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.
Way too much butter. The banana flavor was overpowered by the richness of the butter. The top edges tasted deep fried. I won’t make this recipe again.
Hi Tehani, I’m sorry to hear that since this is one of our most popular recipes. Did you possibly mis-measure the butter or add it when it was melted instead of softened?
Okay. So I made this again and tweaked it some for gluten free. I used almond flour and added appx 1/8 cup of milk and increased the raisins to 1 1/2 cups (to add more moisture due to almond flour). I also used pecans instead, just because I prefer them.
It turned out AMAZING! I would recommend this to anyone! Will definitely make this again.
Thank you for sharing that with us, Belinda. I’m glad it turned out for you!
Made this for my father and daughter. They loved it. I would have given it 5 stars, but it didn’t offer advice on gluten free options.
I noticed it said in recipe about using honey instead of sugar but no measurement was listed for that. How much honey would be needed to replace the sugar.
Honey is sweeter than sugar so you will need less of it. Example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, you can replace it with about 2/3 cup (or 5.33 oz) of honey.
For the first time my husband is asking me to make more bread. I added an extra touch. I made a real simple vanilla icing on top.
Hi! I have just used your recipe and the banana bread is currently baking in the oven…..loving the aroma from the kitchen so far…
Hi Laura! Thank you for trying my recipe. Come back and let us know how it turned out.
This is the 2nd time I’m making banana bread per your recipe. The 1st time, it wasn’t too bad. I used a loaf pan. Today, I’m using a 6″ x 9″ pan. We’ll see how it turns out. I used 4 medium bananas this time, instead of 3. It should be delicious!
Loved it. Did exactly 55 mins and just softly folded everything. I would personally add one firm banana chopped up as well for texture plus I love those chunks in banana bread. Otherwise this was perfect!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Jon!
Made this many times. I follow exactly the recipe but I added 1/2 cup of avocado oil to make it super moist to fit my personal preference. Thank you so much. 🥰
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Kat!
Can I use 1/4 brown sugar and 1/2 cup regular? Will that change anything drastically?
Hi Mandi! You can, but brown sugar will change the texture a bit and it will have a richer/robust flavor.
Have made this recipe several times! But I add cinnamon and nutmeg and a little extra vanilla extract…love it! So does the familia 😊
I made this today for the 2nd time this fall.
It’s such a beautiful moist recipe.
I skipped the nuts and soaked a handful of raisins in hot water then chopped the raisins and folded them in at the end.
(My old recipe always came out dry)
I baked this today at 350 degrees for 58 minutes.
I rotate the pan every 15 minutes or so.
Near the end of bake time I monitor the doneness closely with a cake tester to avoid over baking.
This is now my go to b.bread recipe!
Thank you
-L
Thank you so much for sharing that with us! So glad you love it.
Either not enough flour or baking temp is too high. This came out overcooked, almost burnt, on the outside and not cooked on the inside.
Hi Lana! This recipe has thousands of 5 star reviews. It’s our favorite banana bread and we’ve made it successfully many times.
Are you using a convection/fan oven? If so, it will bake faster and needs the temp/time adjusted.
This recipe was tested in a conventional oven. I highly encourage the use of an internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to ensure your oven’s temperature accuracy. Also- if you’re using a glass pan, you should lower the temperature by 25 degrees and bake it longer.
Be sure to use the right size pan. I hope that helps.
Compared to other recipes , I’d say this one is pretty bland. Missing brown sugar and cinnamon. Bread was plain !
Hi Jennifer. I’m sorry to hear that. This recipe has amazing reviews. We have made it successfully many times. You can definitely add cinnamon if you’d like. Brown sugar would be fine too but I have found that brown sugar tends to change the texture and flavor a bit.
Can I use,coconut sugar and dried cranberry?
Hi Vil! I haven’t tested it with coconut Cindy, but I think it would be fine. Yes, cranberries work great.
Excellent moist and delicious. Easy to make thank you Natasha,
Most receipts are dry once you make them but your banana bread is moist and delicious.
Tried last night – forgot to take pics but it was very pretty (good rise, nice color and slightly crunchy crust while moist in the middle). Next time I will either use FOUR small or three large bananas. (Only had three REALLY small bananas on hand so it didn’t have enough banana flavor for me). But, overall, it was delicious.
So good, make it right away, do not hesitate! Delicious!
Thank you for this recipe, I am adding it to our favourites. xx
Hi Ellie! Thank you so much. I’m glad you found another favorite!
This recipe is the best one I’ve come across. It’s easy and the bread is super moist. Is now my go to for banana nut bread.
That’s wonderful to hear, Deb! Thank you for the feedback.
This recipe is delicious! As I did not have enough ripe bananas, I also added Persimmons and applesauce to the batter. The toasted walnuts give the bread an extra burst of flavor and crunch, and the bread is moist! Because I substituted some of the banana, I increased the baking time to 65 minutes. (My loaf pan was also a little smaller in size.)
Question: If baking in tiny ceramic loaf pans (little loaves) in a regular old toaster oven, time & temp adjustments please?? (We’re going to try these in our work/office kitchen… lol) Thank you!
Hi El! I’m sorry, I don’t have those instructions. I have not tested this in a toaster oven.