Satisfy your afternoon sweet tooth with this cranberry banana bread. It’s full of familiar banana bread flavor, dotted with tart cranberries, and drizzled with a simple sweet glaze. It’s a festive treat that’s perfect for the holidays and quick and easy to make.
Cranberries might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of banana bread, but it’s a combination I absolutely love. The tart pop of fresh cranberries pairs beautifully with the natural sweetness of ripe bananas, creating a loaf that’s balanced and full of flavor.
This recipe is easy to make and includes one slightly unexpected ingredient: sour cream. Adding it to the batter makes the banana bread especially tender and moist, while the cranberries stay bright and juicy throughout the loaf. Once baked, a light glaze made from just icing sugar and water gets drizzled over the top.
That simple glaze adds just enough sweetness to complement the tangy cranberries without overpowering the banana flavor. The result is a loaf that feels a little special but still cozy and familiar, perfect for slicing, sharing, and enjoying with a warm drink.
Also, be sure to try our classic banana bread recipe !
Delicious cranberry banana bread add-ins
This cranberry banana bread is delicious on its own, but here are a few ideas for tasty add-ins:
- Chopped nuts or seeds – toasted and chopped walnuts or pecans add delicious crunch. For a pop of green color, a few pumpkin seeds or pistachios sprinkled on top add a nice festive touch.
- Chocolate chips – white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks add creamy chocolate flavor.
- Lemon glaze – lemons and cranberries are a perfect pair. To give your loaf a lemon glaze, use fresh lemon juice instead of water.
Cranberry Banana Bread Recipe
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Ingredients
- ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ▢ 1 cup granulated sugar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ▢ ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ▢ 3 large bananas (1 ¼ cups)
- ▢ 2 large eggs
- ▢ ½ cup melted butter
- ▢ ½ cup sour cream
- ▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla
- ▢ 2 cups fresh cranberries
Glaze
- ▢ ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- ▢ 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 4"x8" loaf pan with butter or cooking spray. See Notes. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Mash the bananas in a large bowl using a fork. Add the eggs, melted butter, sour cream, and vanilla and whisk well. 3 large bananas, 2 large eggs, ½ cup melted butter, 1 tablespoon vanilla, ½ cup sour cream
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold the batter using a rubber spatula. When only a few streaks of flour remain, add the cranberries. Do not overmix the batter. 2 cups fresh cranberries
- Pour the cranberry banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, top with a few extra cranberries, and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the top is light brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, tent it loosely with foil. Let the banana bread cool completely before removing it from the pan.
- Once the cranberry banana bread is cool, mix the powdered sugar and water in a small bowl and then drizzle it over top. ⅓ cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons water
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
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More banana bread recipes
Strawberry Banana Bread with White Chocolate Chips
Poppy Seed Lemon Banana Bread
Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Carrot Cake Banana Bread
Cranberry Banana Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 large bananas , 1 ¼ cups
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup melted butter
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
Glaze
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons water
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 4"x8" loaf pan with butter or cooking spray. See Notes. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Mash the bananas in a large bowl using a fork. Add the eggs, melted butter, sour cream, and vanilla and whisk well. 3 large bananas, 2 large eggs, ½ cup melted butter, 1 tablespoon vanilla, ½ cup sour cream
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold the batter using a rubber spatula. When only a few streaks of flour remain, add the cranberries. Do not overmix the batter. 2 cups fresh cranberries
- Pour the cranberry banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, top with a few extra cranberries, and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until the top is light brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, tent it loosely with foil. Let the banana bread cool completely before removing it from the pan.
- Once the cranberry banana bread is cool, mix the powdered sugar and water in a small bowl and then drizzle it over top. ⅓ cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons water
