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 6172 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 6172 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • John Smith
    February 8, 2019

    Outstanding recipe

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 8, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed it

      Reply

  • shri
    February 8, 2019

    Banana bread recipes a one of the healthy and tasty recipe…super recipe .
    Thanks for sharing a such a good and tasty recipe, keep sharing such a new and interesting recipes.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 8, 2019

      You’re so welcome!

      Reply

  • Seasons01
    February 7, 2019

    Very good and pretty easy to put together… the texture of this bread reminds me of a Zucinni Bread I made a year ago.

    I used 3 small ripe bananas. I would suggest using 4 small or 3 larger bananas. I felt there wasn’t quite enough for my taste.

    I used an 8 x 11.5 glass retangle pan. I think it baked for almost the same amount of time. I lost track.

    It made 15 good size pieces. I ate 3 right away. Ha ha ha… Oh well…

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 7, 2019

      They sure are addicting, aren’t they! Thank you for your wonderful feedback! 🙂

      Reply

  • Marjie
    February 3, 2019

    Made this last week and loved it so much I’m going to make some more today. Never knew bananas and raisins would be so tasty together!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 3, 2019

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

      Reply

  • Nataie
    February 2, 2019

    Made it with dried tart cherries instead of raisins. Great recipe! Thank you Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 2, 2019

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

      Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 2, 2019

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

      Reply

  • Ilona
    January 31, 2019

    Thank You very much for this recipe!!! Actually for all your recipes!!! I am not fan of cooking, but as mother and wife I have to and your recipes are so easy and delish! My husband is not big fan of sweets, but after I made this banana bread first time – it’s his number 1 request – (he always bought banana bread from Starbucks – now I am making it every few days)) I do it in rectangle 7*11”pan and reduce the baking time to 40-45 min and it turns out great!!! thank You again

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 1, 2019

      You’re so welcome, Ilona! Thank you for that wonderful review!!

      Reply

  • Mary Jane Schalk
    January 29, 2019

    Hi, I am looking forward to making your banana bread. But if I wanted to use honey instead of sugar – would I use the same amount?
    Can’t wait to make this.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 29, 2019

      Hi Mary Jane, I’ve had a couple of readers report using honey as a substitute with success, however, none provided details. If you decide to try it, please let us know how it goes!

      Reply

  • Lissette
    January 28, 2019

    This was absolutely delicious! My husband said it was the best banana bread ever! I didn’t use any raisins, but you don’t even miss them. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 28, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Angela
    January 24, 2019

    I used gluten free flour, temp to 375 degrees, used half cup unsweetened dried cranberries and the cup of walnuts, rest of the recipe exactly as you wrote it
    The finished bread was AWESOME. Absolutely the best banana bread EVER. Thank you so much. Love all of your recipes….write a book.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 25, 2019

      Thank you so much for sharing that with us Angla! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

    • Seasons01
      February 6, 2019

      What Brand GF flour did you use?

      Reply

      • Alisha J Dokshukin
        February 7, 2019

        I use Cup 4 Cup GF flour with everything that calls for flour. It is the absolute best tasting one in my opinion.

        Reply

  • Angela
    January 24, 2019

    If you use gluten free flour, do you increase oven temp to 375?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 24, 2019

      Hi Angela, I haven’t experimented with gluten-free flour so can’t make a recommendation. If you experiment with it, let me know how it goes.

      Reply

  • Dalveer
    January 23, 2019

    Fantastic, made this twice now as my mother in law loves banana bread. Very moist and the right amount of sweetness within an easy to follow recipe. Thank you

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 23, 2019

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

      Reply

  • Lucy
    January 22, 2019

    Absolutely delicious as it is but for an even healthier breakfast version I use wholemeal flour, substitute butter for half olive oil and sunflower oil, white sugar for brown and chopped dates instead of sultanas. I also love to add a bit of spice, cinnamon and nutmeg.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 22, 2019

      That’s so great, Lucy! Thank you for that wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Martha Stefanski
    January 22, 2019

    Perfect, moist bread. I used chop dates; toasted, chop walnuts. Only used 1/2 cup organic brown sugar.
    This will be my go to for 🍌🍞.💓

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 22, 2019

      Thank you for sharing that with me, Martha! 🙂 I’m happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Susana Crooks
    January 21, 2019

    Thank you for the recipe. It is definitely a keeper. The banana bread lasted only for 1.5 days (and it stayed moist) and there’s only 2 of us eating it.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 21, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

      Reply

  • Village Bakery
    January 21, 2019

    Can I make this directly in my bread cloche or will I need to alter the recipe? Thanks so much. Joe

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 21, 2019

      Hi there, I haven’t tried that in a cloche so I can’t advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe!

      Reply

  • Douglas Baker
    January 21, 2019

    How full do l fill the pans half way?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 21, 2019

      Hi Douglas, I’m not sure I understand your question. This banana bread recipe calls for a single 9.25 long x 5.25 wide x 2.75 deep bread loaf pan.

      Reply

  • Kasthuri
    January 19, 2019

    Came out very well

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 20, 2019

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Christine Olsen
    January 19, 2019

    Can you use part white and part brown sugar?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 21, 2019

      Hi Christine, I haven’t tested it that way but I don’t see why not. I hope you love the banana bread 🙂

      Reply

  • Rose
    January 13, 2019

    Can I add sour cream to this recipe

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 14, 2019

      Hi Rose, that should work! Here is what one of our readers shared with us “Every one of your recipes that I have tried is pretty amazing! Just made 3 portions of this banana bread and plan on freezing 2. I just add 1/4c. sour cream thinking it will be even more moist. Thank you for many yummy ideas!
      God bless,”

      Reply

  • Marilyn Birchett
    January 9, 2019

    I have made this recipe 3 times exactly as the recipe reads. It has been perfect every time! Its always gone by the next day!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 9, 2019

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

      Reply

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