Description
This Thanksgiving Gingerbread Banana Bread combines the warm, spicy flavors of gingerbread with moist, ripe bananas for a festive and comforting loaf perfect for the holiday season. Enhanced with molasses and a cinnamon sugar crust, it’s topped with a sweet glaze and holiday sprinkles, making it a delightful dessert or breakfast treat.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bread
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup mashed bananas (2-3 medium)
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
For the Pan Coating
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon sugar
For the Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 5 teaspoons milk
- Holiday sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×5 inch loaf pan with nonstick baking spray and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Tap the pan gently to coat the entire inside surface evenly, which will add a sweet, spiced crust to the bread.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and dark brown sugar together until the mixture becomes creamy and well combined, ensuring a smooth base for the batter.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the vanilla extract, eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, and molasses into the butter and sugar mixture. Beat again thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly, which will contribute moisture and rich flavor to the bread.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and ground allspice. Stir these dry ingredients together until they are fully blended.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually stir the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredient bowl until just combined, careful not to overmix to keep the bread tender.
- Fill and Bake: Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a long skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, indicating the bread is fully baked.
- Cool the Bread: Remove the loaf pan from the oven and let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, carefully flip the bread out onto a wire rack or plate and allow it to cool completely.
- Prepare the Glaze: Mix together the powdered sugar and milk until smooth to create a sweet glaze. Pour and spread the glaze over the cooled bread evenly.
- Add Finishing Touches: Sprinkle holiday sprinkles over the glaze if desired, adding a festive and colorful decoration to the finished loaf.
Notes
- Make sure bananas are ripe for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding flour to keep the bread light and tender.
- The cinnamon sugar coating on the pan adds a lovely sweet-spiced crust to the bread.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting and running off.
- Use holiday sprinkles to add a festive touch that makes this bread perfect for Thanksgiving or winter celebrations.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/12th of loaf)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
