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.
Great !
Good flavor but wrong temp, burnt the outside and not thoroughly cooked inside
Hi Laura, did you possibly use convection mode by mistake or does your oven run hot? I recommend using an inexpensive in-oven thermometer to check.
I had the same issue. My oven is not convection and temp is accurate. I did use 3 large bananas. Had to cook an extra 13 minutes. Except for dark ends, taste was good.
The only other thing I can think of is possibly the type of pan used and the material that it’s made out of. Since not all materials are even, it can distribute heat differently which affects how the bread cooks.
Very easy and so delicious
I will definitely make it again
This Banana bread is not too sweet or too greasy! I didn’t add raisins! Tastes great! Thank you 😃
This Banana bread is not too sweet or too greasy! By the way, I didn’t add raisins! Tastes great! Thank you 😃
Good recipe
I only had 2 large bananas, bread flour and no nuts. I used 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/4 brown. Added a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg and completely forgot to add the vanilla. Still delicious! I did muffins, baked 20 mins.
It turned out great! I used Pecans, it’s what I had. I added a whole tsp of pure Mexican Vanilla extract. Browned the butter and then combined the sugar after it cooled for about 10 minutes as not to cook the eggs. I also added chocolate and peanut butter chips to it. The kids love it! Going to try making muffins tonight.
Beyond expectations! The bananas weren’t ripe enough so I roasted them like suggested in the oven and they turned out *perfect*! It smelt so heavenly like bananas in my house as it was baking and you can very much still taste them in the bread. I made two versions, chocolate and walnut, and both came out fantastic and tasted greater than I thought they would. I always forget to grease the pan but with this recipe, the bread came out smoothly on its own! I left them overnight with some foil on top and they still kept very moist, if not more! Simply the best recipe there is.
I can totally smell it from your description, Olivia! Thank you for your awesome review.
This recipe is delicious and not too sweet!
How many servings does this make?
Hi Christina, The serving size can be found at the beginning of the print-friendly recipe card (located at the bottom of the recipe post). The nutrition label shows counts “per serving.” This recipe serves 10, I hope that helps!
Can I use salted butter instead? If so how much va what is called in the recipe. Would love to make this now without having to run to the store!
Hi Maria, you can use salted butter and omit the salt in the recipe.
Delicious!!! I made a few changes. I used 4 bananas. Instead of sugar, I used a 1/2c brown sugar and a 1/4c raw honey. Subbed pecans for walnuts. Added 1/4t of cinnamon and 1/4t of banana flavoring. And I made these into muffins. Baked for 20 minutes. I consumed two fresh out of the oven. And now contemplating a third while typing this. Thank you for such a moist and delicious recipe!!
Yummy recipe, this is now my go-to banana bread recipe!
Modifications- Reduced sugar to 90 gram (bananas were plenty sweet), added 1 tsp cinnamon, and replaced walnuts and raisins with same weight in pecans
Thanks Natasha for a great recipe and the helpful recipe notes! I used your tip to bake the bananas to get them to the optimum ripeness!
You’re welcome, Maria! Thank you for sharing.
Great banana bread! I added nuts and chocolate chips! Delicious 😋!
What if I don’t add raisin and walnuts do I need to add more bananas
Hi Darlene! You can leave them out without making any other adjustments. I hope you love the recipe.
I found this recipe a few weeks ago and I’ve already made it three times! The only thing I changed was walnuts for pecans as the walnuts I had weren’t fresh anymore. I can’t get over how incredible my house smells when I make it. I even tried using ripe bananas that I tossed in the freezer last time because they were at the turning point and I didn’t have time right then to use them. They actually mashed easier because I microwaved them to thaw but you have to adjust cooking time because they’re a little bit more watery that way. Fantastic recipe, it’s the only one I will ever use from now on! Thank you Natasha!
That’s so great to hear, Vanessa. Thank you so much for sharing that. I’m glad you found this recipe.
DELICIOUS!!! I used apple sauce in place of butter and added chocolate chips instead of raisins and walnuts, but other than that, everything was the same!! So moist!! Best banana bread recipe!! Thank you!!!!!!
Hi Mak! Thank you for sharing. I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
I did not have enough bananas, added frozen blueberries……….came out perfect!!
This was delicious!! Best I’ve ever made. I used pecans. I’ve never roasted them first. This was a game changer. Thank you!!!
I wonder if I can use brown sugar? I’m out of white sugar? Is it possible?
Hi Olga! Yes that’s possible but it will be more dense/chewy and have a more robust flavor of molasses.
I only had two nice size bananas. I used a half a cup of sugar, salted butter omitting the salt, an extra 1/4 tsp. of vanilla. A extra 1/4 cup of walnuts and only a 1/4 of raisins. Turned out delicious. Thanks
That’s great, Merry. I’m so glad it turned out for you.