An easy and moist Banana Bread Recipe that is loaded with bananas, tangy-sweet raisins, and toasted walnuts. This is one of our favorite overripe banana recipes with hundreds of 5-star reviews.

Banana Bread on a cutting board with walnuts, raisins and ripe bananas to make healthy banana bread

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Banana Nut Bread Recipe:

This is my husband’s recipe which he has perfected over the years and he is known for his Banana Bread. He makes it frequently and it always disappears fast! It is simple to make and our favorite way to use up overripe bananas so they never go to waste. It’s super moist and makes a great breakfast on-the-go. We even created Banana Muffins from this recipe.

This loaf stays moist for days and also makes for a thoughtful and delicious gift idea for the holidays (I’ll take banana bread over fruit cake any day).

Banana Bread Video Tutorial:

Watch Natasha make this moist banana bread. You will be surprised at how easy it is. We will never stop loving this recipe. Now go forth and bake!

Ingredients for Banana Bread:

This is everything you need to make the best banana bread: flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, vanilla extract, softened butter, eggs and of course very ripe bananas. Adding walnuts and raisins is optional but adds great taste and texture, turning it into a banana nut bread.

Can I Omit Walnuts and Raisins?

YES! The recipe will still work if raisins and walnuts are omitted. We make it nut-free all the time due to a walnut allergy in the family. You will still have the softest, super moist and scrumptious loaf. You can also replace them with some chocolate to make Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.

Ingredients for Banana Bread with ripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, walnuts and raisins

How to Ripen Bananas:

  • Quick Oven Method: If your bananas are a little green and you want them to ripen quicker, place them on a baking sheet and bake at 250˚F for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the initial ripeness of the bananas.
  • 24 Hour Counter Method: If you are willing to wait 1 day, you can place the bunch of bananas (without separating them) in a paper bag, cover and leave at room temperature. Bananas emit ethylene which causes ripening. Adding an apple to the bag will speed up the process.

Can I Freeze Overripe Bananas?

If you have overripe bananas and aren’t ready to bake with them, DO NOT throw them away!

How to Freeze Bananas: place them un-peeled in a freezer-safe bag, remove any excess air and freeze up to 3 months. You can use thawed bananas for banana bread. You can also freeze them peeled and cut into pieces for easier use in smoothies. P.S. You can also freeze a whole banana bread with the same method!

Slices of banana nut bread on a plate

How to Make Banana Bread:

This is the easiest banana bread recipe. We mix it in a stand mixer because it’s easy, but you can use an electric hand mixer and can even make it work with a hand whisk. There is no fancy equipment required. Watch the video tutorial below and you will be a pro in no time!

  1. In the mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
  2. Mix in mashed bananas and eggs.
  3. Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking soda and add to batter.
  4. Stir in vanilla, walnuts, and raisins, transfer to prepared loaf pan and bake.

Substitutions for a Healthy Banana Bread:

  • My sister Anna made this into a honey banana bread; replacing sugar with honey.
  • Use organic whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour.
  • Replace 1 Tbsp of flour with 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed.
  • Reduce sugar to 1/2 cup when using very ripe bananas; they add plenty of sweetness

Moist banana bread recipe sliced to show banana nut bread center

Love Sweet Breads? Try these Popular Bread Recipes:

We love sweetbreads because they are easy to make and are such a treat, especially when you top them with Honey Butter! Don’t miss these reader favorites:

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

Moist Banana Bread Recipe

4.99 from 5240 votes
Banana bread sliced on a cutting board
This Banana Bread Recipe is loaded with ripe bananas, tangy-sweet raisins, and toasted walnuts. It is one of our favorite ripe banana recipes and even better with overripe bananas.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 people

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a bread loaf pan (9.25 long x 5.25 wide x 2.75 deep). Lightly roast walnuts on a skillet, continuously stirring so they won’t burn. Coarsely chop and cool to room temperature. 
  • In a mixing bowl, cream together 8 Tbsp softened butter and 3/4 cup sugar (or honey if using honey).
  • Mash bananas with a fork until the consistency of chunky applesauce and add them to the batter along with 2 eggs, mixing until blended. 
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together: 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1 tsp of baking soda and 1/2 tsp of salt then add to batter.
  • Add 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and mix in chopped walnuts and raisins. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350˚F for 55-60 min or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let banana bread rest for 10 min before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Nutrition Per Serving

350kcal Calories45g Carbs5g Protein18g Fat7g Saturated Fat57mg Cholesterol243mg Sodium270mg Potassium3g Fiber20g Sugar354IU Vitamin A4mg Vitamin C26mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Moist Banana Bread Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
350
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
18
g
28
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Cholesterol
 
57
mg
19
%
Sodium
 
243
mg
11
%
Potassium
 
270
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
45
g
15
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
20
g
22
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
354
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
26
mg
3
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Breakfast, snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana bread, banana nut bread
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 350

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

This banana bread recipe was first published in 2009; one of the very first recipes on our blog! It has been a reader and family favorite ever since.

Moist banana nut bread on kitchen towel

This Banana Bread Recipe is loaded with ripe bananas, tangy sweet raisins and toasted walnuts making it a banana nut bread. One of our favorite ripe banana recipes and even better with overripe bananas! This banana nut bread is super moist, easy and makes a great breakfast on-the-go. | natashaskitchen.com

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

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Comments

  • Cynthia
    March 28, 2024

    I like this recipe, but I prefer it when it’s fresh. Can the batter be refrigerated so I could make it in a big batch to keep in the fridge?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 28, 2024

      Hi Cynthia! It should be baked right away.

      Reply

  • Lisa Voisard
    March 28, 2024

    Made this today as muffins with chocolate chips. I only had two bananas but made it anyway. Definitely needs three bananas for a more pronounced banana flavor. But even with two younger a light flavor. Very nice texture, soft and not crumbly. A definite keeper. Thank you for the wonderful recipe.

    Reply

  • Juanita Stone
    March 27, 2024

    Just made this recipe, I couldn’t wait until it cooled before I had to slice into it for a taste. It’s moist and delicious!

    Reply

  • Miriam L. Velez
    March 27, 2024

    Thanks for such an easy to follow and delicious banana bread recipe. Both were super moist and just the right density. Made this recipe yesterday and received an “A+” from my picky partner. Watching sugar intake, so I substituted 2/4 sugar with 1/4 c. each Brown/ white Stevia (Truvia). Could have cut back bc bananas were super ripe. Next time. Made two in smaller Bundt pans: one with nuts and other without. Will definitely make again! Thanks again!

    Reply

  • Deepti
    March 27, 2024

    Bread was moist, but flavor was lacking. Could use cinnamon or more vanilla extract. Just was not it

    Reply

    • Natasha
      March 27, 2024

      Hi Deepti, this normally has plenty of great banana flavor – did you use less bananas or change anything in the recipe? I think cinnamon sounds nice. If you test it, let me know how it goes.

      Reply

  • Ana
    March 27, 2024

    SO GOOD! The crust is so good, sugary and perfect, and the taste is heavenly. Best Banana Bread recipe I have. I added chocolate chips into it instead of raisins and nuts.
    Thank you for this amazing recipe!

    Reply

    • Jennifer
      March 28, 2024

      I always add chocolate chips! Such a great flavor combination. I also like to put a layer of salted butter on each warm slice and voila!

      Reply

  • britta bordeaux
    March 27, 2024

    Hi there.
    Just thought you might want to know that “sweetbreads” aren’t what you think they are. You may want to edit it to sweet breads instead.

    About to try your recipe and can’t wait to try it with my husband. 😺

    Reply

  • Kayla
    March 26, 2024

    This is my families favorite banana bread recipe! Its so quick and easy to whip up so that helps make it my ultimate favorite! It always turns out so moist. We leave out the nuts and raisins because we are weird like that. We use a little kerrigold butter and its perfection!

    Reply

  • Diane
    March 26, 2024

    Directions were easy to follow, bread turned out moist and nice color, however I felt it is missing something… just not much flavor

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 26, 2024

      Hi Diane! Were your bananas ripe enough? This has only happened to me if I’ve used bananas that are not quite ripe enough. If that’s so, the bread will lack banana flavor and even sweetness. See my note/tip in the blog for how to ripen bananas if your bananas are not quite ready.
      Also- you can add things like cinnamon to help elevate the flavor. Some of my readers have done this however it’s preferential, this recipe has thousands of 5-star reviews just the way it is. Using a good quality vanilla will also help.
      I hope that’s helpful for next time.

      Reply

      • Diane
        March 26, 2024

        My bananas were very ripe, so that’s not it, and I use a high quality vanilla also. I may try adding some cinnamon or another banana next time. Thanks

        Reply

        • Sea
          March 28, 2024

          Hi Diane – I felt similarly when I first tried this recipe (Thank you Natasha!), so I added an extra 1/4 tsp of vanilla, extra little pour of honey in addition to the sugar it calls for, roughly a tsp of cinnamon and 3/4 tsp of nutmeg, and a drizzle of honey swirled with a dash of cinnamon sugar on the top (do not mix, just drag a fork maybe a quarter inch into the batter). All my estimates are “with my heart,” sometimes less, sometimes more. It seems a little decadent when you’re making it, but the extra spices and sweetness brought it up to be my favorite way to make banana bread !

          Reply

  • Ashley
    March 26, 2024

    Great recipe! I made it for the old folks I take care of. They were in love!

    Reply

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