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.
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?
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.
I only have slivered almonds on hand. How do you think that will work out?
Hi Christal. That should work fine too.
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! ❤️❤️❤️
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!
That’s great to hear, Nancy!
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.
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
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’.
Love your presentation- easy to follow even for a beginner. Greatly appreciate.
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!
Can I replace the butter with oil. If so , what is the conversion. I find the oil makes it that touch more moist.
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!
Simple, uncomplicated but always good. This is my new go-to banana bread.
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!
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.
Thank you for the wonderful feedback! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipe.
How much honey would I need?
If not using sugar
Thank you
The same amount. I hope you love the recipe!
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.
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.
This is a great recipe. Has anyone made muffins with this recipe? I figure cooking them about 20-25 minutes.
Hi Chris! Yes, you can reference my Banana muffins recipe for instructions on that.
Had a few bananas that needed used up and found this recipe. The whole family loved it! Very good definitely will make again
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..
Thank you for your lovely and kind comment, Carol!
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
Great to hear that you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing that!
Thanks for the chance to experience tasty love from you kitchen!
Thanks again.
You’re very welcome!
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!
So glad to hear that, Makenna!
Natasha, so many of your recipes have been made in my home. I appreciate your blog. Thank you!
Thank you so much for appreciating what we do!