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.
I just made this bread substituting honey for the sugar and coconut oil for the butter. I had to add a bit more flour and I baked it at 325° since I was using honey. Oh my! So delicious! As a dessert I have banana bread with fresh raspberries with a almond milk or macadamia nut milk poured over the top. It’s so good!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
We had 3 ripe bananas on the counter. My 9yo daughter wanted to make banana bread. Found your recipe and supervised making her first banana bread. We added 1/2 cup of chocolate chips and reduced sugar. Honestly the best banana bread recipe. There won’t be any left after tomorrow!! Thanks!
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me :). I’m all smiles!
Yummy! Love it! Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it
A unique recipe! Thanks for giving a new idea to try something out of the box!
My pleasure! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
A unique recipe! Thanks for giving an idea to try something new!
You’re so welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
pineapple always is my go to for moisture. can I use it in this bread??
Hi Brenda, This recipe is a very moist banana bread without it. I haven’t tried pineapple banana bread but I am so intrigued and it sounds like a great idea! If you test it out, please let me know how you like it 🙂
This was delicious!! Got so many compliments on the bread. I didn’t have the chocolate chips or nuts, but was still so flavorful without!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
So. I made your banana bread recipe. I toasted the walnuts and used crainrasins. The first loaf my wife says came out great. So moist and flavorful. THE second loaf I made a week later for work I made with even darker bananas. All they could say at work was “WOW”. Now I’m the banana bread king. Love your site. Keep it coming.
That’s wonderful! Thank you for sharing that with me! I’m so happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Not a fan of nuts in my breads so I omitted the walnuts and raisins and added 1/2 cup home made chunky applesauce. Super moist and perfect.
What a great idea! Thank you for sharing that Phyllis!
Have exactly same recipe. Excellent. Here is my suggestion. For seniors or bake sales … I make 3 of the small foil loaves out of this recipe. Oil the inside of the foil and bake according temp.. Do not have to bake as long. When cool pull sides and ends away and loaf will come out very easy. Enjoy!!!
Thank you for sharing that with us!!
Good morning! you said 3 bananas…I had a full bunch of them a friend grew so when ripe I peeled, pureed and put in freezer….so…what measure would you recommend of babanas?
I haven’t measured it that way but I would think it would be about a cup or so of mashed should equal to 3 bananas. I believe the weight of that should be around one pound. But I haven’t specifically measured that.
Came out very well. Thanks a lot
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for the great review!
made it with pecans and raisins and disappeared!!!
baking a new one today!
That’s awesome!! I’m so happy you all enjoyed that!
Made it yesterday and it’s so good! Best recipe I’ve had for banana bread 🙂
Wow! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Yes they I look really comfortable for mixing. Thanks
Delicious. Where did you get the clear glass bowls?
Hi Liya! Are you referring to these here?
Can we use almond flour instead of all purpose flour? Would it be same 11/2 cup?
Hi Rachel, 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.
best banana bread ever, gone in minutes♥ my family loves it♥ thanks for sharing 🙂
I’m so inspired reading your review. Thank you!
Very good and moist!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
The best banana bread recipie. Been making it at least once a week now family love it.
Sounds like you found a family favorite Roxanne!
Great receipt! Turned out perfectly! Was moist and well baked!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Best banana bread I ever made. Put in chocolate chips instead of raisins, and cinnamon instead of vanilla. Only 1/4 cup of sugar was used, cause we don’t like it too sweet. It was perfect! Thanks!
Hi Toni! Thank you for the wonderful review! I’m so happy you enjoyed that