7. Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling: In a separate bowl, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
8. Layer the Ingredients in the Pan: Pour half of the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Next, drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese filling over the batter and gently spread it into an even layer. Top with the remaining batter and smooth it out. You can use a butter knife to gently swirl the cream cheese filling into the batter for a marbled effect.
9. Bake the Loaf: Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (though it may come out with a few crumbs). If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can cover it loosely with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes of baking.
10. Cool and Serve: Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. This step helps the loaf set and makes it easier to slice.
