Festive Banana Bread

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Written by McDonald, T.  |  Date 22 of December 2025

When I am in need of a quick and easy festive bread or cake, this is always a great option! It is great for any festival at any time of the year. It has all the fun of fruit cake or stollen, but is ready to eat in 2 hrs. The marzipan in the middle makes it an amazing addition to your festive table. Enjoy!

Notes

  • You can use stevia to reduce the calories.
  • Make sure you use really ripe bananas. 
  • Most recipes will tell you to mash with a folk; however, I use a masher, it's much quicker.
  • I used store bought brandy soaked dried fruit. Check it is vegan before buying since not all are.
  • Use a thermometer to test when ready.  This is because you will pierce the marzipan, which might stick to the tester making you think it is not ready.

Makes about 14 slices.

Ingredients

  • 3–4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 450 g – 500 g peeled)
  • 2 tbsp of dark brown sugar.
  • 140g of plain flour
  • 140g of strong wholemeal flour
  • 150 g of brandy soaked mixed dried fruit
  • 40 g of crushed walnuts
  • 200 g of marzipan
  • 1 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 1 tsp ground sweet cinnamon 
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1.5 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 tbsp of vegetable oil 
  • 2 tbsp of distilled vinegar
  • 120 ml of water
  • Icing sugar for dusting 

Apparatus

  • 23 cm x 12.7 cm (9" x 5") loaf tin
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Wooden spoon
  • Measuring spoons 
  • Spatula  

Method 

  1. Peel the bananas, break them up into small pieces and put in a bowl.  Mash the bananas. 

  2. Weigh out both the flours in a large mixing bowl. Add the baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, sugar and spices.  Mix with a balloon whisk.  Add the oil and mix again with the Danish whisk.

  3. Add the water and vinegar.  Combine into a shaggy dough with the Danish whisk.

  4. Add the soaked dried fruit and chopped walnuts and mix. 

  5. Add the mashed banana and mix. 

  6. Preheat the oven to 170 °C and grease the tin.

  7. Pour half the mixture into the loaf tin.  Shape the marzipan into a bar and lay it in the centre of the tin. Pour the rest of the mixture into the tin evenly and covering the marzipan bar completely.

  8. Leave to rest in the fridge for 15 mins while the oven is preheating. 

  9. Place on the lower middle shelf of the oven and bake for about 50 – 55 mins. 

  10. When ready, test with a thermometer.  If the thermometer is about 92 °C, it is done.  The marzipan will not give a true reading as it will be cooler than the rest of the bread, so test either side of where the bar will be.  Leave to cool for about 5 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.  Leave to cool completely, about 50 minutes. 

  11. Dust with icing sugar.


Break banana into small pieces.

Mash the banana.
Mix in the raisins and mashed banana.

Place the marzipan in the middle.

 
Pour the rest of the mixture in and allow to rest.

Results 



I hope that you liked this blog and if you do try this recipe, please let me know how you got on and what it turned out like. You can leave a comment in the comments below.

Location: United Kingdom

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