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 6177 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 6177 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Seema
    March 23, 2025

    Easy to make a taste delicious.

    Reply

  • Brianna Burt
    March 23, 2025

    Love the recipe. We made muffins with it, some with walnuts and some with out, they came out great!

    Reply

  • Jenmarie
    March 23, 2025

    Was very simple and easy but did not like the nuts they where to burnt.

    Reply

  • KSRee
    March 23, 2025

    Made this several times. It’s the go to banana bread recipe. I make it with mini chocolate chips.

    Reply

  • Tracy
    March 23, 2025

    Your recipe is delicious, it’s the best recipe I’ve tried. I used walnuts and added 1/2 cup of chocolate chips instead of raisins. My sister told me to coat the chips in flour so they don’t sink to the bottom. Yum, Thank you!

    Reply

  • Lisa N
    March 23, 2025

    This is my go-to recipe now for banana bread. SO moist and great flavor.

    Reply

  • Vickie R.
    March 22, 2025

    Have you tried substituting the flour with almond flour?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 22, 2025

      Hi Vickie! I have not tested that but one of my viewers reported good results using GF baking flour and almond flour (half of each). Another reader left this comment, “ So I made this again and tweaked it some for gluten free. I used almond flour and added appx 1/8 cup of milk and increased the raisins to 1 1/2 cups (to add more moisture due to almond flour). I also used pecans instead, just because I prefer them. It turned out AMAZING! I would recommend this to anyone! Will definitely make this again.” I hope these help.

      Reply

  • Meigon
    March 22, 2025

    Omg! This was thee best banana bread ever! I left out the raisins and added a cinnamon/sugar swirl..wow! I’ve made a lot of different banana breads
    .. this recipe is truly top notch.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 22, 2025

      I’m so happy to hear you loved our favorite banana bread recipe!

      Reply

  • Horace Bryant Jr
    March 22, 2025

    Family favorite put chocolate chip and walnuts love it

    Reply

  • Sania
    March 22, 2025

    This is my favorite banana bread recipe! It is an almost weekly staple in our house.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 22, 2025

      I’m so happy you found a favorite on my blog, Sania! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Lila
    March 21, 2025

    I substitute raisins (not a fan) with unsweetened coconut. This is a wonderful recipe and the closest I have found to a recipe given to me almost 30 years ago, which I cannot find. I’ve made this a few times now and is always a 1-800 winner every time. Really, really good 🙂 Two thumbs up !

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 21, 2025

      Hi Lila! I’m so glad you found this recipe and loved it!

      Reply

  • Misti
    March 21, 2025

    Perfect, thank you. I only used 2 bannaners, because that’s all I had. Still was perfect texture and taste. Smelled wonderful. Made as a last minute and accidental house warming gift, so it was a blessing that this was the best nanna-bread I’ve ever made.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 21, 2025

      That’s amazing! So glad it turned out well for you. Thank you for trying my recipe!

      Reply

  • Cher
    March 20, 2025

    Never made banana before. I have 2 very ripe banana sitting on my counter, would that be enough?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      March 20, 2025

      If they’re large, it should be fine. Enjoy!

      Reply

  • Jbchick
    March 19, 2025

    Great recipe using pantry staples. I made this in muffin tins. Will definitely make again.

    Reply

  • Yusticia
    March 19, 2025

    Made banana bread with this recipe twice turned out delish 🥰

    Reply

  • Rachel M
    March 18, 2025

    This is my favorite banana bread recipe! It is an almost weekly staple in our house. 🙂

    Reply

  • Susan
    March 17, 2025

    This is the best banana bread ever ! We really enjoyed this easy to make recipe . Thanks so much for posting this.

    Reply

  • Tanya
    March 17, 2025

    Yum!!!! Made this many times with rave reviews!

    Reply

  • Elizabeth Packard
    March 17, 2025

    Amazing. I made this yesterday using a Bundt pan because that’s all I had. It was fantastic. It was so moist and flavourful. I made it with my 14 year old and she didn’t want nuts or raisins – still stellar! I’ve had so many over ripe bananas over the years and this is the first time I didn’t throw them away. It was so easy and so delicious!

    Reply

  • Carolina
    March 16, 2025

    Best banana bread ! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe. I have made this 4 times already and had no complains only complements.

    Reply

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