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.
This is a delicious, extremely moist loaf. It tasted good on the first day but had a deeper flavor and was easier to cut after an overnight rest in the refrigerator. I definitely will make it again.
That’s wonderful to hear! Glad you loved it.
Natasha’s recipe is always a hit in my home. It’s easy to make, moist & so delicious !!!
So glad you love it, Cindy!
First time ever making banana bread. Followed the directions and it turned out delicious. Thank you for making it easy. Do you recommend waiting until it is completely cooled before storing?
Hi D! You’re very welcome. So glad you loved it. Yes, wait for it to cool then it can be wrapped for storing.
The first time I made this was excellent, except that it browned fast and finished much before 55 min. It browned withouhjt cooking through so I reduced the temp to finish, but it was so soft without being moist. The second time however, the batter was more liquidy (I knew smth was wrong cuz I remembered scooping the batter) and it browned much faster, but the end result was a moist wet banana bread. I don’t understand what could have gone wrong ??? 😭 it was so nice the first time 🙁
Hi Hina! Are you using a conventional oven? If you’re using a convection/fan oven, you’ll need to make adjustments to time/temp since it bakes faster. The type of pan also makes a difference in how it bakes since the material it’s made of can distribute heat differently. It could also be the way things were measured. Make sure to spoon and level the flour to avoid packing it down or weigh it if you have a food scale.
I followed the recipe to a T not sure what happened but it didn’t rise at all and it was like mushy. I baked it for 55 minutes. I don’t know if the bananas were too ripe but I had to throw the whole thing in the garbage. What did I do that was wrong? 😓
Hi Melissa. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. Using bananas that are overly ripe could add a bit more moisture to the banana bread, making it more dense and heavy. Over-mixing the batter can also make it dense and heavy.
I would make sure that your leavening is not expired or old. Make sure to fully preheat your oven before baking and if you are high altitude, you may try to bake it for 5 to 10 minutes longer. Also, if you are using a different size pan, you may need to adjust the baking time. I hope that helps.
I’ve been making this almost once a week recently. I like it with dark chocolate chips and pecans instead of raisins and walnuts plus some cinnamon and nutmeg. Highly recommend.
Sounds delicious, Dennis! Thank you for sharing.
How much nutmeg and cinnamon did you add Dennis??
This recipe easily replaces my old tried and true one I’ve used for 30 years. My old one used shortening instead of butter but we all know now how unhealthy shortening is. With Natasha’s recipe I can not only feel good about the natural ingredients, I can also rejoice that this banana bread tastes better than my family’s favorite. They love this one more!
Hi Barbara. That is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that. I’m glad you love this recipe.
yummy
Recipe was just ok for me. It baked oddly dark throughout. Not sure why? It tasted ok and was moist enough.
Hi Ivy! Did you use a convection/fan oven?
If so, it would bake too fast on the outside and would need the temperature/time adjusted. This recipe was tested in a conventional oven.
Also- the type of material the pan is made from
can effect how it bakes due to how it distributes heat.
I add nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon to the flour. Delicious bread.
Sounds wonderful! Love that idea.
I used chocolate chips instead of raisin. But my bread turned out very moist and perfect. I did go off one review and cut the cook time by five mins. Will make this again and again ☺️
I just chose this recipe with a toss of a coin. It’s the best tasting. I doubled the recipe.
Hi Car! I’m so glad you tried the recipe. Thank you for the wonderful feedback.
I made two loafs one loaf I mixed the toasted walnuts in the batter, and the 2nd loaf I just put some of the walnuts on the top of the mixture once it was in the pan. I also added a little brown sugar on top of the walnuts on the 2nd loaf. I really liked the way the 2nd loaf tasted with the touch of brown sugar on top and some walnuts on top. They both came out perfect! Yummy.
That sounds Brenda. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Great recipe! I did half a cup of honey and 1/4 cup of sugar. The loaf came out quite a bit darker than other banana bread I’ve done, and it had a slightly more springy texture. I prefer a bit more raisins/cranberries so the mixture of fruit and nuts is about equal. It was still delicious and I’ll probably try it again with just a few adjustments
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Anna. Thank you for sharing.
The best banana bread recipe! It’s so simple, reliable & delicious. I substitute the flour for GF Bob’ Red Mill 1 to 1 Baking Flour, and the butter for macadamia nut oil and presto, a delicious Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free version.
I only have an 8”x 4” loaf pan. Will that work? Also have an 8” square cake pan.
Hi Donna. I haven’t tested this recipe in different size pans. I may have a bit too much batter for your 8” loaf pan. Depending on how deep it is it may work but likely will need extra minutes in the oven since the loaf will be shorter and taller.
Literally perfect and so moist. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
I made this bread today, and it turned out great. Very delicious! I had good luck making 3 mini loaves instead of the single large loaf. (Same recipe, same oven temp, just bake approximately 30 minutes)
Thank you for sharing that with us, Susan!
Perfect recipe for me! Loved it. My second time making it. Thank you for sharing.
You’re so welcome, Eliza! I’m so happy you loved it!
This is my go-to banana bread recipe. It’s fantastic with or without walnuts and raisins.
This is the banana bread recipe I’ve been searching for! I subbed the walnuts & raisins for 1 cup of mini chocolate chips and baked it for 65 mins, tenting it with aluminum foil the last 10 because it was getting too dark. An absolute keeper. So delicious!! My new go to.
Hi Sarah! That’s wonderful news. Thanks for the feedback. So happy you found my recipe.