mix well.
  4. Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually mix in the flour mixture. Stir in the strawberries.
  5. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Add to the bread mixture, stirring 4-5 turns until streaked with cream cheese mixture.
  6. Transfer the batter to prepared loaf pan. Bake 35-40 minutes, or until a pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before serving.

Recommended Products

Bake or Break is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Show off your baking masterpiece!

Snap a pic, tag @bakeorbreak, and use #bakeorbreak on Instagram. Can't wait to see your creation!

More Berry-Packed Breads

Get my new eBook today! 14 Muffins and Quick Breads

Share this:

    36 Comments on “Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread”

  1. This looks so moist and decadent! Definitely going to give this a whirl!

  2. Sounds wonderful! Do you think I could use frozen strawberries?

  3. Mmm I need a whole lotta this! Love it!

  4. This looks great! A perfect way to make good use of all of those summer berries!

  5. I love cream cheese in anything, and this bread in partiular sounds very yummy.

  6. I think you skipped a step. When does oat mixture get added?

  7. I had to bake this late last night after seeing the post. It was quick to put together. Although I really wanted to try it after baking, I fell asleep while waiting for it to cool…I ran to the kitchen to try it first thing this morning. It is amazing!! I love the brown sugar/oat combination with the strawberries, and the cream cheese swirl is soooo good. I can’t wait to make this again for family! Thanks for the yummy recipe.

  8. jennifer, thank you for your prompt response yesterday! Used frozen berries, altho I defrosted enough to drain some juice off them. Worked great! Would you store leftovers in refrigerator? Wonderful recipe!

  9. mary, I would refrigerate unless it will al be eaten within a day or two.

  10. That looks very delicious!

  11. Will HAVE to give this recipe a go have never seen a bread recipe as scrumptious as this! I bet it’s one of those recipes that’s so good that I will have to bake one for myself in secret so I don’t have to share ;p

  12. So Good! This is so right up my alley. I love that the cream cheese is not completely mixed in yet it still looks like a moist slice of pure goodness.

  13. Can we substitute the strawberries for “guava paste”??? It mix great with cream cheese!

  14. Angie, I’ve never used guava paste, so I can’t say if it would work or not. If you try it, let me know how it works.

  15. Substituted the strawberries with homemade jam (peaches, strawberries and plums with a dash of honey) and it came out really good, despite several ‘opps-noob-baker-should have read the directions more carefully) moments (like not properly creaming the butter and the cream cheese mixture was of a softer consistency then suggested). So delicious, thank you for sharing this!

  16. Oh, this sounds divine. Summer’s coming up down here in Oz, too, so – strawberry season! Yum.

  17. Hi! I managed to find so sweet red strawberries at Trader Joe’s a few days ago and finally tried your recipe. Success! I think it would also be excellent with blueberries, so next tie I’ll see how it works with frozen ones.

    Bonus: for a little extra decadence, I smushed together some butter, brown sugar and cinnamon ad sprinkled it over the top just before I put the pan in the oven!

  18. This is in the oven as I type!

  19. I made this a few days ago, without a bread pan or my American measuring cups! I was sure that it would turn out dry or underdone… it came out spectacular! Everyone loved it, and one of them went out, bought the ingredients and made it herself the next day. The strawberry season is almost up here and it’s a great way of using them. Thanks, Jennifer!

  20. I am an avid baker…you are killing me…I just want to MAKE everything you post! It looks so delicious and I know it is. Thank you for the wonderful torment.

  21. I bake all the time. I came across this recipe and made it. Wonderful loaf bread. Moist and flavorful! A must try. Thank you!!

  22. I just made this and it is delicious!! I can’t wait to try out more of your recipes, thank you for sharing!

  23. I am going to make this as a birthday gift for my mother so I want it to be just right. Do I use  quick oats or the raw long cooking oats? Thank you. 

  24. Jennifer…Can this bread be frozen after it’s made? If so, will the cream cheese be OK when it gets defrosted? Thanks

    • Hi, Holly. I don’t think I’ve ever frozen this bread, but I wouldn’t hesitate to do so. Just thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat slices in the microwave or bring to room temperature.

  25. Hi What is 6 Oz of strawberries in a measuring cup?

  26. Could this recipe be doubled and baked in a 9 x 13 dish?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *