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. 
Yum! I think that sounds like a great combo.
Yum! I love rhubarb but not sure I have had it in jam form. I bet this is beyond delicious! Although to be honest my favorite way to enjoy rhubarb is raw with just a little bit of a salt…yum!
Have you ever tried making sugar free jelly or jam before?
I have not made sugar free jam. This is only the second jam I’ve ever made!
Beautiful!!! I love that you sent two kinds 🙂 For me it was a total excuse to make all different kinds! I’m sure they will love it!
Now THAT is an awesome looking jam!!
I love that gorgeous color! I bet it tastes amazing too. Beautiful!
I make raspberry-rhubarb jam every year, it is my absolute favorite jam!! Looking over your recipe I do not find any pectin in it. Just wondered if this was error, I am always looking for new recipes to try. the cardamon is something I have never used in my jams so I thought I would give it a try. Thanks
beantownbaker — September 2nd, 2014 @ 7:33 pm
Nope, no pectin in this recipe. The raspberries have enough naturally.