Christmas Banana Bread
Christmas Banana Bread is a holiday favorite that brings warmth and cheer to any table. This recipe combines the natural sweetness of ripe bananas with the bright flavors of orange zest and dried cranberries, creating a loaf that’s both moist and beautiful.
Perfect for Christmas morning, this easy cinnamon banana bread is as versatile as it is delicious. Enjoy it fresh from the oven, freeze it for later, or wrap it up in a festive paper and string for a heartfelt homemade gift. Its cozy aroma and lively taste make it a must-have for the season.
Christmas Banana Bread
Our best ever Sour Cream Banana Bread is so popular, I get messages all the time saying how moist and wonderful it is. So why not make it “Christmasy” and add cranberries, orange, and walnuts – and gift it for a homemade holiday gift or hostess gift?
Our neighbors love a little loaf of this bread, warm in the mornings, with their coffee! And it’s easy to double or triple the recipe and make mini loaves to freeze.
I love that you can make this bread in different sizes of baking pans. Just make sure and adjust the time (a large loaf is about 55 minutes, but of course mini loaves are less time). Don’t over bake – because every oven is different.
Why I love this recipe
- The cranberries and orange give it a bright holiday flair!
- You can bake smaller loaves to share as a holiday gift.
- The loaves freeze beautifully.
- Serves beautifully on our “frost your own cinnamon rolls board.”
Gather these ingredients
- Butter – softened
- Sugar
- Eggs – beaten
- Flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Bananas – ripe – mashed
- Sour cream
- Vanilla
- Fresh orange juice
- Orange zest
- Cranberries – sweetened – dried
- Walnuts – chopped (optional)
How to make Christmas Banana Bread
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour one 9-inch loaf pan (and one small loaf pan).
- Cream the butter (in a large bowl) with sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix well.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; combine with the butter mixture.
- Add the sour cream, bananas, vanilla, fresh squeezed orange juice and orange zest; stir well.
- Combine the dried sweetened cranberries and the chopped walnuts; mix together.
- Pour into prepared pans and bake the large pan for 50-55 minutes (small pan for 33-35 minutes).
- Cool for 10 minutes and then turn the loaf out onto a rack.
- Wrap (once cooled) wrap the loaf in parchment paper and tie it with a string for a festive Christmas presentation.
- Enjoy!
Tips & substitutions
- You can leave out the orange or the cranberries if you want, for regular sour cream banana bread.
- Replace the cranberries with mini chocolate chips.
- You can add different types of nuts, coconut, or dried fruit.
- Makes 1 large loaf (plus 1 small), or 4 small loaves. See the optional loaf pans.
- Replace the sour cream with Greek yogurt, like we did in this recipe.
- Wrap and give away for a holiday gift!
Serving suggestions
Christmas Banana Bread is perfect to serve on Christmas morning, paired with a hearty breakfast casserole, a fresh fruit salad, and a fun Frost-Your-Own Cinnamon Roll board!
Of course it’s delicious with butter and strawberry jam!
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. To freeze, wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months!
Check out these other Christmas baked goods while you’re here
Get the Recipe:
Christmas Banana Bread
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
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 tsp. fresh orange juice
- 2 Tbsp. orange zest
- 1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- ¼ cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
Equipment
- 1 large loaf pan or 4 small
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour one 9-inch loaf pan (and one small loaf pan).
- In a large bowl, cream the butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and mix well.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt; combine with the butter mixture.
- Add the sour cream, bananas, vanilla, fresh squeezed orange juice and orange zest; stir well.
- Add the dried sweetened cranberries and the chopped walnuts. Mix until combined.
- Pour into prepared pans and bake a large pan for 50-55 minutes. [Small pan for 33-35 minutes].
- Cool for 10 minutes and then turn the loaf out onto a rack.
- When cooled wrap with paper and tie a string around? If you can, look Christmasy.
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
