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:

Moist Banana Bread Recipe

4.97 from 6147 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
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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
4.97 from 6147 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Cindy
    September 3, 2025

    Can I substitute pecans for walnuts or leave nuts and raisins out entirely? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 3, 2025

      Hi Cindy, yes, that will work! Here’s what one of my readers wrote: “love this recipe! I have made it with walnuts and I have it with pecans. Also I have made it without any nuts or raisins. DELICIOUS!”

      Reply

  • Michael Janssen
    September 3, 2025

    Hello Natasha. I made this recipe today and replaced the sugar with Monk Fruit. The bread came out moist and delicious, you can’t tell that it doesn’t have sugar in it.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 3, 2025

      I’m so happy to hear it worked well with monk fruit, I know my readers will find that helpful. Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Megan
    September 3, 2025

    Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 3, 2025

      Hi Megan! We prefer to use baking soda in this recipe but it can work with baking powder too. It’s not as strong as baking soda so it would require more.

      Reply

  • Miranda
    September 3, 2025

    I made this bread for my husband. He LOVED it! It’s so moist and delicious. Thank you.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 3, 2025

      So glad he loved it! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

  • Lovey
    September 3, 2025

    Still the number recipe from then till today🥰. Thank you Natasha for sharing your recipes.

    Reply

  • Rayboyman!
    September 2, 2025

    Best recipe I’ve come across yet! Outstanding!!…

    Reply

  • me
    September 1, 2025

    can i substitute the butter for something else?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 1, 2025

      Hi there. I haven’t tested this but some of my viewers have reported good results using the same amount of oil.

      Reply

  • Chef boy RB
    September 1, 2025

    It’s in the oven. The batter was spectacular

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 1, 2025

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Matthew Lands
    September 1, 2025

    When I let the banana bread rest for 10 minutes and transfer to a wire rack, is this when I should turn it out of the pan? Thank you

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 1, 2025

      Hi Matthew! Yes, that’s correct.

      Reply

      • Matthew Lands
        September 2, 2025

        Thank you! The recipe turned out to perfection. You and the team are great at this.

        Reply

  • Caressa Palma
    September 1, 2025

    Hi Natasha, are the macros for the entire loaf?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 1, 2025

      Hi Caressa! The serving size is 1 slice and this loaf yields 10 slices.

      Reply

  • Clotee
    September 1, 2025

    Made just the way I like my banana bread

    Reply

  • Jenybees
    August 31, 2025

    Hi, Natasha,
    I always make recipes to the letter the first time and then make adjustments after that. Especially with banana bread: recipes I have tried in the past have let me down, and I was still searching for a great recipe I could go back to over and over. Yours did not disappoint: a set of stellar loaves (I doubled the recipe) that are aromatic, with a perfect crumb, and very flavorful. Thank you!

    Reply

  • Lynda M Nava
    August 31, 2025

    What if I dont have unsalted butter? Can I use salted and add a little bit more of sugar? Thanks

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 1, 2025

      You may use salted butter and omit or reduce salt in the recipe.

      Reply

    • Samuel Roy
      September 2, 2025

      Use salted and don’t omit the salt. I don’t believe in unsalted butter. What do they call salted butter? BUTTER. Lol Unsalted is the one with a name.

      Reply

  • Golnaz
    August 31, 2025

    Hi Natasha,

    Thank you for your great job. A question for you. Is it possible to replace the butter by olive oil or vegetable oil. If so what would be the quantity. Thanks

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 31, 2025

      Hi Golnaz. I haven’t tested that but some of my viewers have reported good results using the same amount of oil.

      Reply

  • golnaz
    August 31, 2025

    Hi Natasha! Thanks so much for your amazing recipes — I love them. My bananas are very ripe, almost black. Do you think I can skip the granulated sugar?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 31, 2025

      I’m so glad you’re loving the recipes. If your bananas are very ripe, you can cut the sugar by 25-50% but I wouldn’t leave it out completely or it will be bland and it could also affect the texture.

      Reply

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