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Christmas Banana Bread

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4.4 from 71 reviews

Christmas Banana Bread combines the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with tart dried cranberries and a hint of fresh orange zest and juice, creating a moist, flavorful quick bread perfect for holiday brunches, gifting, or freezing. This festive loaf offers a delightful balance of fruit flavors with a tender crumb and optional walnut crunch.

Ingredients

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Main Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp. fresh orange juice
  • 2 Tbsp. orange zest
  • 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • ¼ cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour one 9-inch loaf pan and one small loaf pan to prevent sticking.
  2. Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add eggs: Mix the beaten eggs into the creamed butter and sugar until well combined.
  4. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stirring gently to combine.
  6. Add banana mixture: Stir in the mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla extract, fresh orange juice, and orange zest until everything is evenly incorporated.
  7. Add cranberries and walnuts: Fold in the dried sweetened cranberries and chopped walnuts, mixing until distributed throughout the batter.
  8. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake the large loaf for 50-55 minutes, and the small loaf for 33-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  9. Cool and finish: Let the bread cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Optionally, wrap the loaf in decorative paper and tie with string for a festive presentation.

Notes

  • You can make 1 large loaf, 1 small loaf, or 4 small loaves depending on pan sizes.
  • Walnuts are optional but add a nice crunchy texture.
  • Be sure to use ripe bananas for maximum sweetness and moisture.
  • This bread freezes well; wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before freezing.
  • For a dairy-free option, substitute sour cream with non-dairy yogurt and use a suitable butter alternative.

Find it online: https://yumfoodusa.com/christmas-banana-bread/