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.
How do i store it? Can i leave it out or refrigerate?
For short term storage like 1-2 days you can store it at room temperature. Just wrap it in an airtight container or plastic wrap. For longer storage, you can refrigerate it for a maximum of a week and you can also freeze it for longer storage time.
Love this recipe!!
I do use chocolate chips instead of all the raisins and nuts, and use 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup regular sugar.
So good and easy!
I’ve made this bread 4x this month. Really good! Great to give to neighbors for the holiday!
Will be making your pumpkin bread tomorrow LOL
Hi I tried your recipe, it was very nice not a little dry I want to make some more. What do you recommend to make it more moist.
Hi Venice! The mashed bananas should add plenty of moisture. A dry bread could be due to using too much flour or over baking.
Watch my tutorial on How to measure ingredients to ensure you’re using the right amount of flour.
What do you count as a serving? The nutritional facts state 350 per serving but no other measurement. Thank you in advance.
Hi Athena! At the top of the recipe card you’ll see the number of servings that this makes. It makes 10 slices so the nutrition facts are per slice.
Easy to follow and simple ingredients that most people have on hand.
Loved it ! I’ve tried so many different recipes & this one is my favorite . Thank you for sharing <3
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Sammy!
Good recipe for banana bread. I just added a bit of cocoa powder and instead of butter I put oil and it is just like I like it. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for sharing, Lea!
im trying the recipe and i made some changes to it i added something to the butter (iykyk) to take it to a different level and i didnt make it into bread but into muffins easier batches so we will see where we goooo
Wondering how your “enhanced” butter affected the banana flavor before I try something similar, any tips or additional advice welcomed.
Can yo use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Hi Mary. Using unsalted butter allows control over how much salt add. You can use salted, just omit the salt.
Amazing recipe 😋 I love all your recipes Natasha 😋
Thank you so much!
Tried this recipe this morning for the first time, it’s so moist and delicious, by far the best recipe of all times. Thank you for the recipe Natasha 🩷💐☺️
You’re so welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Sarah!
This is the Best Easy Recipe
I made a couple of changes,
I used 1/2 c sugar because the bananas were very ripe & instead of raisins i used white chocolate chips with walnuts & added 1 tablespoon yogurt.
Baked at 350 in 12 muffin pan for 50
Minutes.
This is my go to recipe!
Minutes.
This is by far the best recipe I have tried for banana bread. I’m not the best at baking but I’m not horrible either. I don’t have a pan to use for banana bread, so instead I do this reciepe but instead of raisins I add some chocolate chips, and put in a muffin pan! They don’t come out super fluffy but they aren’t completely flat either. They are really moist and delicious!
Can I make an alternative from walnut to pecans
Hi Felisia, yes, that will work!
Why baking soda and not baking powder? I Made it but it’s not Fluffy, can i use baking power instead?
Hi Alejandra! The baking soda reacts with the natural acidity in the bananas. We’ve had the best results with baking soda. If you want to experiment with baking powder, keep in mind that baking soda is 4 times stronger than baking powder so you’ll need to adjust accordingly.
It truly is the best banana bread I’ve ever made. I did not add raisins because my husband doesn’t like them. And, I did not add walnuts because my elderly father can’t chew them, but even so, it was amazing. I must say that I added a dollop of Greek yogurt just for kicks, and I used vanilla paste instead of pure vanilla. I will make this again for sure! Thanks so much!
You’re very welcome! So happy you enjoyed that recipe. Thank you for the feedback.
How much mashed banana is it? We have some really large ones.
Thanks!
3 very ripe bananas, (medium/large)
Delicious and easy to make! Will definitely make it again.
So happy you loved the recipe, Joan!
Pls do share video as well.
Overall the recipe is so perfect as always
Hi Amra! There is a video attached, scroll down to the video section, or click the video icon at the top of the page next to the “jump to recipe” button.
Delicious ~ a staple in our home, make this bread often. I do add a tablespoon of sour cream otherwise follow the recipe as written. Thanks ☺️
So glad to hear that you’re enjoying it. Thank you for sharing that with us.
Great recipe. Moist and flavorful. Easy to make.
I’m happy you loved it, Tanna!!