pumpkin bread w/ cream cheese filling

I have to admit, I've never been a big fan of cake mixes, bread mixes for fear of crappy taste. But hands down this instant pumpkin bread mix from Trader Joe's is really good. Has really good pumpkin flavor and definitely not too sweet. It rises perfectly and holds up well to add in's. I've experimented with this bread mix before, adding in chips, spices, nuts and now cream cheese swirl. It's really good. And if you're strapped for time this is it; so quick and easy to assemble, the only long part is the baking. I've made the cream cheese swirl with espresso and plain using a hint of vanilla extract. Feel free to experiment here. One could even add in pumpkin pie spice to the cream cheese filling; just taste test as you go along as pumpkin pie spice is strong and can dominate flavor fast.
I also love the Trader Joe's Gingerbread mix--come see what I did to that one!
Gingerbread cupcakes with white chocolate-cream cheese ganache

As you can clearly see it's a moist bread. Give this one a go, I'm certain you'll love it no matter how you kick it up.

pumpkin bread with cream cheese filling
print recipe

Pumpkin bread batter:
1 box of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread
A dash or two of cinnamon

Cream cheese filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, very soft
Pinch of salt
1 egg yolk
3-4 TB white sugar (more if you like it sweet)
If you want espresso flavor use a ½ of a Starbuck’s Via
If you want plain flavor use 1 oversize teaspoon vanilla extract
If you want pumpkin pie flavor use a couple dashes of pumpkin pie spice blend

Mix bread mix according to directions on box. Set aside. Preheat oven to what it says on box.
In a separate bowl mix the cream cheese with the egg yolk, salt and flavor of your choice. Mix well.

Spray a bread loaf pan with non stick spray. Pour in half the batter, then dollop the middle with clumps of the cream cheese mixture; don’t let the cream cheese mixture go to the ends as it will run out as it bakes. Cover top with remaining batter. Bake according to box directions. You’ll know when it’s done when you see light brown edges and the bread mix when tested with toothpick comes out clean. Don’t test the middle of the bread is it has the cream cheese and no batter.
You have to let this cool for a while before slicing as the cream cheese filling needs to firm up.