This bread machine cranberry banana bread recipe produces a moist & delicious “quick bread”. It is an improved version of Grandma’s traditional banana bread… because it contains sweet dried cranberries! Our recipe produces what is known as a quick bread. Quick breads use baking soda and/or baking powder as a leavening agent (versus sandwich breads which use yeast). Quick breads are usually sweeter muffin-like “breads” that are often eaten as a dessert or snack. Your family will love this cranberry banana bread!
However, if you are looking for an oven-baked version (non-bread machine) of this recipe, please try our oven-baked Cranberry Banana Bread recipe. For other bread machine and oven-baked banana bread recipes (i.e. blueberry, chocolate chip, vegan, gluten free & many more), please visit our Easy Banana Bread Variations section.
Since this cranberry banana bread recipe is done in a bread machine, it is simple & easy to make. It should take you only 5-10 minutes to prepare and then you let the bread machine do the rest of the work. For more great recipes, please visit Bread Dad’s main Bread Machine Recipes section. Bread Dad also has a printable and “pin-able” recipe at the bottom of the page. If you like this recipe, we hope you will leave a comment below and give us a 5 star rating. Thanks!
Key Ingredient – Ripe Bananas
Other Key Ingredient – Dried Cranberries
Ingredients – Bread Machine – Cranberry Banana Bread – 2 lb Loaf
- 8 Tablespoons – Butter (melted)
- 2 – Eggs (beaten)
- 1 Teaspoon – Vanilla Extract
- 3 – Bananas (Ripe), Medium Sized (mashed)
- 1 Cup – Light Brown Sugar (packed cup)
- 2 Cups – Flour (all-purpose)
- 1/2 Teaspoon – Salt
- 1 Teaspoon – Baking Powder (aluminum free)
- 1 Teaspoon – Baking Soda
- 3/4 Cup – Dried Cranberries
Servings – Roughly 12 slices
- Equipment required for this recipe – Measuring cup & spoons, flexible spatula, oven mitts, cooling rack… and of course, a bread machine!
Instructions – Bread Machine – Cranberry Banana Bread – 2 lb Loaf
- Prep Time – 10 minutes
- Baking Time – 1:40 hours
- Bread Machine Setting – Sweet Quick Bread, Light Color & 2 lb
- Beat the eggs.
- Mash bananas with a fork.
- Soften the butter in microwave.
- Add eggs, bananas & butter into the bread pan and then add the other ingredients (except the dried cranberries). Try to follow order of the ingredients listed above so that liquid ingredients are placed in the bread pan first and the dry ingredients second.
- Enter the bread machine settings (i.e. Sweet Quick Bread, Light Color & 2 lb) and press the start button. Please see the tips section below for more information on the Sweet Quick Bread setting to avoid any confusion.
- After the first kneading and before the second kneading, add the dried cranberries.
- When the bread machine has finished baking the bread, unplug the bread machine. Remove the bread loaf pan and place it on a wooden cutting board. Let the bread stay within the bread loaf container for 10 minutes before you remove it from the bread loaf container. Use oven mitts when removing the bread machine container (bread loaf pan) because it will be very hot!
- After removing the bread from the bread loaf pan, place the bread on a cooling rack. Use oven mitts when removing the bread. You should allow the banana bread to completely cool before cutting. This can take up to 2 hours. Otherwise, the banana bread will break (crumble) more easily when cut.
- Don’t forget to remove the mixing paddle if it is stuck in the bread. Use oven mitts as the mixing paddle could be hot.
- Before using your bread machine, you should read the bread machine manufacturer’s instructions in order to use the bread machine effectively and safely.
Tips – Bread Machine – Cranberry Banana Bread
- The tips below are designed to help bread machine “novices” and those who haven’t touched their bread machine in years.
- Before making this recipe, please read the tips below especially the section focused on the “sweet quick bread” setting because bread machines vary & require you to be knowledgeable about your specific bread machine model when making a banana bread. For example, if you do not use the correct setting, you will have trouble with bread machine recipes (i.e. your banana bread may be potentially under or overcooked). The setting name used for banana breads differs on many bread machine models and may be called “Quick”, “Cake”, “Cake/Quick Bread”, etc. Therefore, you need to determine the specific setting on your bread machine model (READ YOUR MANUAL) that was designed for sweet quick bread recipes (i.e. banana bread) that use baking soda/powder and not yeast. I know that this can be confusing… but the “sweet quick bread” tips section below will help you to find the right setting for your machine.
- Use RIPE bananas for the best results. If you use unripe green or hard yellow bananas, your banana bread might not be as tasty. Unripe bananas have more starch and less sugar than ripe bananas. The natural sweetness of ripe bananas works best when making banana bread recipes.
- Use 3 medium-sized bananas. The use of 3 large bananas can make the mixture too wet. In case, you like to use cup measurements versus banana “sizes”… 3 medium-sized bananas equal roughly 1 cup of mashed bananas (not sliced bananas).
- If your family dislikes dried cranberries, you can replace them with raisins, dried cherries, etc.
- If you want to use fresh cranberries, you should probably use our oven-baked Cranberry Banana Bread Recipe. Heavier fresh/frozen cranberries are better if mixed in by hand. A bread machine can over mix quick bread recipes and fresh/frozen cranberries are more likely to settle at the bottom of the banana bread if you use a bread machine.
- Sweet Quick Bread Setting Details – According to Wikipedia and most bakers, banana bread is a type of “quick bread” (that uses baking soda/powder instead of yeast). Unfortunately, this term (quick bread) has led to some confusion as bread machine manufacturers often use similar setting names to make rapid/express/quick sandwich-type breads as well as completely different sweet quick breads (i.e. banana bread).
- IMPORTANT – Make sure to use the setting on your bread machine designed for SWEET QUICK BREADS. This setting is for sweet quick bread recipes (i.e. banana bread or pumpkin bread) that use baking soda/powder (and not yeast). You can not use regular sandwich-type bread settings in order to make banana bread.
- Be aware that the setting name used for banana bread recipes can vary by bread machine manufacturer. Here are some examples of settings used to make banana bread on various bread machines – the Sunbeam Breadmaker 5891 uses the “Quick” setting, the Zojirushi BB-PAC20 Bread Maker uses the “Cake” setting and the Cuisinart CBK-100 Bread Maker uses the “Cake/Quick Bread” setting. Therefore, you must check your bread machine’s instructions for the exact setting used to make banana bread on your specific bread machine model.
- Don’t be fooled by setting names like Rapid or Express Bread (as these settings are often used for very rapid baking and are not used for sweet quick breads). They will leave your banana bread undercooked. For example, on my Sunbeam, the sweet quick bread setting lasts for 1:43 hours versus the express setting which lasts for only 58 minutes. Be aware that some bread machine manufacturers even label the rapid/express bread setting as “Quick Bread” and this can cause lots of confusion (because they use the name in order to describe a setting that makes a rapid sandwich-type bread and not a sweet quick bread recipe such as banana bread).
- Moreover, in many bread machines, the “sweet bread” setting is used for sweet breads that use yeast (not banana breads that use baking soda/powder). “Sweet bread” recipes are different from sweet quick bread recipes (i.e. banana bread) and utilize different mixing & baking times. Therefore, a bread machine banana bread recipe is unlikely to work on the “sweet bread” setting.
- If you are still having trouble finding the sweet quick bread setting, check your bread machine manual for details regarding the “Cake” setting on your machine. Some bread machines have a cake setting that states that they can be used for banana breads & sweet quick breads (and the mixing & baking will last roughly for 1 hour 40-50 minutes). However, other bread machines have a cake setting that is not designed for sweet quick breads. For example, my bread machine (Sunbeam) has a cake setting (that lasts for 2 hours 50 minutes) and a “Quick” (used for quick breads such as banana bread) setting (that lasts for 1 hour 43 minutes). Therefore, this banana bread recipe would probably not work well with the cake setting on my machine.
- I know this can be super confusing… but always read your bread machine manual and look for the specific setting designed for banana breads & sweet quick breads (that use baking soda/powder).
- If you have lost your bread machine manual, you can usually find it by searching online. For example, I can find my manual by typing “Sunbeam bread machine manual” into Google.
- Many bread machine manufacturers also have recipe booklets where you can also find more information on how to make a banana bread with your specific bread machine model.
- However, be aware that some basic bread machines have only a very limited number of settings and may NOT have a setting that can be used for sweet quick breads (i.e. banana bread). These basic machines are primarily focused on making sandwich-type breads. If your bread machine can’t make banana breads, you might like to try our oven-baked Quick & Easy Banana Bread recipe.
- Some bakers like to gently scrape sides of bread loaf pan with soft rubber spatula after first kneading and before second kneading. This helps to mix all of the ingredients. It also helps to prevent flour sticking to the side of the bread when it is finished baking. They use a rubber or silicon spatula in order to avoid damaging the interior of the bread loaf pan. Do not use a hard spatula (i.e. metal spatula). Read your bread machine manual to see how & when this is done with your specific machine.
- You need to leave the bread in the bread loaf container for 10 minutes after you take it out of the bread machine. Denser quick breads take a little longer for the interior dough to be fully baked.
- We use aluminum free baking powder in our bread machine banana bread recipes. Read the label of your baking powder because some brands may use ingredients such as sodium aluminum sulfate. Making your own bread allows you to screen out unwanted chemicals.
- If the top center of the bread looks too moist when you take it out of the bread machine, you can try the classic baking “toothpick test”. Gently push a toothpick/chopstick/skewer into the top of the bread and see if any batter sticks to the toothpick/chopstick/skewer. Make sure to wear oven gloves because the bread pan and bread machine will still be hot. If batter is sticking to the toothpick/chopstick/skewer then it hasn’t completely cooked. Place the bread loaf pan back into the still warm bread machine for another 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes, remove the bread pan and test the banana bread again with a toothpick/chopstick/skewer. FYI – Given variability in banana sizes, banana breads tend to have more moistness variability than many other recipes. Moreover, since most bread machines turn off automatically after a specified time and you can not adjust the baking temperature, they are little less flexible than ovens in dealing with baking “variances”. Thus the need to use the toothpick test if the banana bread top looks too moist (or you can skip the toothpick test and just leave the banana bread in the still warm bread machine for an extra 5 minutes if the top looks a little too moist).
- Since a toothpick can be too short, I like to use a long chopstick or wooden skewer instead. Remember always wear oven mitts when dealing with a hot bread pan.
- If you have a problem with a banana bread recipe, please make sure that you are following the recipe exactly. You will need to make sure that you are inputting the correct bread machine settings, using the exact ingredient measurements (i.e. don’t eyeball the measurements versus using a measuring cup), using the exact ingredients called for in the recipe (i.e. baking soda/powder versus yeast or all purpose flour versus bread flour), etc. Please don’t “wing” things with recipes unless you are willing to live with your experiments!
- In addition, you should try to use relatively fresh baking soda & powder for the best results. For example, using baking soda from an open container (that has been deodorizing your refrigerator for months) may lead to subpar results. Old & hard baking powder/soda may lead to the rising problems and/or leave small bitter clumps in your banana bread.
- If you would like to explore other fruit-filled desserts, you should look at our quick bread recipes for Blueberry Bread (with homemade whipped cream), Cranberry Bread (with fresh cranberries) and Strawberry Bread (with homemade whipped cream).
- Please read the instructions/manual included with your bread machine in order to use it safely and effectively. Recipe instructions & settings may differ slightly depending on the brand & model of bread machine utilized.
- For many more bread machine ideas (i.e. homemade bread, banana bread, pizza dough & French bread), please visit Bread Dad’s main section on Easy Bread Machine Recipes.
Related Recipes
- Bread Machine – Banana Bread
- Bread Machine – Cornbread
- Cranberry Banana Bread
- Cranberry Banana Muffins
- Cranberry Bread (with Dried Cranberries)
- Cranberry Bread (with Fresh Cranberries)
Bread Machine - Cranberry Banana Bread
This bread machine cranberry banana bread recipe produces a moist & delicious "quick bread". It is an improved version of Grandma's traditional banana bread! This recipe is for a 2lb loaf. Please visit Bread Dad (BreadDad.com) for more great banana bread recipes (oven-baked & bread machine versions).
Servings: 12 Slices
Ingredients
- 8 Tablespoons - Butter (melted)
- 2 - Eggs (beaten)
- 1 Teaspoon - Vanilla Extract
- 3 - Bananas (Ripe), Medium Sized (mashed)
- 1 Cup - Light Brown Sugar (packed cup)
- 2 Cups - Flour (all-purpose)
- 1/2 Teaspoon - Salt
- 1 Teaspoon - Baking Powder (aluminum free)
- 1 Teaspoon - Baking Soda
- 3/4 Cup - Dried Cranberries
Instructions
- Prep Time - 10 minutes
- Baking Time – 1:40 hours
- Bread Machine Setting – Sweet Quick Bread, Light Color & 2 lb
- Beat the eggs.
- Mash bananas with a fork.
- Soften the butter in microwave.
- Add eggs, bananas & butter into the bread pan and then add the other ingredients (except the dried cranberries). Try to follow order of the ingredients listed above so that liquid ingredients are placed in the bread pan first and the dry ingredients second.
- Enter the bread machine settings (i.e. Sweet Quick Bread, Light Color & 2 lb) and press the start button. Please see the tips section below for more information on the Sweet Quick Bread setting to avoid any confusion.
- After the first kneading and before the second kneading, add the dried cranberries.
- When the bread machine has finished baking the bread, unplug the bread machine. Remove the bread loaf pan and place it on a wooden cutting board. Let the bread stay within the bread loaf container for 10 minutes before you remove it from the bread loaf container. Use oven mitts when removing the bread machine container (bread loaf pan) because it will be very hot!
- After removing the bread from the bread loaf pan, place the bread on a cooling rack. Use oven mitts when removing the bread. You should allow the banana bread to completely cool before cutting. This can take up to 2 hours. Otherwise, the banana bread will break (crumble) more easily when cut.
- Don’t forget to remove the mixing paddle if it is stuck in the bread. Use oven mitts as the mixing paddle could be hot.
- Before using your bread machine, you should read the bread machine manufacturer’s instructions in order to use the bread machine effectively and safely.
Notes
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