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.







Do you know how many points a piece of this would be on weight watchers
Hi Brenda, we don’t calculate points for weight watchers. Maybe someone else has done those calculations – if so, please share! Thanks in advance 🙂
I would like to make this in a mini loaf pan, should I change the bake time?
Hi Abigal, I haven’t tried that in a mini loaf pan myself but one of my readers shared her great results using a muffin pan in a comment, writing: “Just made this! It’s sooooo perfectly yummy! Baked it for 25 minutes in a 12-regular sized muffin pan, and our kitchen smells divine.” I hope this helps. If you experiment please let me know how you like this recipe!
I made this Banana Bread two days ago, and it was moist and full of flavor. I used pecans as I did not have walnuts on hand. My family loves it. Thanks for sharing your recipe with the public 🙂
I’m so happy to hear that Lydia! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I love that your entire family enjoyed that!
Best banana bread I have ever tasted! I followed the recipe exactly, my bread took slightly longer to cook, but it absolutely delicious!!!
Hi Phe! Wow! Thank you for this amazing feed back! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi made this today, the bread turned out to be perfect , using 1/2 cup instead of 3/4 for people who like less sweet was the perfect proportion . Although had to use a bit more flour to get the same consistency as your video . It was done in the oven in 25 min!!! Loved it
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Thank you so much for this recipe! This is by far the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever made. The bread was moist and so flavorful! I’ve made this recipe three different times (within the span of a week) for a total of five loaves! Delicious!
I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Can you use self rising flour vs all purpose flour?
Hi Gee, I haven’t tried this with self rising flour so I can’t give you specific recommendations with that. Maybe someone else has tried, – if so, please let us know! 🙂
All English recipes use self raising flour and so do I…Works every time!
This is the bestEst banana bread! My quick go to recipe. I don’t add walnuts but put a little bit more raisins instead. Absolutely yummy! Thank you for sharing it with us.
I’m so happy you enjoyed this Ryna! Thank you for the great review!
This is an amazing recipe and I’ve made it several times. It is a favorite in my house!
Thank you for sharing it with us!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that, Kris. Thank you for the wonderful review!
Hi for some reason my bread comes out a bit dry. Is there something I am probably doing wrong? Or any tips to make it moist?
Hi Yush, if everything is being done per the recipe without substitutions or modifications, it could be due to over-baking. Some ovens run hotter than others. Test the bread 10 minutes sooner and see if the toothpick comes out clean then remove it from the oven. It should normally be very moist 🙂
Hi,
I love this recipe it was amazing and so easy to make! I replaced the walnuts and raisins with roasted almonds it still tasted amazing. !I also put chocolate chips on top My family loved it. Thanks so much! By the way I am 10 years old.
That is fantastic and I am so impressed that you are baking at such a young age. You are bound to be an amazing baker and already are I’m sure! Thank you for sharing your amazing review and modifications. The chocolate chips sound amazing. Genius!!
I made this banana bread a couple of days ago and ITS STILL SO MOIST AND PERFECT and I’m getting compliments left and right! Thank you!!
Cris! What an amazing review! Thanks for taking the time to leave such a thoughtful comment. I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Love your recipe…..have made it several times……..however……you need to add the eggs to your ingredients list…….could cause confusion……..
Thank you for your feedback Helen 🙂 You can find the eggs four ingredients down “2 eggs lightly beaten””
The eggs are ON my ingredient list above. ?? 😊
Yes they sure are 🙂 Fourth ingredient down “2 eggs lightly beaten”
Thanks for your delicious recipes. I would like to make this banana bread but instead of using regular flour I would like to use almond flour and sugar substitute. Do you know the ratio of almond flour I should use in this recipe? Thanks again
Hi Maricruz. Great question! I haven’t tried this with almond flour yet but it might work. It doesn’t look like anyone else commenting tried it. If you experiment please let me know how you like it. One of my readers wrote in, saying: “I used the Splenda in place of sugar but used 3/4 cup of the white and 1/4 cup of the brown. I didn’t have walnuts but I toasted some granola and put that in and also didn’t have raisins, but did have craisins so I put that in place of the raisins. Have to say this was a hit with both of us. Thanks for the recipe.” I hope that helps
Hi I made the banana bread with almond flour. I added 2 cups of almond flour and no sugar at all. It was delicious. Because of the bananas sweetness and the raisins I didnt’ add any sugar. Came out delicious. Thanks
Thanks again, Maricruz!
I made this delicious recipe but used almond flour and no sugar at all. Was delicious. It doesn’t need sugar cause the swettness of the bananas and the raisins. Thanks again
That’s so great! Thank you for sharing your version with us!
Not a big rasin or sugar fan so I’m going to try it and skip both!! Using oat flour so it’s GF. maybe I’ll toss in an extra egg…
I made this today… so delicious! 🤤Thank you for the recipe
You’re so welcome, Maria! Thank you for the great review!
Great banana bread recipe! I used two bananas and 1 apple sauce. Honey instead of sugar is amazing. Thank you for sharing amazing recipes.
Thank you for sharing that with us, Leonid.
I have made a lot of different banana breads, and this ones a keeper! I made 2 changes to the recipe: 4 bananas instead of 2, and I replaced the raisins with cranberries. So good!
I’m so happy you found a new favorite, Carol! Thank you for sharing that with us!
I make banana bread and muffins often, instead of raisins I use sweet dried cranberries. I like them better than raisins!
I’m so happy you liked that! Thank you for sharing that with me, Myra!
Love all your recipes and energy !
Aww you’re so nice! Thank you Tamara!
Hi Natasha, can the same recipe done in muffins? Do i need to change anything?
Several readers have reported great results using muffins. The bake time will need some adjusting and close watching. Enjoy!