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 6209 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 6209 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Tiff Rice
    April 9, 2024

    First if all!!! This bread is amazing!
    I would change nothing!

    But I do need to know… if cooking in a 9 inch Round pan should I double this?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 9, 2024

      Hi Tiff! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I haven’t tried this recipe in that size pan, but I recommend using THIS Adapt Baking Recipes to Fit Different Pan Sizes Guide.

      Reply

      • Christal
        April 9, 2024

        I only have slivered almonds on hand. How do you think that will work out?

        Reply

        • NatashasKitchen.com
          April 9, 2024

          Hi Christal. That should work fine too.

          Reply

  • Fay Fisher
    April 8, 2024

    My second time making it! It’s the best! I think I will make another loaf tomorrow with more ripe bananas! Make this. You won’t regret it! ❤️❤️❤️

    Reply

  • Nancy
    April 8, 2024

    I thought this was fantastic. I didn’t have the amount of nuts or raisins suggested but used what I had. Never had raisins in banana bread before!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 8, 2024

      That’s great to hear, Nancy!

      Reply

  • Debra
    April 8, 2024

    Toss up between 3 stars & 4 – only because I’ve had far better banana bread. Idk why but mine didn’t taste of banana as much as I expected. Might be better with a 4th banana or sour cream. It’s good, just not the best I ever had or made.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 8, 2024

      HI Debra, if your bananas were on the smaller side, you would definitely want an extra banana. This normally has plenty of banana flavor. My measure it was 1 3/4 cups mashed bananas

      Reply

  • Bill R
    April 8, 2024

    Greetings from Rhode Island. Made this banana bread recipe yesterday, absolutely delicious. The raisins are a very nice touch, puts this recipe ‘over the top’.

    Reply

  • Jenny E
    April 7, 2024

    Love your presentation- easy to follow even for a beginner. Greatly appreciate.

    Reply

  • Angela Lin
    April 7, 2024

    Hi Natasha, thanks for the amazing banana bread 🙂 Your recipes never disappoint! I made mine in a cake pan, which still turned out very well. I normally don’t add raisins to my banana bread but I’m so glad I decided to today – it tasted phenomenal!

    Reply

  • Maria
    April 7, 2024

    Can I replace the butter with oil. If so , what is the conversion. I find the oil makes it that touch more moist.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 8, 2024

      Hi Maria! Several of my readers reported using oil in the same amount.
      I personally love the butter and there is plenty of moisture from the mashed bananas. I hope you love the recipe!

      Reply

  • Linda
    April 7, 2024

    Simple, uncomplicated but always good. This is my new go-to banana bread.

    Reply

  • Lio
    April 6, 2024

    It’s a delicious recipe, my family ate all the bread, It’s effortless to make and tastes good, But instead of adding raisins or walnuts, I added chocolate chips. Yum! thanks for making this recipe!

    Reply

  • Ramona Alires
    April 6, 2024

    This is the best banana bread every. Moist, flavorful, and easy to prepare. Roasting the walnuts is a must! I think it the reason the bread is THE BEST. 67 yrs old and daughter in law gave us this as an Easter Gift. I’m making for a Birthday present.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 6, 2024

      Thank you for the wonderful feedback! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipe.

      Reply

  • Becca
    April 6, 2024

    How much honey would I need?
    If not using sugar
    Thank you

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 6, 2024

      The same amount. I hope you love the recipe!

      Reply

  • Pat
    April 6, 2024

    Very dry and not moist at all.. you can see the pictures and it looks burnt and it is. Had to cook the full hour to get toothpick clean but is burnt around the edges and taste burnt. Will not make again.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 7, 2024

      Hi Pat. I’m sorry that was your experience.
      This is one of the best banana breads we’ve tried. We make it very often and it’s never been dry. It is a very well loved recipe on the blog with thousands of 5 star reviews from my viewers. I would double check to make sure you measured everything correctly. If it was dry, it could be due to using too much flour (don’t scoop it out of the container with your measuring cup) or baking it for too long (which will dry out the crumb). I use a conventional oven on regular bake mode. I recommend watching my tutorial on How to measure ingredients and also investing in an In oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to ensure your oven is heating correctly. You’ll want to fully preheat your oven before baking. Also- keep in mind, if you use a different size pan, that can be affect the baking time.

      Reply

  • Chris
    April 6, 2024

    This is a great recipe. Has anyone made muffins with this recipe? I figure cooking them about 20-25 minutes.

    Reply

  • Brooke
    April 5, 2024

    Had a few bananas that needed used up and found this recipe. The whole family loved it! Very good definitely will make again

    Reply

  • Carol
    April 5, 2024

    Thank you for sharing all of your amazing recipes. You are a true pleasure to watch and listen to on your recipe videos and looking to see more from you..

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 5, 2024

      Thank you for your lovely and kind comment, Carol!

      Reply

  • Laylay
    April 4, 2024

    I added yogurt, 1 egg and milk instead two eggs and more sugar but other than that I love this! Came out so so good

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 4, 2024

      Great to hear that you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing that!

      Reply

  • mJ
    April 3, 2024

    Thanks for the chance to experience tasty love from you kitchen!
    Thanks again.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 3, 2024

      You’re very welcome!

      Reply

  • Makenna
    April 3, 2024

    Extremely good! We chose to leave out the walnuts and raisins and is still amazing! Super easy to make and not too time-consuming. My family loves it!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 3, 2024

      So glad to hear that, Makenna!

      Reply

  • Gaby
    April 2, 2024

    Natasha, so many of your recipes have been made in my home. I appreciate your blog. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 2, 2024

      Thank you so much for appreciating what we do!

      Reply

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