This Cherry Banana Bread is my favorite banana bread recipe. It is studded with cherries, pecans, and coconut and is a one of my favorite quick breads to serve as an afternoon snack or on the go breakfast!

❤️ Why you'll love it
Cherry lovers: fans of cherries will love this cherry banana bread recipe! It's packed with chopped sweet maraschino cherries and even decorated with them on top!
Lower fat: if you love healthy recipes, then this one will fit right in! There is no oil or added fat in this moist banana bread brining each serving in at just 4 grams of fat.
Great snacking: this is the best banana bread and it is a big hit with anyone I have served it to!

🥘 Ingredients
Large eggs
Granulated sugar
Ripe bananas
Almond extract
White whole wheat flour OR All-purpose flour
Coconut flakes
Baking soda
Baking powder
Salt
Chopped pecans: I like to buy toasted pecans without salt.
Maraschino cherries: these are candied cherries found in jars, often in the ice cream topping section of the grocery store.
🔪 Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, coconut, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chopped pecans. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, blend the bananas until mushy and few lumps remain.
- Add eggs to the bananas one at a time, and mixing at medium speed until well incorporated.
- Using a wooden spoon, add and combine sugar, extract, and chopped maraschino cherries.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and fold ingredients using a wooden spoon until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Arrange cherries and pecans on top of the bread batter.
- Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes, and remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

🥄 Equipment
Larbe bowl
Medium bowl
Electric mixer: best used only when mixing the wet ingredients together.
Rubber spatula: to scraped down the sides of the bowl when mixing.
Standard loaf pan (9 x 5 x 13)
🥫Storage
Room temperature: bread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days.
Freeze: store in a freezer safe airtight container up to 3 months.
📖 Variations
- Substitute vanilla extract for the almond extract
- Fresh cherries (pitted and chopped) can be used in place of maraschino cherries
- Dried cherries can be subbed but it will change the flavor profile of the quick bread.
- Use half brown sugar and half white sugar to deepen the flavor of the bread.
- Make a chocolate cherry banana bread and add 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips to the batter.
💭 Tips
- This recipe can be made with reduced sugar - substitute ½ cup splenda for ½ cup sugar (tested with splenda).
- This is a great way to use overripe bananas. The more overripe, the better as the banana gets sweeter in flavor as it ripens.
- Freeze individually wrapped slices to make it convenient to remove from the freezer and add to a lunch box.
📚 Related Recipes
You will love this banana cake with a browned butter maple frosting!
Glorified Rice is a vintage recipe that is still loved today.
Butternut Squash Enchiladas are a great way to enjoy a vegetarian Mexican style recipe.
These are the Best Banana Crumb Muffins!
🍽 Serve with...
Serve as part of a weekend brunch, afternoon snack, or pack in lunches.
Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products!
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe

Cherry Banana Bread
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 bananas , mashed
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1½ cups white whole wheat flour
- ½ cup flaked coconut
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ⅓ cup maraschino cherries chopped
Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together flour, coconut, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and chopped pecans. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, blend the bananas until mushy and few lumps remain.
- Add eggs to the bananas one at a time, and mixing at medium speed until well incorporated.
- Using a wooden spoon, add and combine sugar, extract, and chopped maraschino cherries.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and fold ingredients using a wooden spoon until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Arrange cherries and pecans on top of the bread batter.
- Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes, and remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
Shelby says
Well by the end of the day yesterday Linda I was eating the last bit of that bread. Grumpy had 4 slices total. I ate ALL the rest! lol It also feels good knowing I was lazy and my house STILL looks good today. I don't know how that happened!
Linda says
I'm so proud of you for being lazy - you deserve it. And also for eating a store-bought rice pudding - LOL! This bread looks so good - I would not have had your will power and would have eaten it all. 🙁
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says
This looks delicious! I might just try this with my gluten free flour blend, thanks!
Shelby says
Debbie, let me know how it turns out!
Coleen says
What a PRETTY bread!! Thank you for sharing.
Shelby says
Thanks Coleen!
Peggy Clyde says
Can't wait to try this. It looks very delicious. Thanks.
Shelby says
its yummy Peggy 🙂 I am a huge cherry lover and had a hard time NOT eating the bread!
teresa says
this is just beautiful!
Shelby says
Thank you Teresa 🙂
Katherine Martinelli says
Yum! What a great flavor combination - I've never thought of these together but I bet it's amazing.
Shelby says
Thanks Katherine!
Leslie says
Ohhh. I am loving this combo!
Shelby says
Leslie, and its yummy when spending the day in your jammies too! 🙂
Valerie @ From Valerie's Kitchen says
This is so pretty Shelby! Sounds like a great combination.
Shelby says
Thanks Valerie! It was so yummy 🙂 I finished the loaf off when I was being lazy yesterday afternoon - after I cleaned the closets out!
Joy Calipes-Felizardo says
What a lovely looking bread, and yum too. Hope you don't mind if I bookmark this and try it out for my self.
Hope you visit my blog and if it is not too much, please do follow me also. Thanks!
Here is the link:
http://www.gastronomybyjoy.com/2012/01/ffiday-crave-for-quesadillas.html
Shelby says
Thanks Joy! I will check your site out 🙂
Peter M says
This bread looks yum-world...love the cherry colour inside the bread!
Shelby says
Thanks Peter, the cherry flavor is pretty yum too. ;o)
Shelby says
Thanks ladies! Its so good I'm having a piece for breakfast right now. ;o) I've already torn my closet apart and once breakfast is over will be putting it back together minus quite a few things thankfully!
honeyb says
Mmm, looks good! Glad you have the day off!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
Looks absolutely delicious, Shelby! Love your combination of cherries, bananas and pecans. Definitely one to try.
Lizzy says
Oh, boy, does this look DELISH!!! And a healthier low cal version is much appreciated!