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.

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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.
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!
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!
- In the mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
- Mix in mashed bananas and eggs.
- Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking soda and add to batter.
- 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

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:
- Apple Bread – a pull-apart moist apple bread
- Pumpkin Bread – so easy and we love it year-round
- Banana Chocolate Chip Bread always disappears fast
- Persimmon Bread – great way to use ripe persimmon
Moist Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients
- 3 very ripe bananas, (medium/large)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, (8 Tbsp) at room temperature
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup walnuts
- ½ cup raisins
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
Filed Under
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.







Wow, Natasha this is the best banana bread recipe ever. It was so easy to make. Thank you!!
I’m so happy you loved it, Sam!
Great recipe normally make a double or triple batch because the bread disappears quickly.
It taste great, and was very moist. Thank you!
You’re welcome. I’m happy you enjoyed it.
Soo yummy!! Honey, banana, nuts.. My family loves it! We will do it again
I love to hear that, Marion! Thank you for your wonderful review!
Been making this for years ABSOLUTELY the best banana bread ever!!
I’m so glad you loved it, June! Thank you for your wonderful review!
I made this today. it was wonderful! I was worried my bananas weren’t ripe enough so I did the bananas In the oven trick. Wow, did that turn out wonderful! I will make more tomorrow. Toasting the walnuts was also a great idea! My banana bread turned out exactly like the picture. I did lower the temperature to 340° and took It out of the oven about five minutes early. I also put a little bit In a tiny loaf pan, which turned out really cool. Tomorrow, I will either use all brown sugar or half brown sugar. I’m tempted to add a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg, but I don’t know how much to add. Maybe I’ll do that next time or the time after. Or maybe I’ll do that tomorrow. Anyway, it turned out great!
Thank you for sharing that with us. I’m happy to know that it was a success!
This recipe got me a good man 😉 💍 and won over his family too. I add chocolate chunks and do a chocolate drizzle on top with flakey sea salt for looks. It’s been a hit every time. I’ve also made this with Mexican vanilla and it really makes the banana flavor shine.
Wow so happy for you! I”m glad this recipe is always a huge hit!
Natasha, besides loving all your recipes, this Banana Bread recipe is one of our absolute favorites. I look after my 93 year old mother, who has dementia, and every single morning this is the only thing she asks for when it’s breakfast time. I make it twice a week….. because of course I love it too❤️
Aw, that’s amazing, Angie! I’m so glad you both love the recipe. I do love this with my morning coffee.
I love all of Natacha’s recipes they are delicious and easy to prepare
Thank You!
So happy to hear that, Delia!
What about muffins instead of loaf? Degree and cook time?
Hi Kim! See my Banana Muffin Recipe for instructions.
I searched for a banana 🍌 not bread recipe with low fiber as my dad had an upset stomach. I came across your recipe and it had simple ingredients and delicious! I’m not much of a banana bread fan. However, this one was great!!
That’s wonderful, Maria! So glad you came across this recipe.
great recipe. but very frustrating with so many advertisements flashing
Me too. I love your recipes Natasha. But I literally got so frustrated just now.
My coworker used your recipe just the other day and it was thee most delicious but I have to agree with Patty on the advertisements way too much going on for me to focus. Since I’m not going to be able to change anything, I just decided to write it down and put it in one of my old recipe books and now I’m good to go—lol problem solved.✔️ Delicious banana bread. Truly.
Love this recipe! It’s my go-to whenever I make banana bread!
2 time making it both time in different size loaf pans for some reason they both came out kinda burnt on the bottom and sides. I baked at a lower temp and pulled them out earlier than suggested. The none burnt parts taste amazing though!
Hi Maria! The type of pan makes a difference in how it bakes- glass, ceramic, light/dark metal, thin/thick metal. Also, if your oven is convection/fan, it would require lowering the temperature when baking so it doesn’t bake too quickly on the outside. I like to use an internal oven thermometer (affiliate link) to verify my ovens temperature.
I find covering it with foil “tent” for the last 0-15 minutes eliminates prevents the edges from burning.
I made it twice already, the first one with raisins and pecans, and we loved it! the second, I did not have baking soda or raisins, and it’s looking pale the poor guy.. but I’m sure it’ll still be tasty (fingers crossed)
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I only had 2 small very ripe bananas so I sub 3oz plain apple sauce…
Came out perfect, could not taste apple and the banana shined through. Saved this recipe to my phone
This banana bread is the bomb and so quick and easy. I liked the idea of substituting cognac for the vanilla and will try that. I never have walnuts and used pecans. Otherwise I followed the recipe!
My favorite banana bread recipe. I make it for all my friends and family and they all love it!
🍌🍞
Hello! Would it be even better if I also added 3/4 cup of brown sugar?
One of readers shared this comment “Came out deliciously moist. I put a little brown sugar butter on my piece and it was so good. & my daughter loved hers plain. Will definitely add this to our desert faves.” Hope that helps!
I did the recipe and my batter never looked like that batter on the video . Idk what I did wrong . It’s in the oven now will see how it comes out.
Hi Phillip. I’d be happy to help troubleshoot if you provide some details.