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

  • Nyoka Johnston
    April 14, 2024

    This makes the most wonderful banana bread in the most perfectly shaped loaf that I have ever made. It is foolproof. It does not have that heavy banana taste. It is wonderfully rich and moist. It tastes the same from the first bite to the last bite even if separated by several days. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 14, 2024

      Aaaw thank you for this lovely review! I’m really happy to have seen your feedback!

      Reply

  • Darlene
    April 14, 2024

    Every time I make banana bread, I use this recipe. The guys at work in receiving go absolutely nuts for the bread!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 14, 2024

      Thank you for the excellent feedback!

      Reply

  • Christina
    April 14, 2024

    I can confirm this recipe is fantastic. I didn’t have raisins and don’t really enjoy them anyways and the recipe was still perfect. 10/10!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 14, 2024

      Love it! Thanks for the prefect review!

      Reply

  • Cindy
    April 14, 2024

    Can I double the recipe, the bread is excellent nice and moist.😋

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 14, 2024

      Hi Cindy! Yes, it can be doubled.

      Reply

  • Sidney
    April 13, 2024

    After following all the ingredients my loaf was mushy inside but almost burnt on the outside. Any suggestions?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 14, 2024

      Hi Sidney! Did you use the correct size loaf pan? If it was smaller the there would be too much batter and it won’t bake properly without adjusting the time/temp. I would also encourage the use of an Internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to verify your oven is heating correctly. If it runs too hot, the outside will burn while the center remains raw. The type of pan used can also affect how it bakes, different materials distribute heat differently. I hope that helps for next time.
      Also- this recipe is written for a conventional oven, on regular bake mode. If you’re using a convection oven, it would require adjusting time/temp.

      Reply

  • Nora
    April 13, 2024

    Your recipe was by far the simplest and best banana bread I’ve ever made! I’m printing and keeping it in my binder. Thanks, Natasha

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 14, 2024

      You’re so welcome!

      Reply

  • Shelly Jean Jones
    April 13, 2024

    If I don’t have unsalted butter is it ok to use salted butter and I want to add chocolate chips

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 13, 2024

      You can use salted, just omit the salt called for in the recipe. Adding chocolate chips is fine. I hope you love the recipe!

      Reply

  • Gail Nelson
    April 13, 2024

    This was so good that my husband has asked every day “when are you going to make some more of that banana cake? “. He thinks it’s dessert 🎂!

    Reply

  • Kim Williams
    April 13, 2024

    Hi Natasha.
    To reduce the cholesterol from butter, can you replace the butter with oil?

    Kim

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 13, 2024

      Hi Kim! I haven’t tested this with oil but some of my readers reported good results using oil in its place.

      Reply

    • Vietha
      April 13, 2024

      Yeah you can. I have done that too. I was using canola oil, olive oil sometimes also sun flowers oil. It’s work awesome.

      Reply

  • Lydia
    April 12, 2024

    Could I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten free 1-to-1 baking flour as a substitute for the all-purpose flour that you use in your recipe, in the same proportion (1.5 cups), and achieve the same effect? Any other suggestions re: making the banana bread gluten free?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 12, 2024

      Hi Lydia, I haven’t tried this with a 1:1 gluten free substitute, but here’s what one of my readers wrote. I hope it helps: “Absolutely delicious! Substituted All-purpose flour with 1cup 1-1 gluten free baking flour and 1/2 cup almond flour and made it with pecans because I didn’t have walnuts. Yummmmy”.

      Reply

      • Lydia
        April 14, 2024

        Thank you so much, Natasha. Looking forward to trying a gluten free one!

        Reply

  • France H
    April 12, 2024

    Delicious recipe Natasha. It was moist and so flavourful. I had never used raisins in banana bread before and found it more moist. Did add 1 1/2 c mashed bananas (3 thawed & 2 ripe) which was so tasty. May try chocolate chips when no nuts can be used re allergies. Thanks. A keeper for sure.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 12, 2024

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, France! I’m so glad this was a keeper!

      Reply

  • Jennifer D
    April 12, 2024

    Hello!!! I can’t wait to try this recipe! It’s in the oven now! I made a loaf and muffins, is there a different time to cook the muffins? I was just thinking about poking the middle until done but you seem responsive, maybe you will answer in time! 😉

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 12, 2024

      Hi Jennifer! Yes, the muffins will definitely bake a lot faster than the loaf.

      Reply

  • Donna
    April 12, 2024

    Great recipe. Make it quite often. My grandchildren love it! I sometimes add mini chocolate chip.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 12, 2024

      Hi Donna! I’m so glad you’re all loving this banana bread recipe. Thank you for your awesome review.

      Reply

  • Joanna
    April 11, 2024

    Can I use a different size loaf pan as I don’t have the size specified.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 11, 2024

      Hi Joanna! You can experiment with different pan sizes but it can affect the baking time. The thinner the batter, the faster it will bake. I would not recommend a smaller pan because there would be too much batter.

      Reply

  • Johanny Foley
    April 11, 2024

    I made this bread today and it’s perfect! Moist and delicious banana flavor. I try other recipes that adds yogurt, brown sugar, and spices. Equally good, only difference I notice is, Natasha’s bread the bananas flavor shine and is not overshadowed by spices.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 11, 2024

      We truly believe we found the perfect balance with this one, Johanny! Thank you so much for sharing your feedback with me.

      Reply

  • Kelli Elswick
    April 10, 2024

    Hands down the best banana bread recipe I’ve used. I do cook it at 325 towards the front of my oven, for 55 minutes. If there was a way to post a picture I would. Top was perfectly golden brown with a nice shine. Smells amazing, very happy and I’ve tried a lot of banana bread recipes. 5 stars

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 10, 2024

      That’s awesome! Thanks so much for the excellent feedback. You will not be able to share some photos here but you can do so when you go to our Facebook page or group.

      Reply

  • Chantel
    April 10, 2024

    Can you use margarine instead of butter? i’m lactose intolerant so i have no butter in the house

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 10, 2024

      Hi Chantel! I haven’t tested margarine. Some
      of my viewers have reported using oil with good results.

      Reply

      • Chantel Romard
        April 10, 2024

        would i do a 1for1 measurement of oil? or is it a different measurement compared to the butter?

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          April 10, 2024

          Hi Chantel, Several of my readers reported using oil in the same amount. If you use olive oil, I would use light olive oil which is neutral tasting, not virgin.

          Reply

  • Smith vrem-gishen
    April 9, 2024

    Thank you so much for showing us this recipe! I cant wait to try it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️

    Reply

  • Smith vrem-gishen
    April 9, 2024

    Its Amazing. I have had a lot of bannana breads, but this one is better than all of them combined!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  • Elisa Trelle
    April 9, 2024

    Can you use olive oil instead of the butter? And if so, how much?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 9, 2024

      Hi Elisa! Several of my readers reported using oil in the same amount. If you use olive oil, I would use light olive oil which is neutral tasting, not virgin.

      Reply

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