featured 14910

Gingerbread Banana Bread Recipe: Spiced Loaf with Molasses

This gingerbread banana bread blends warm winter spices with sweet banana for a moist, comforting quick bread. It’s studded with crystallized ginger, brightened with freshly grated ginger, and rounded out with a touch of molasses for that classic gingerbread depth.

Gingerbread Banana Bread sliced on a cooling rack.

Gingerbread banana bread is essentially a holiday twist on the familiar banana loaf: the same tender crumb and banana sweetness with an added warming spice profile. It makes a cozy breakfast, a crowd-pleasing snack, or a simple dessert that appeals to both kids and adults.

If you enjoy variations on banana bread, try other seasonal spins for different occasions. This gingerbread version works especially well for winter holidays thanks to the aromatic spice blend and the richness molasses contributes.

Gingerbread Banana Bread sliced and stacked.

Ingredients for gingerbread banana bread

  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Spices: cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg
  • Kosher salt
  • Unsalted butter
  • Dark brown sugar
  • Molasses
  • Milk
  • Grated fresh ginger
  • Vanilla bean paste
  • Maple extract
  • Eggs
  • Mashed ripe bananas
  • Crystallized (candied) ginger
Gingerbread Banana Bread sliced on a serving rack.

Tips for gingerbread banana bread

  1. Use ripe bananas: Overripe bananas with brown speckles are sweeter and give stronger banana flavor.
  2. Adjust sweetness: If your bananas are especially ripe, you can reduce the sugar slightly for a less sweet loaf.
  3. Don’t overmix: Combine wet and dry ingredients until just mixed to keep the crumb tender.
  4. Try different flours: All-purpose works well, but white whole-wheat or a 1:1 gluten-free flour can be used if desired.
  5. Add-ins: Fold in chopped nuts or chocolate chips for extra texture and flavor.
  6. Preheat the oven: Make sure the oven is fully preheated so the bread bakes evenly and rises properly.
  7. Use the toothpick test: Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter.
  8. Cool before slicing: Let the loaf cool in the pan 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling so it doesn’t collapse.
Gingerbread Banana Bread sliced.

Storage and leftovers

Store the bread covered at room temperature for up to five days. Refrigeration will extend its life but can dry the loaf out, so wrap it tightly or keep it in an airtight container. Leftover slices are delicious toasted in a skillet with a bit of butter for a warm, cozy treat.

Gingerbread Banana Bread cut in half.

More gingerbread recipes

  • Baked Gingerbread Oatmeal
  • Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls
  • Gingerbread Martini
  • Homemade Gingerbread Syrup
img 14910 6

Gingerbread Banana Bread

This gingerbread banana bread combines warm spices, fresh ginger, crystallized ginger and molasses for a flavorful quick bread that’s easy to make.

Details

Servings: 8 slices | Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 55 mins | Total: 1 hr 5 mins

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
  • 2 teaspoons maple extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large)
  • 2 ounces crystallized ginger, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×5 loaf pan with non-stick spray.
  2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, kosher salt, and cloves in a medium bowl; set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a mixer, combine melted butter, dark brown sugar, and molasses; beat until combined, about 3 minutes.
  4. Add the milk, grated fresh ginger, vanilla bean paste, and maple extract; mix about 1 minute.
  5. Beat in the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl as needed, then mix in the mashed bananas.
  6. With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients until just combined.
  7. Fold in the chopped crystallized ginger.
  8. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake 45–55 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Nutrition (approx.)

Per slice: ~321 kcal, 49 g carbs, 13 g fat, 3 g protein. Nutrition is an estimate.

Gingerbread Banana Bread pin for Pinterest.

Gingerbread Banana Bread (Full Loaf)

A full-loaf version with the same ingredients and method—perfect if you want to bake one loaf to share or gift.

Servings

1 loaf

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
  • 2 teaspoons maple extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large)
  • 2 ounces crystallized ginger, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9×5 loaf pan with non-stick spray.
  2. Whisk dry ingredients together and set aside.
  3. Beat melted butter, brown sugar, and molasses until combined (about 3 minutes).
  4. Add milk, fresh grated ginger, vanilla bean paste, and maple extract; mix 1 minute.
  5. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in mashed bananas.
  6. Slowly add the flour mixture on low speed until just combined.
  7. Fold in crystallized ginger, transfer batter to the pan, and bake 45–55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.