Christmas Banana Bread (Cinnamon Gift Loaf)

What is Christmas banana bread?

Christmas banana bread is a festive version of classic banana bread, flavored with warm spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) and studded with cinnamon chips, dried cranberries, and walnuts. A splash of dark rum and an almond streusel top make it feel special, while a dusting of icing sugar gives it a snowy, holiday look.

Like other quick breads such as pumpkin banana bread, it comes together in one bowl and bakes in mini loaf pans that are easy to gift.

Why you'll love this recipe

• Quick to make: about 20 minutes of hands-on time, and the oven does the rest.
• Moist and sweet: overripe bananas keep every slice soft and tender.
• Tastes like the holidays: cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves make it smell and taste like Christmas.
• Festive mix-ins: cinnamon chips, dried cranberries, and walnuts add color and crunch.
• Perfect for gifting: mini loaves wrap up neatly as edible presents for neighbors and teachers.
• Make-ahead friendly: the loaves freeze well so that you can bake early in the season.

Ingredients

For ingredients and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.

• Butter: The recipe calls for unsalted butter, softened at room temperature. You can also substitute ½ cup + 2 teaspoons (120 g) vegetable oil if you prefer.

• Brown sugar: Use golden brown sugar or replace it with light brown muscovado sugar. You can also use white sugar (granulated or caster sugar).

• Large eggs: Make sure they are at room temperature.

• Flour: The recipe calls for all-purpose flour, but you can use a mix with whole-wheat pastry flour.

• Baking powder: This banana bread is made without baking soda, but baking powder is used instead as a leavening agent.

• Spices: Use a combination of ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves.

• Bananas: The key to the perfect homemade banana bread is overripe bananas with black spots all over. You can also use frozen bananas with a potent flavor.

• Cinnamon chips bring a festive touch to this holiday banana bread. You can substitute them for sweet chocolate chips or butterscotch chips if desired.

• Dried cranberries add color to the sliced banana loaf. Replace them with halved maraschino cherries if desired.

• Chopped walnuts: Adding walnuts to banana bread is common, but feel free to replace them with pecans.

• Dark rum brings a fruity note to banana bread. Replace it with cognac, brandy, or apple juice if you serve the bread to kids.

• Almond flour is used to make a streusel on top of the bread. Substitute it with hazelnut flour if desired.

• Icing sugar: Make it yourself with a coffee grinder or use powdered sugar instead.

Equipment

To make Christmas banana bread at home, gather these basic kitchen tools before you start:

• four mini loaf pans (9 oz each)
• electric mixer
• mixing bowls
• rubber spatula
• fork or potato masher
• fine sieve
• wire rack
• butter knife

How to make Christmas banana bread

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Butter and flour porcelain mini loaf pans (9 oz. each).

Step 2. To make the bread batter, use an electric mixer to beat softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl for about 5 minutes (photo 1).

Step 3. Add eggs (at room temperature), dry ingredients (all-purpose flour sifted with baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves), and delicately mix with a rubber spatula.

Step 4. Using a fork or a potato masher, mash bananas and fold the banana mixture into the batter.

Step 5. Add cinnamon chips, whole or chopped cranberries, and chopped walnuts, and gently mix. Pour in the dark rum and mix with a spatula just until combined, but don't overmix (photo 2).

Step 6. Pour the batter into the four prepared loaf pans, smooth it out, and refrigerate while making the streusel (photo 3).

Step 7. To make the streusel topping, in a separate large mixing bowl, mix all-purpose flour, almond flour, icing (powdered) sugar, and chilled salted butter cut into small pieces (photo 4).

Pro tip: Work with your hands to obtain the crumbly dough resembling wet sand.

Step 8. Take the loaf pans from the fridge and sprinkle streusel on top of the batter (photo 5).

Step 9. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. The sweet bread is ready when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (photo 6).

Step 10. Take the bread loaves from the oven and cool them in the tins on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 11. Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to carefully remove the bread from each baking pan. Or leave the bread in small pans to present it that way.

To serve, sprinkle the top of the holiday bread with icing (powdered) sugar.

Expert tips

1. Do not over-mix the bread batter once you add mashed bananas. Instead, gently mix to combine.
2. Watch out for the baking time. Check the loaf for doneness: a toothpick, a long, sharp knife, or a bamboo skewer inserted in the center of the bread should come out clean.
3. Use the same recipe to make a regular loaf in a nonstick bread pan (instead of a mini loaf pan). Bake it for 90 minutes.
4. Make sure to cool the bread before slicing and wrapping.

Recipe variations

This Christmas banana bread is easy to customize. Once you have the base batter, try one of these variations:

• Cranberry orange: add 1 teaspoon of orange zest and swap some cranberries for fresh ones for a bright, citrusy holiday loaf.
• Gingerbread style: add 1 tablespoon of molasses and a pinch of ground ginger for a gingerbread banana bread.
• Extra mix-ins: stir in chopped walnuts or pecans, seeds, dried fruit, or chocolate chips (dark, milk, or white). Combine 2 to 3, but keep the total under ¾ cup so the batter still rises.
• Chocolate chips: fold in dark or white chocolate chips for a sweeter loaf, much like the mix-ins in our pumpkin banana bread.
• Sugar-free: follow our sugar-free banana bread, then add warm spices and unsweetened chocolate chips.
• Extra streusel: make the streusel topping crispier, or double it for more crunch.
• Muffins or mini muffins: use the same batter in a muffin pan, like our banana bread mini muffins.
• Bundt cake: turn the batter into a bundt cake using a decorative pan.

Storing & freezing

Cover your banana bread with plastic wrap and store it at room temperature for two days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Can you freeze banana bread? Well-wrapped banana bread can be frozen for 2 to 3 months and then thawed at room temperature. You can freeze a whole loaf or slices wrapped individually.

Banana bread wrapping ideas

Wondering how to wrap banana bread as a gift? A little thoughtful packaging turns a simple loaf into a present your loved ones will remember.

Wrapping a loaf of banana bread isn't difficult. First, let the bread cool completely before wrapping it. This step is essential; otherwise, excess moisture gets trapped between the wrapper and the loaf, making the bread soggy and shortening its shelf life.

Then decide whether to give the bread in the ceramic or aluminum loaf pan it was baked in, or to present the loaf on its own.

And finally, the fun part: gift wrapping. Use parchment paper, kraft paper, or tissue paper. Banana bread packaging options are wide, so pick what fits the occasion.

• Wrap your loaf with a strip of white or brown parchment and tie it with baker's twine, ribbon, burlap twine, or woolen thread.
• Add some festivity to simple parchment paper by using decorative-edged scissors to cut along the edges.
• To bring a refined touch, add a couple of tiny jingle bells, a slice of dried orange, or a sprig of greenery, or tie a pink satin ribbon with a large bow.
• Or wrap your loaf in wax paper first, then cover it with a printable bread wrapper. The wax paper will protect the bread from sticking to the paper-based packaging.
• The simplest way to present banana bread is to wrap it with plastic film, place it in a large cellophane bag, and tie it with a ribbon.
• Finally, what is the finishing touch to any self-respecting gift package? A gift tag! I even created one for you.

Banana bread gift tags

The finishing touch to any banana bread gift is a printable tag. I designed a set of free banana bread gift tags you can add to each mini loaf, so your homemade present looks polished from the twine to the label.

Download the free Printable Banana Bread Gift Tags >>

Download the PDF, print it on white or kraft cardstock, and cut out the labeled tags with scissors or a paper trimmer. Make a small hole with a paper punch, thread it with baker's twine, and attach the tag to your Christmas banana bread. Your edible gift is ready to give.

Recipe FAQ

What makes banana bread a Christmas banana bread?
Warm spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves) plus festive mix-ins like cinnamon chips, dried cranberries, and walnuts turn a classic loaf into a holiday one. A splash of dark rum and a dusting of icing sugar add to the Christmas feel.

How long does Christmas banana bread take to bake?
Bake the mini loaves at 300°F (150°C) for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. A single regular loaf takes about 90 minutes.

Can you make Christmas banana bread ahead for gifts?
Yes. It keeps at room temperature for two days, in the fridge for up to a week, and freezes well for 2 to 3 months, so you can bake early in the season and wrap the loaves closer to Christmas.

How do you wrap banana bread as a gift?
Let the loaf cool completely, then wrap it in parchment or wax paper, tie it with baker's twine or ribbon, and add a printable gift tag. See the wrapping ideas above for more festive options.

Can you make it without alcohol?
Yes. Replace the dark rum with apple juice or leave it out if you are serving the bread to kids.

What is the difference between banana bread and banana cake?
Banana bread is denser, while banana cake is lighter.

How do you serve Christmas banana bread?
Serve it on its own, toasted with butter, or with a spoonful of mascarpone. It also pairs well with jam, peanut butter, or a hot drink.

Love Christmas desserts? Try these next!

I hope you enjoy this festive twist on the classic banana bread recipe. Enjoy other holiday recipes on the blog.

• Zimtsterne (German Cinnamon Stars)
• Salted Caramel Bûche de Noël
• Chocolate Banana Pecan Cookies
• Chocolate Raspberry Swiss Roll
• Browse all the Christmas recipes

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The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.