Sugar Cookie Banana Bread
Sugar Cookie Banana Bread is the perfect combination of classic, moist banana bread and your favorite Christmas sugar cookies! Made with sweet, overripe bananas, nutty brown butter, a hint of almond extract, and festive sprinkles, this easy homemade banana bread is a fun holiday twist on a family favorite.
If you love banana bread but want something a little more festive for the holidays, this recipe is for you! The brown butter adds a rich, almost caramel-like flavor, while the almond and vanilla extracts give every bite that classic sugar cookie taste. And of course, the colorful Christmas sprinkles make it extra fun!
This Christmas banana bread is perfect for holiday breakfasts, gifting to neighbors, or enjoying with a warm cup of coffee on a cozy December morning. It’s one of those simple recipes that looks festive without requiring a lot of extra work. If you’re looking for more easy breakfast holiday treats, you’ll also love my Butterscotch Monkey Bread, and Gingerbread Cinnamon rolls.
Why You’ll Love This Sugar Cookie Banana Bread
There’s so much to love about this festive twist on traditional banana bread!
- Two favorite treats in one: All the delicious flavor of banana bread with a sweet sugar cookie twist.
- Perfect for Christmas: Festive sprinkles make this loaf a fun addition to holiday breakfasts and dessert tables.
- Incredibly moist: Ripe bananas, brown sugar, and butter create a soft, tender texture.
- Easy to make: No mixer required! Just a few bowls and simple pantry ingredients.
- Great for gifting: Wrap a cooled loaf in parchment paper and tie it with a festive ribbon for an easy homemade Christmas gift.
- Kid-friendly: The colorful sprinkles make this a fun recipe to bake with the kids.
Ingredients for Sugar Cookie Banana Bread
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this delicious Christmas banana bread. Here’s what you’ll need and why each ingredient works!
- Unsalted Butter: Browning the butter adds a rich, nutty flavor that makes this banana bread extra delicious.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness, moisture, and a subtle caramel flavor.
- Overripe Bananas: The riper, the better! Bananas with plenty of brown spots provide natural sweetness and help keep the bread moist.
- Egg: Helps bind everything together and gives the loaf structure.
- Whole Milk: Adds moisture to the batter. You can also use your favorite milk alternative.
- Vanilla Extract: Gives the bread that classic homemade sugar cookie flavor.
- Almond Extract: The secret ingredient! A little almond extract adds that signature bakery-style sugar cookie taste.
- All-Purpose Flour: Creates the structure for a soft, tender loaf.
- Baking Powder: Helps the banana bread rise as it bakes.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
- Festive Sprinkles: Christmas jimmies add pops of color throughout the loaf and make it extra festive.
You’ll find the exact ingredient measurements in the printable recipe card below.
How to Make Sugar Cookie Banana Bread
This easy sugar cookie banana bread comes together in just a few simple steps. No fancy equipment or complicated techniques required!
1. Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. Brown the butter. Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for approximately 5–10 minutes, stirring frequently, until it turns golden brown and smells nutty. Remove from the heat, transfer to a large mixing bowl, and allow it to cool for 5–10 minutes.
3. Combine the wet ingredients. Whisk the light brown sugar into the slightly cooled brown butter. Add the mashed bananas, egg, milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Whisk until well combined.
4. Add the dry ingredients. Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients. Gently fold everything together until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter.
5. Fold in the sprinkles. Gently stir in most of the festive sprinkles, reserving a small handful for the top of the loaf.
6. Transfer to the loaf pan. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining Christmas sprinkles over the top.
7. Bake the banana bread. Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.
8. Cool and enjoy! Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for approximately 30 minutes before removing it. Let it cool further before slicing for the cleanest slices.
Expert Tips for the Best Sugar Cookie Banana Bread
A few simple tricks will help you get perfectly moist, flavorful banana bread every time!
- Use very ripe bananas. Bananas with lots of brown spots are naturally sweeter and easier to mash.
- Don’t skip the brown butter. It adds a rich, nutty flavor that makes this recipe stand out from traditional banana bread.
- Watch the butter carefully. Brown butter can go from golden to burnt quickly, so stir frequently and remove it from the heat as soon as it smells nutty.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Stir just until the flour disappears. Overmixing can create a dense, tough loaf.
- Use jimmies instead of nonpareils. Longer, rod-shaped sprinkles tend to hold their color better during baking, while tiny round sprinkles can bleed into the batter.
- Check the center before removing it from the oven. Banana bread can look done on top while still being underbaked in the middle.
- Allow the loaf to cool. Letting the bread cool helps it set and makes slicing much easier.
Easy Variations
Want to switch things up? Here are a few fun ways to customize this Christmas banana bread!
- White Chocolate Sugar Cookie Banana Bread: Fold in white chocolate chips for an extra sweet holiday treat.
- Christmas Cookie Glaze: Drizzle the cooled loaf with a simple vanilla glaze made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.
- Extra Almond Flavor: Add a small additional splash of almond extract if you love that classic sugar cookie taste.
- Birthday Cake Banana Bread: Swap the Christmas sprinkles for rainbow sprinkles to make this recipe perfect for birthdays or celebrations.
- Mini Holiday Loaves: Divide the batter among smaller loaf pans for easy homemade Christmas gifts. Adjust the baking time based on the size of your pans.
What to Serve With Sugar Cookie Banana Bread
This festive banana bread is delicious on its own, but it’s even better paired with something warm and cozy!
For breakfast, serve a thick slice alongside scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, or your favorite yogurt. It’s also delicious warmed slightly with a little butter spread on top.
During the holidays, I love serving this Christmas banana bread with a hot cup of coffee or homemade hot chocolate. It would be especially delicious with my slow cooker hot cocoa for a cozy Christmas movie night!
You can also add slices to a holiday brunch board with fresh berries, muffins, and other Christmas treats.
Make Ahead and Storage
One of the best things about this sugar cookie banana bread is that you can make it ahead of time, which is always helpful during the busy holiday season!
Make Ahead: Bake the banana bread a day before serving. Once completely cooled, wrap it tightly and store it at room temperature.
Room Temperature: Store the cooled banana bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Refrigerator: For longer storage, keep the bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5–7 days. Allow it to come to room temperature before serving.
Freezer: Wrap the entire loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Warm individual slices in the microwave for approximately 10–15 seconds, or until warmed through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make sugar cookie banana bread without browning the butter?
Yes! You can use regular melted butter instead of brown butter. The banana bread will still be delicious, but browning the butter adds an extra layer of rich, nutty flavor.
Why is my banana bread dense in the middle?
Dense banana bread is often caused by overmixing the batter or not baking it long enough. Make sure to gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and check the center with a toothpick before removing the loaf from the oven.
Can I use frozen bananas for banana bread?
Absolutely! Frozen bananas work well in this recipe. Just thaw them completely, drain off excess liquid, and mash them before adding them to the batter.
You’ll Also Love These Easy Christmas Recipes
If you’re looking for more simple and festive Christmas treats, here are a few more recipes you’ll love!
- Sugar Cookie Fudge Bars – A fun and festive sugar cookie-inspired dessert.
- Crockpot Christmas Candy – An easy homemade holiday candy made right in your slow cooker.
- Christmas Tree Cookie Dippers – An adorable Christmas treat that comes together in minutes.
- Santa Cheesecake Cups – A simple no-bake dessert that’s perfect for holiday parties.
And if you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and star rating below.
Sugar Cookie Banana Bread
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 3 large overripe bananas mashed (or 4 small bananas)
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup whole milk or milk of choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup festive Christmas sprinkles divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Brown the butter. Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 5–10 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and let cool for 5–10 minutes.
- Mix the wet ingredients. Whisk the light brown sugar into the slightly cooled brown butter. Add the mashed bananas, egg, milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Whisk until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gently fold everything together until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Fold in the sprinkles. Gently stir in most of the festive sprinkles, reserving a small handful for topping.
- Fill the loaf pan. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining Christmas sprinkles over the top.
- Bake. Bake for 60–70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil.
- Cool and serve. Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Remove from the pan and let cool further before slicing and enjoying!
Notes
- Use ripe bananas: The browner the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be.
- Don’t skip the almond extract: It gives this banana bread its signature sugar cookie flavor.
- Use jimmies: Festive jimmies work best because they are less likely to bleed into the batter.
- Don’t overmix: Gently fold the ingredients together to keep the bread soft and tender.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5–7 days.
- Freezing: Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
