Cranberry Raisin Almond Banana Bread
Here’s another banana bread recipe. Like the one I posted the other day, this banana bread kicks things up a notch with some great mix-ins. I hadn’t planned on using raisins and crans, but I didn’t have enough crans for the recipe, so I went with a combination of the two. It added great color and flavor to use both.
I really enjoyed the almond and banana combination. By using almond extract, there was a great almond scent to the bread, and of course the chopped almonds helped to enhance the almond flavor while also adding texture to the bread.
This bread came out pretty dense, I think due to all the add ins and the fact that I used white whole wheat flour in the bread. This bread made a great breakfast for me and Hubby for quite a few days. And, of course, it also freezes really well.
I always toast nuts that I use in any recipe. Toasting them really brings out their nutty flavor. I usually toast them in a skillet on medium heat for just a few minutes until they become fragrant.
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Cranberry Raisin Almond Banana Bread
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup mashed banana (2 medium bananas)
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 cups white whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup almonds, toasted and chopped
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup raisins
Directions:
Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 -inch loaf pan.
Mix sugar and butter together in a medium mixing bowl until completely blended.
Add banana, milk, eggs, and almond extract, mixing well.
Add dry ingredients, mixing just until moist.
Stir in almonds, dried cranberries, and raisins. Spread batter evenly in a loaf pan.
Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool.
Recipe adapted from Ocean Spray, as seen on Sweet and Savory Tooth
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I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
AND just perfect for Canada Day!! 🙂 I love the colours, and they are cut PERFECTLY… I’m terrible at cutting bars.
I wish I’d seen this a few days ago when I had fresh picked strawberries in my house! But a strawberry rhubarb pie will have to suffice 😉
These are gorgeous! I remember seeing the blueberry ones that you did last year and they looked amazing, but I think you outdid youself this time!
These are gorgeous! I remember seeing the blueberry ones that you did last year and they looked amazing, but I think you outdid youself this time!
These look amazing! I would so love to have one of these now!
These look amazing! When you were talking about not being able to find cheesecake ice cream I immediately thought of Cold Stone. Good thing someone turned you on to that idea. It would have been a shame to think these bars could have not come to fruition 🙂
these sound incredible! Love the sound of the blondie-like sandwich layers. I am so sorry you had to make something you couldn’t enjoy though!
These bars look fantastic!!!! YUM!