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 love this recipe! After trying a few different banana bread recipes this is the one I liked best. I just made mini loaves for the first time! I doubled the recipe and filled 6 mini tin foil loaf pans. Makes a wonderful treat to gift!
Hi Courtney! Thank you so much for the feedback. So glad you love the recipe!
I have been baking for a long time. This is the best banana bread recipe! Super moist. Nice consistency. Love it!
Lisa
Thank you, Lisa! That makes me so happy to hear.
Hi! If I double this recipe and put it in a bigger cake pan, would I have to change the oven temperature or just increase the bake time?
Hi Manha! The temperature can stay they same, you’ll just have to watch it in the oven and check for doneness.
i would love to try this recipe. i want to bake for Atleast 40 people so should i double everything ?
Hi Drake, I recommend clicking “Jump to recipe” at the top of the post, it will take you to our printable recipe where you’ll have the option to change the number of servings. Hover over the number of servings highlighted in red and slide it to how many servings you would like to make. I hope that helps!
Hi Natasha. it’s Christmas time and I’m making your Roast Turkey again:)
I’ve been serving this flavourful and moist roast turkey for about 3 years since I discovered the recipe on website. It’s always my table centre piece dish on Christmas lunch.
Also, I baked your banana bread and brought it to work for morning tea and everyone enjoyed it., it’s delish..
I’ve shared your recipe to my workmates as they’ve loved it
Thank you again for sharing your recipes
Hi Yvonne! That’s wonderful to hear. Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I added some cinnamon; other than that, I followed recipe and it was delicious!
Excellent recipe. Made it as directions stated. Will definitely make again.
So happy you loved it, Natara!
Love it. My go to recipe for breakfast, desserts or when company arrives for tea/coffee. Always delicious and very easy to make.
Hi Sandra! We love this one too. Thanks for sharing your feedback.
Excellent recipe !!!
My husband and I love it!
Is it possible to use salted butter and omit salt instead? Or sub with coconut oil? Thanks!
Hi Juliana! Yes, you can use salted and omit the salt. I haven’t tested oil, but some of my readers have reported good results using oil.
How long would I bake if my loaf pan is
8 X 4.5 X 2.75 ( a USA pan )? Thank you
Hi Marla! I would not recommend a smaller pan because there would be too much batter.
We’ve made this recipe several times and it is very good! Then I bought new loaf pans, not realizing they were a different size. Thank you for the fast reply.
You’re welcome, Marla! You could cut the recipe down or just remove some batter and bake the extra in something smaller so that your pans are not overfilled.
Can I substitute walnuts for pecans? Can you add more bananas to this recipe instead of doubling the recipe.
Hi there! Yes, both pecans or walnuts would work. I haven’t increase the banana amount without making any modifications to advice.
Good!! I added cinnamon
I am not someone that loves banana bread. This recipe changed the game for me. I had some ripe bananas and (I mean use or lose bananas) decided to try after about ten years of a banana bread hiatus. Didn’t matter who made the bread I just have never been much of a fan. This recipe changed my banana bread outlook. This is the most delicious recipe, of all time! I didn’t add nuts or raisins and it was perfection. This deserves all the stars and the moon. Make it!
I’m so happy to hear that you loved our banana bread recipe!!
Made it. Its good except the baking soda is too strong. Next time i will just use 1/2 tsp baking soda instead.
Hi Grace, I haven’t had any issues with the baking soda being too strong. Did you maybe change any of the ingredients in the recipe which could have caused that?
It made it twice and both times the taste was great! Thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad you loved the recipe! Thank you.
I have made this recipe multiple times with great results. Last time, I added a tablespoon (or so) of molasses. Gave it a deeper flavor and a richer color
Made it using spring loaf pans. Added toasted coconut flakes too. Be sure to toast bananas in oven for 15 min before peeling n adding to mixture. Even better flavor
Yummy
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Made it using spring loaf pans. Added toasted coconut flakes too. Yummy
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, D!
Why only a 4 star? It would nice to know why you gave it. Then we could tweak it if we wanted to, 😊
One queation, can I replace all sugar with dry fruits such as raisins and dates ?
I haven’t tested this without any sugar. I’ve used less sugar, or replaced sugar with honey. You can use other dried fruits too, but I would be mindful of the amount you use so it doesn’t weigh down the bread and become too dense.