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.
Why is the flour is cups and not grams??????? Seriously, there’s a 30g/1oz difference in how much flour in a cup depending on how it’s scooped. Do better
Hi there! Click on the metric button in the recipe card for the metric conversions.
I have made this 4 times now. Probably used 4-5 large bananas and their juices each time. Highly recommend extra bananas! The first time I followed the recipe except I added cinnamon & nutmeg. YUM! The second time I added dark chocolate chips. Super yum! Third time I used craisins, also super good. Fourth time I used whole wheat flour and honey instead of white flour and sugar. Still amazing! The take home is that you can’t go wrong with this amazing recipe. So so good (& easy)! :)))
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! I’m so glad you loved it!
It is still wet after 1 hour and 20 minutes
Hi Tanya! Did you fully preheat your oven before starting to bake? Also, make sure to use the correct size pan.
It’s amazing! I’ve mad it a few times and everytime I make it, it always turn out great! Personally I don’t eat banana bread but every time I make it I give it to my mom and aunt and as soon as they run out they ask for more lol!
Can I use brown sugar and sour cream for this recipe and if I can how much
I have not tried with sour cream but it may work, if you experiment, please let me know how you like it. For brown sugar, here’s what one of my readers wrote trying brown sugar “I did all brown sugar instead of white sugar because the molasses in it helps keep the bread moist plus I just like the flavor better. Also added about a tablespoon of maple syrup and pecans instead of walnuts. Very very yummy and will make again!” I hope this helps.
I was wondering could you make the batter and let it sit in the fridge overnight and bake the next day??
Hi Alex! Because of the baking soda, it should be baked right away.
Have you ever added sour cream to this recipe? If so how much would work? I’d like extra moist bread,
Hi Verna, I hope you love it. I have not tried adding sour cream but feel free to experiment!
Just wondering if you have ever used cake flour instead of all purpose?
Hi Maya! I haven’t personally tried it, but I have had a few viewers report negative results using cake flour. I think it could work, but it would result in a lighter crumb, which may be more delicate and fall apart.
I made it this afternoon but with sultanas came out lovely!!!
That’s great, Bridget. Thanks for sharing.
I never roasted the walnuts before making banana nut bread before! Super simple and easy to follow along with the recipe!!
Glad to hear that you enjoyed making it!
Can I put chocolate chips instead of nuts! I want to make it for my friend with an allergy of nuts so I think chocolate chips would work but I wanted to know if I can do I need to cover them in flour?
Hi Anna, I recommend making my https://natashaskitchen.com/chocolate-chip-banana-bread/.
The link is broken to the banan bread with chocolate chips.
Hi Erin, it works on my end. You can try this link for Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe.
BEST BANANA BREAD EVERRR!!! Loved this so much and so did my family!!💕💕
That’s so awesome to hear, Anna! Thank you for sharing that with me!
Try substituting 1 cup of strawberries in place of 1 banana. Worked for me. I’m going to also try same thing with other fruit.
Very good results, easy to make. My co-workers gobbled it up in no time.
Hi. Is there any topping that can be put on the bread? Like a frosting or something to make it more like a cake
You can try the glaze here in my Banana Bundt Cake recipe.