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.
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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.
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.
Hi Natasha, thank you for the great recipe! I am sort of new to baking and been wanting to make banana bread lately, I’m glad I landed here at your page. I am diabetic since childhood and was wondering if I can replace sugar with Splenda? If so, how much do you recommend (I am guessing Splenda has a stronger sweet taste).
Hi Haley, Unfortunately I am not able to provide diabetic specific suggestions since I’m not a licensed nutritionist. I do recommend looking through the recipe comments for what other readers have tried to substitute. I wish I could be more helpful.
Can you bake this with a convection bake setting? If so, how would I be able to?
Hi Melissa, Convection ovens need an adjustment for temperature or time. Overbaking is the #1 reason for a dry banana bread. I haven’t tried it in a convection oven myself to advise on the settings or time.
Ok, thanks for replying! My regular oven is out of commission and I have a ninja double oven cooker. The top part bakes but I’ve noticed it’s only good for things that done rise since there’s not much room on top. The bottom portion has a bunch of features but only convection baking. I wish I could figure it out. 🙁
Yumm yumm. Banana bread was amazing. Thank you
You’re very welcome, Julie!
Very simple recipe to follow. Came out perfect.
I am making multiple loaves for a fundraising bake sale for a local animal rescue. I’m sure it will be a hit.
Hi Natasha!
I baked it today – I missed Sunday dessert and had two ripe bananas left. I had to recalculate the amount of ingredients, but even without a scale I managed to make an amazing banana bread. I added a spoonful of grated hazelnuts to the dough along with the walnuts and raisins. We already know that this will be our regular. Thank you Lenka
Hi Natasha – can the recipe be doubled? I have a LOT of ripe bananas so I’ll give some bread away as gifts.
Hello, yes you can definitely double the recipe!
Hi Natasha – have you tried the recipe with King Arthur’s Keto Wheat flour? They claim it’s a 1:1 substitute for All Purpose flour but I am wondering if any adjustments need to be made to the recipe to get the same texture / moistness. Thank you
Hi Nick! I have not, but some of my viewers have reported good results using 1:1 gluten free flour.
This recipe was easy to follow and turned out delicious. My family and I loved it!
So happy to hear it was a hit!
I also add cinnamon as others have mentioned and I eliminate the raisins. Great recipe.
Tastes great and kids love it for an on the run snack. Goes particularly fast with chocolate chips.
Never let me down always moist banana bread. I changed the raisins to dark chocolate chips and my daughter love it!!
I’m so glad you love it. It’s great with chocolate.
Easy recipe to go by normal ingredients quick to bake
I added some cinnamon added a packet of apple sauce in too. So freaking amazing. I also used salted butter.
Super easy to make and very moist and delicious. Kids and hubby devoured it. I added mini chocolate chips for loaf and for muffins–turned out perfectly!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Rita! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
A little dry and almost not sweet enough
Hi Christina! Make sure to use ripe bananas or there won’t be much flavor or sweetness added from the bananas. Also, please watch my tutorial on How to Measure Ingredients here. The most common culprit for dryness is using too much flour or over baking.
You may have packed your flour. Add flour to measuring cup by spoonfuls ensuring you fluff the flour first.
Your banana bread was absolutely delicious the only thing I changed was I didn’t add in raisins cuz I didn’t have them so I added chopped dates and of course my neighbors can’t eat nuts so I couldn’t put those in the best part is now that my neighbors love this banana bread they give me their old bananas to make more banana bread for them which I love doing cuz they’re all in our 80s thank you so much as always you give most beautiful delicious recipes God bless you for sharing your expertise cooking and baking God bless you and let’s all stay safe in this world and share kindness
Aw, thank you, Sandra! Be blessed! Thanks for sharing with us.
Couldn’t get center to cook….went back to recipie and I did all the right measurements.
Hi Marlene, was your oven fully preheated? Also did you use a different type of dish to bake the banana bread?
I have been craving a good banana bread and banana nut muffins. I made some muffins today and the whole family loved it. I plan on making several loaves so that I can keep in my freezer, so when we want a slice we have it on hand. I wish I could find a recipe for banana pancakes.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Susannah!
This recipe is perfect!! I added white chocolate chips to the batter and did muffins instead, they didn’t last a day!
I’ve made this many a time and love it. I leave off the nuts and add cinnamon and nutmeg. Always comes out great.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Jennifer!