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.

Banana Bread on a cutting board with walnuts, raisins and ripe bananas to make healthy banana bread

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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.

Ingredients for Banana Bread with ripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, walnuts and raisins

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!

Slices of banana nut bread on a plate

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!

  1. In the mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
  2. Mix in mashed bananas and eggs.
  3. Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking soda and add to batter.
  4. 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

Moist banana bread recipe sliced to show banana nut bread center

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:

Moist Banana Bread Recipe

4.98 from 5773 votes
Banana bread sliced on a cutting board
This Banana Bread Recipe is loaded with ripe bananas, tangy-sweet raisins, and toasted walnuts. It is one of our favorite ripe banana recipes and even better with overripe bananas.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 people

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

350kcal Calories45g Carbs5g Protein18g Fat7g Saturated Fat57mg Cholesterol243mg Sodium270mg Potassium3g Fiber20g Sugar354IU Vitamin A4mg Vitamin C26mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Moist Banana Bread Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
350
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
18
g
28
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Cholesterol
 
57
mg
19
%
Sodium
 
243
mg
11
%
Potassium
 
270
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
45
g
15
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
20
g
22
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
354
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
26
mg
3
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Breakfast, snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana bread, banana nut bread
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 350
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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.

Moist banana nut bread on kitchen towel

This Banana Bread Recipe is loaded with ripe bananas, tangy sweet raisins and toasted walnuts making it a banana nut bread. One of our favorite ripe banana recipes and even better with overripe bananas! This banana nut bread is super moist, easy and makes a great breakfast on-the-go. | natashaskitchen.com
4.98 from 5773 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Sunil Heryani
    January 10, 2025

    Amazing result. First time ever baking, just followed the recipe to a tee and the banana bread was so good. Didn’t at all feel like it was a novice like me who had done it. Thanks Natasha. Will surely try your many many other recipes.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 10, 2025

      That’s wonderful! Thank you for trying the recipe! So glad you liked it.

      Reply

  • Judy Pohlod
    January 10, 2025

    Hi Natasha, we can’t eat sugar do I’ll try using Stevia here.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 10, 2025

      Hi Judy! I hope you love the recipe. Let us know how it turns out.

      Reply

  • Kat
    January 10, 2025

    This recipe also made phenomenal banana bread french toast. Added a drizzle of Caramel/fresh sliced banana with redi whip. Huge hit!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 10, 2025

      That’s so great! I’m so happy to hear it was a hit!

      Reply

  • atozkitchen
    January 10, 2025

    Perfect usage of overripe bananas, banana bread is an amazing treat; it is made so easily while giving the moisture and flavor your guests and your family would look for. Everyone enjoys this in a morning time as a bite to snack during the dessert after the meal as well as snacking at such a cozy and relaxed time at noon. Although it can be used with nuts and chocolate chips, banana bread is pretty divine even on its own. Plus, the aroma of banana bread baking in the oven fills the house with the sweetest scent—there’s nothing like it!

    Reply

  • Ruth Safronenko
    January 9, 2025

    I have made this several times….I substitute Krusteaz pancake mix for the flour and baking soda….everything else the same…thanks this recipe is so good

    Reply

  • Paige Arell
    January 9, 2025

    Can you use salted butter? That’s the only thing I have on hand ….

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 9, 2025

      Hi Paige! Yes, just omit the salt in the recipe.

      Reply

  • Menahil
    January 9, 2025

    Can we use vegetable oil instead of butter?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 9, 2025

      Hi there! I’ve only made this with butter but some of my viewers have reported using oil instead with good results.

      Reply

  • Connie
    January 8, 2025

    I used 3 ripe bananas and added 1/2 tablespoon of banana extract and I don’t taste any banana flavor in the bread.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 9, 2025

      Hi Connie, I haven’t tried using banana extract here because it’s not usually necessary. Is your sense of smell/taste otherwise ok? I have to ask because of the times. The main ingredient is banana so the flavor should come across well.

      Reply

  • Rosemary
    January 8, 2025

    This is a great banana bread recipe. Can I use the same recipe for muffins?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 9, 2025

      Hi Rosemary! You sure can! I have it linked in this recipe, but we created this Banana Muffins from this recipe.

      Reply

  • Melanie
    January 8, 2025

    My mom says this is the best walnut, dried cranberry and banana bread she’s ever had. I had some bananas sitting around that I knew would go bad soon so though I’d try out this recipe. Instead of 3/4 of sugar I did half of that and added a little agave syrup. Made the house smell wonderful on a snow day and was perfect. Turned down the temperature to 325 a little over halfway through so the top didn’t get really burnt.

    Reply

    • Kat
      January 10, 2025

      My mother said that also. I used pecans instead of walnuts(just my nut preference) and add chia seeds. Everyone absolutely loves it!!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        January 10, 2025

        Thank you so much for sharing that with us!

        Reply

  • Angela
    January 8, 2025

    This was THE MOST moist banana bread ever! I topped mine with a streusel Cinnamon topping the usually has pecans. I was out so used oatmeal. It sort of melted in the middle and made each slice fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!

    Reply

  • Kimmy frog girl
    January 8, 2025

    Yummy and easy recipe! I’m so glad it has a video I’m hands on! I used chocolate chips in mine and it is scrumptious! I have pics but can’t upload them sorry but they are on my messenger story lol.

    Reply

  • Monika C.
    January 7, 2025

    I have to say, I have tried MANY banana bread recipes and this was the first one that was perfect for what we were looking for. We did not add the walnuts or raisins but ate it as is and LOOOOVED it. I also made it two days later with chocolate chips and its gone already. Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply

    • Lauren
      January 8, 2025

      This is how I’m going to make it as well!

      Reply

  • Kayla
    January 7, 2025

    I added dried cranberries and it was delicious.

    Reply

  • Alice
    January 7, 2025

    The best banana bread and we all love to eat.

    Reply

  • Tracey H
    January 7, 2025

    This was Wonderful!! I used golden raisins in this, and 1/4 cup honey 2/4 cup sugar! It was perfect!

    Reply

  • Ghaida’a Moria
    January 6, 2025

    Thank you so much for the best Banana Bread Recipe ever!!! I’ve been trying multiple recipes. And by far yours is the best!!

    I have one question though, do you sift the flour measuring 1 1/2 cup.. or directly?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 7, 2025

      Hi Ghaida’a! I’m so glad you loved it. No, I don’t sift my flour but I fluff it in the container and then spoon it into my measuring cup and then level it off.

      Reply

  • Teresa
    January 6, 2025

    Love , love, love, this recipe!! Thank you so much!!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 6, 2025

      You’re very welcome, Teresa!

      Reply

  • Rita
    January 6, 2025

    Natasha, thank you for the great recipe! Banana read is delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 6, 2025

      You’re so welcome, Rita! I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply

  • Gerard
    January 6, 2025

    Natasha, I’ve been making this banana bread for years and it always turns out perfect my proportions are the same as yours except a little bit larger. Also I keep it as simple as possible. I use two cups of self-rising flour and one cup of sugar blend that together in a bowl and then on top of that add the two eggs and three or four very very ripe bananas and a tablespoon of oil. And pecans and raisins and blend it all together with a hand mixer pour it in the pan and bake it for the hour. I do this about once a month. Next time I will try to add a little bit of vanilla as your recipe suggests.

    Reply

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