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.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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.
Is 1.5 cups flour correct? I made this and it turned out like soup bubbling all over the oven
Hi Aaron! That’s correct. Did you use a smaller pan than recommended? If so the batter may have been too deep, causing it to rise and spill over. I would also ensure you measured all of your other ingredients correctly and did not use too much baking soda which can cause excessive bubbling and overflow. This recipe has yielded great results for us, it’s our favorite and one is the most popular recipes on the blog. I hope you’ll try again.
Can you substitute eggs for anything else in this recipe?
I always use this recipe and I’ve started to make it again and realised I’ve got no eggs! Disaster!
Hi Hannah! I haven’t tested it without eggs. Some people reported using apple sauce in place and it worked well.
The best banana bread ever and It browns up so nicely, I make 4 mini loaves in foil pans. I used pecans, raisins and a few mini semi sweet chocolate chips, delicious!!
The recipe is easy to follow.
Made a few substitutions.
Used coconut palm sugar instead of regular sugar. Added less salt. Used raisins and currants mixed with cranberries.
Just took mine out of the oven.
It looks so yummy. Can’t wait to slice it up.
Thank you!
I made this banana bread with chocolate chips and walnuts. It was sooooo good it was gone in a flash! Awesome recipe
That’s so great to hear! Thank you for your feedback.
This is my favorite banana bread recipe. It always turns about moist and flavorful. Sometimes I add mini chocolate chips and sometimes I don’t. Either way, this recipe is perfection
I’m so happy you love it, Kelly!
Made a double batch with craisins instead instead of raisins.
They are in the oven right now.
Hey Natasha, I’ve added some blueberries instead of the raisins, I’m in the waiting, hope it works out well! Thanks 🙂
Can this possibly made into a cake instead of a loaf? I’d like to try to make it into a cake and maybe use cream cheese frosting? Any tips?
Hi there! I think that’s doable but you have to make some adjustments and have to test it out. We’d love to know how it goes!
It’s in the oven, ill let you know.
I gave a 5 star for now due to the ease of the recipe. I also dbl. It and added 1 tsp. Cinnamon.I also added the walnuts and raisins. Fingers crossed 🤞
It is wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
You’re very welcome!
Natasha, Absolutely best banana bread ever! I used dark brown sugar instead of granulated and omitted raisins….not a fan of them. I shared with my mother-in-law. She said it was the best banana bread she’s ever had. Thank you for yet another delightful recipe.
That’s so great to hear, Tammy! Thanks for sharing.
I added 1/2 cup Craisins and it’s great!
Wonderful!! I’ve tried to find recipes without orange 🍊 or lemon zest. Thank you! It’s delightful!
Thank you, Natasha, for this simple (my level😆) and delicious recipe. I omitted raisins and nuts. Instead, I inserted a whole black chocolate tablet in the middle of the batter. The bread (moist and soft!) didn’t have any time to cool down after baking!! It was gone in no time with glasses of milk (snack time at 4pm😁)!!!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
The best banana bread recipe I’ve tried. I did
add more sugar, 1/2cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar and it was delicious. Made a triple batch because I had 9 bananas in my freezer!
So very good. I added some semi sweet chocolate too. Loved it
Just made it but after 10 minutes am I removing from pan to transfer to rack??
Hello there! You might want to let it cook in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it. After 10 minutes, you can flip it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
It’s the most delicious banana bread I’ve ever had…. And easier to make than i expected!!
Hi Sandra! That’s great to hear. So glad you loved it! Thanks for trying the recipe.
This the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever made by far ! I have had excellent success
with all your reicpes . Love , love , love 😋
Hi Christian! I’m all smiles reading your review. Thank you so much. I’m glad you love this as much as we do.