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. 
Ahhh. Tougas Farm is my FAVORITE PLACE!!! I have some family members who work there.
That farm looks awesome! I have never been strawberry picking either. I really should!
This cake looks great too. What a nice hubby to make you such a delicious cake 🙂
Oh my, this looks so delicious! I might need to request this for my birthday cake next year, I always ask for strawberry cake. 🙂
Yum!
I’ve been wanting to try out this cake, but I just don’t like the addition of sour cream. I may have to get over my dislike of the sour stuff and make this. It looks great!
We subbed greek yogurt for the sour cream in case that sounds better to you.
I think C should give B a strong hint about birthday cake baking 😉
The cake looks fantastic!!! I have never been strawberry picking, I’m sure my kids would love it though. We go apple picking every fall though.
Funny, I just “found” your blog looking through a bunch of old recipes that I bookmarked in a file like a year ago. I had your Samoas Bars bookmarked to make and I forgot about them. I still want to make them!!!
I live about 10 minutes from Tougas Farms… great place. Lots of great farmstands in this area actually!
How nice of him! It does look good.
~ingrid