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

4.97 from 6094 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
4.97 from 6094 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Tamekia
    February 25, 2025

    Great recipe, muffins came out real moist.

    Reply

  • Gen
    February 24, 2025

    Best banana bread I’ve made. A friend said, I perfected this. Perfect as written. Honey a game changer! Thanks for this superb recipe.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 24, 2025

      You’re welcome, Gen! I’m so glad to hear that.

      Reply

  • Angela Cece
    February 24, 2025

    Great recipe and thanks for all of your other recipes as well 😀

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 24, 2025

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Angela!

      Reply

  • Kristine Kalkbrenner
    February 24, 2025

    Made it without nuts and raisins
    With nuts and raisin
    And raisins chocolate chips and heath chips

    Reply

  • Jess
    February 24, 2025

    We didn’t use raisins nor walnuts but it still turned out so dang good! Best recipe I’ve used and I’ve used a lot.

    Reply

  • Kate
    February 23, 2025

    It was the first recipe ever I used and it was delicious and moist. But the second time I used it, I made some tweaks: I used 2,5 bananas (all I had at the time, 1,25 cups of flour (half all purpose, half whole wheat, 1/2 cups of brown sugar (turned out a bit too sweet for my liking, the first time I used 1/2 cups of honey and it was better). This time it wasn’t as moist as the first time, more on the dryer side. Do you know which of my alterations could have caused it?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      February 24, 2025

      Hi Kate, I suspect it was due to adding the whole wheat flour – that can make a bread a little more dry. Without testing those substitutions, it’s difficult to guess.

      Reply

  • Carrie Hale
    February 23, 2025

    My spouse and I love this banana bread recipe . Thank you so much for sharing it .

    Reply

  • Tammy
    February 23, 2025

    really good and the measurements are spot on..added brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and used craisins in place of raisins

    Reply

  • Candice McNeely
    February 23, 2025

    This recipe is easy to make and very tasty! The whole family loved it!

    Reply

  • Sharon Miller
    February 23, 2025

    This banana bread is the best recipe 1 have found in 30 years! Everyone just loved it at Christmas, baking it again to take to an event this week. No additions or substitutions! I do double this recipe, ‘cause it’s such a hit!💕💕

    Reply

  • Marcella Hilgartner
    February 22, 2025

    This banana is delicious. I followed the recipe exactly. I used smaller pans 8 x4 to make two. The only problem I had was that the sides and edges of the breads were slightly overcooked and brown. I used light colored pens. Should I lower the temperature by 25°?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 22, 2025

      Hi Marcella! That might help, although lighter pans don’t bake as fast are dark metal pans. Also, I highly encourage the use of an internal oven thermometer (affiliate link) to check your ovens temperature accuracy.

      Reply

  • Ade
    February 22, 2025

    I love this recipe! I have made it so many times. I always add chocolate chips though and only sometimes add the walnuts. Super good!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 22, 2025

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Ade!

      Reply

  • Jamie McCoy
    February 21, 2025

    First time using this recipe and just wasn’t as tasty as the one I’ve used in the past.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      February 24, 2025

      Hi Jamie, did you make any changes in the ingredients or instructions? We haven’t changed the recipe and this is one of our most popular recipes for many years now.

      Reply

  • Gloria Dawn Carrao
    February 21, 2025

    I switched walnuts with pecans and subbed craisins instead of raisins. I added 4 bananas and added 2 whole cups of flour instead of the 1 1/2 you originally called for. Added a pinch of cinnamon cause I felt fancy lol DELISH bread we packed for our road trip!

    Reply

  • Danielle Girit
    February 21, 2025

    The best banana bread I make. I have used this recipe many times!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 21, 2025

      That’s so great to hear. We sure do love this one too!

      Reply

  • Cliff M
    February 21, 2025

    Great lively video. One thing I missed is seeing the list/quantity of ingredients. I like to make sure I have everything AND like to double check the quantity. Well done keep stiring!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 21, 2025

      Hi Cliff. There is a button at the top of the page “jump to recipe”. It will take you to the recipe card which is located at the bottom of the page.

      Reply

  • Athina
    February 20, 2025

    How much in grams is three bananas? Bananas in our place have dofferent sizes and kinds. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      February 21, 2025

      Hello Athina! On average, one medium banana weighs around 120 grams, so three bananas would be approximately 360 grams. Hope that helps.

      Reply

  • Lynne
    February 20, 2025

    I was out of raisins, so I used apricots and I’m not a nut fan so I omitted that. Delish!

    Reply

  • Grace OBrien
    February 20, 2025

    I used apple sauce for eggs and omitted nuts and raisins. Family and friends love this!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 20, 2025

      That’s great, Grace! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Jerry Bowen
    February 20, 2025

    Made it with my 12 year old granddaughter using blueberries instead of raisins. Amazing!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 20, 2025

      I bet it was so good with blueberries!

      Reply

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