This cranberry banana bread is moist, delicious and the perfect festive breakfast or treat for the holidays. It’s naturally sweetened and studded with juicy cranberries and crunchy walnuts in every bite!

I am a banana bread fanatic so when I had the idea to add fresh cranberries to a loaf for a pop of color and festive spin I knew it would be a winner. And boy, was I right! This cranberry banana bread is absolutely delicious and guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser this holiday season.

It’s made with a combo of oat flour and almond flour to make this loaf gluten-free and it’s studded with tart, juicy cranberries and crunchy walnuts. The combo is SO good!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy to make – This recipe comes together quickly with minimal prep work and it requires simple ingredients that are easy to find.
• Healthier – This is a lightened-up recipe so you can feel good about enjoying it and serving it up to friends and family, especially during the holidays
• Festive – The cranberries add a festive pop of color to this loaf making it a great breakfast option for Christmas morning! It also makes for a great homemade gift! See my tips below for how to turn this recipe into a holiday gift for friends and family.

Cranberry Banana Bread Ingredients

• oat flour and almond flour – the combination of these flours makes for the perfect texture for a gluten-free loaf! You can make your own oat flour if you’d like or use store bought like Bob’s Red Mill oat flour. As for the almond flour, make sure you get finely ground blanched almond flour and not almond meal! Bob’s Red Mill almond flour is what I typically buy.
• baking soda – a leavening agent.
• sea salt – brings the flavors together.
• coconut oil – helps to keep the bread moist. Feel free to use melted butter or another neutral oil like olive or avocado oil if you don’t have coconut oil on hand.
• coconut sugar – the less-processed upgrade for brown sugar. You can sub brown sugar if you don’t have any coconut sugar on hand.
• maple syrup – just a touch to add more natural sweetness and some maple flavor. You can use honey or agave instead if that’s what you have on hand.
• bananas – those bananas you forgot about on the counter that are now overripe? They’re perfect for this recipe! Make sure you’re using ripe bananas with brown spots for the best results. The riper they are the more sweetness they add. Many times I’ll freeze bananas when they’re perfectly ripe so I can use them for banana bread later. Just thaw and use!
• eggs – to bind the ingredients together and give the loaf structure.
• vanilla extract – a flavor enhancer.
• cranberries – adds a nice tart contrast to the sweetness of this banana bread banana bread. And it adds a pop of color! I used frozen cranberries, but fresh cranberries will also work if they’re in season. You can also use dried cranberries in place of the fresh cranberries if you prefer.
• walnuts – this adds a nice crunch and pairs perfectly with the tartness of the cranberries and sweetness of the bananas. Feel free to skip the nuts or swap them with another nut of choice like raw almonds or pecans. You can also swap them with chocolate chips for a different mix-in option.

Dietary Substitutions

• Vegan: I haven’t tested a vegan version of this recipe and I’m not sure I would recommend using an egg replacement since this loaf is gluten-free is needs the eggs to help give it structure. One reader did use flax eggs and said it turned out fine, but the loaf didn’t rise as much and had a denser texture. If you’re looking for a vegan banana bread and don’t need it to be gluten-free you can just make my vegan banana bread instead. That might be your best bet!
• Nut-free: If you’re allergic to nuts or wish to make this recipe nut-free, you can skip the walnuts, but I haven’t tested this loaf with a substitute for the almond flour, so I’m not sure what a good sub would be. Using all oat flour might result in a drier loaf and you can’t swap the almond flour with coconut flour as it soaks up way more liquid. If you need a nut-free banana bread that’s gluten-free try my coconut flour banana bread instead.

How to Make Cranberry Banana Bread

Step 1: In a medium bowl, mix together your dry ingredients. In a separate, large bowl, whisk together your wet ingredients. Once combined add it with your dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

Step 2: Toss the cranberries with some oat flour until they are coated evenly (this prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf), and then fold them and the chopped walnuts into your batter.

Step 3: Pour the batter into the loaf pan and smooth the top. If desired, add some extra cranberries and walnuts on top. Bake for about 60 minutes checking for doneness with a toothpick or bread knife. Once done, let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Ways to Serve Cranberry Banana Bread

I love eating this banana bread toasted with butter or drizzled with nut butter, but here are some ideas on ways to serve this banana bread:

Holiday Gift Idea

I love giving people edible gifts around the holidays. There’s something so special about homemade gifts, especially ones that are tasty! 

I love making mini loaves of this cranberry banana bread to gift to friends and family over the holidays. To make mini loaves, line three mini loaf pans with parchment paper and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let the loaves cool completely, wrap in plastic wrap, tie a cute ribbon around it and voila you’ve got the perfect homemade gift that everyone will love!

How to Store Cranberry Banana Bread

At room temperature: Wrap the loaf in foil or plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

In the fridge: For longer storage, refrigerate the banana bread in an airtight container for up to a week. This helps maintain freshness and prevents mold.

In the freezer: Banana bread stores great in the freezer. Store the loaf or individual slices in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature before enjoying.

More Quick Breads to Try

More Cranberry Recipes to Try

Be sure to check out all of the cranberry recipes and quick bread recipes on EBF!