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.
I seldom leave reviews but had to do it because this recipe is the easiest but yummiest that I have ever tried. I was hesitant to try this recipe since I have tried maybe more than 10 banana bread recipes and most require sour cream, milk, or butter milk and I thought this recipe would be dry. But I was wrong. This was a hit. I just tweaked the sugar a bit by putting in 75% brown sugar and then 25% white sugar. This is my to-go banana bread recipe.
Excellent pointers for accommodating most foodies even with dietary restrictions. 🇯🇲🇨🇦🙏🏾
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Annette!
Excellent recipe. I substituted chocolate with salt instead of raisins. Excellent
What can I use in placement of eggs? I cannot use eggs due to an allergy in the family.
I have not tried this recipe without eggs and I have not used other substitutions to advise.
Very tasty , the whole loaf disappeared during one meal. Well liked by all.
I’m so happy it was a hit!
I added chopped dates instead of raisons
It has become our home’s favorite banana bread recipe. We keep making it.
My family devours this banana bread! I’m glad to hear you’re loving it too.
I took my artsy creativeness and made this delicious recipe with a few added changes. I added cinnamon to the dry ingredients, added maple syrup to the wet ingredients. Used 1/3 cup Brown sugar and with sugar to make one cup. I added cranberrys to the toasted walnuts, reserving around 1 cup to put on the top of each of the two loaves. After baking I added the reserve nuts and cranberrys and a sprinkle of white sugar. Then I swirlled more maple syrup on top for a carmel favor. OMG, really really good. It was so much fun!
Thank you for sharing that with us, Maribeth! It sounds wonderful!
I used this recipe my first time making banana bread and it turned out great. I’ve have made it several times since then and it always turns out great. My family raves about it.
Thank you for the review, Erica! So glad your family is enjoying it.
Natasha!!!!! Thank you so much for this recipe!! It was a huge hit and the best banana bread and the moistest I have ever made!!
I followed your instructions completely and added a couple of touches of my own: 1/2 tsp of Cinnamon because I can’t imagine banana bread without it; 1/4 tsp Nutmeg; 1/4 tsp of Allspice. The raisins and walnuts are a must.
I am about to make it again this weekend! We like it with Cocowhip on top as well. Enjoy!
That sounds so yummy! You’re very welcome. I’m happy to know you’re loving it.
We love the recipe just as it’s written. I’m wondering if this will also work in a muffin tin and how long do I bake?
Hi Barbara, it will work with as a muffin, here is my Banana Muffin Recipe for reference.
This is the best recipe I have ever made! I am old, so I know what I am talking about.
The banana bread, with the walnuts and raises make a perfect combination.
Highly recommend! This recipe is a keeper!
I’m so happy you loved it, Jennifer!
I substituted the sugar for 2/3 cup honey and didn’t do the raisins. Still came out amazing for my first Banana Bread! I think next time I will try adding cinnamon. Saw a few people say they added and sounds yummy!
Don’t have raisins…was wondering if dried cranberries would be a substitute?
Hi there! I’m sure that would be fine too. Hope you’ll love it!
We love this recipe SO yummy…wondering if I could make a cake for a birthday..but un sure of measurements and tempture have 3 round pans..I will look more at your recipes thank you🩷
Hi Kathleen! You should be able to, but without testing it myself, I can’t provide those exact measurements so you’ll need to experiment with the amount of batter.
This bread recipe helped me make the best bread loaf I’ve made. I added pecans and mini chocolate chips. It’s so moist and delicious. I will be making this recipe alot.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Tracy!
I’ve been using this recipe for years now. I have it memorized. I double the recipe and bake 2 breads at once. One with walnuts, one without. This is a fam fav! Thank you 😊
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Wonderful recipe! I used 2 large bananas because that’s all I had. Still a great flavor, but the extra banana it called for would have been perfect! I did add cinnamon to it because my husband loves lots of cinnamon in his banana bread as well as more vanilla. Left out raisins and nuts. Mine finished baking right at 50 minutes. This is my new go to recipe!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Heather!
I followed the recipe to a T, and it didn’t turn out moist; in fact, it was a little on the dry side (for me). One cup of walnuts was way too much. Next time I’ll do half a cup and not bake it to 55 mins. Unfortunately, I was disappointed.
Hi Jennifer, make sure to use the same amount of banana and measure flour correctly. Also, make sure you aren’t baking on convection oven settings or it will be over-baked. Convection ovens need an adjustment for temperature or time. Overbaking is the #1 reason for a dry banana bread.
Best recipe. I make this recipe and everyone raves about it.