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.
We just tried this recipe & it turned out beautifully. Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Christine!
Made the bread exactly as written, but seems dry and bland.
Hi Anna! Did you make any changes, over bake the bread, or use too much flour? I have this How to Measure Ingredients (Wet and Dry) VIDEO tutorial here to help.
Great recipe! My family loves this so much! I add 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1/2 tsp of nutmeg as well😊!
If I put it in a large muffin pan how long should I bake it?
Hi Sarah! You can bake the muffins for approximately 20–25 minutes and set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Make sure to check for doneness after 20-minutes by inserting a toothpick into the center of a muffin. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
This Banana bread is delicious and so moist. Great with butter as well.
Best banana bread recipe I’ve ever made! I’m very impressed!
Moist on the inside, nice crust, and tastes GREAT. I used one cup of walnuts, and 1/2 cup raisins. I may use chocolate chips in the future.
This recipe is a keeper!
This has become a family favorite….its so moist and delicious. My husband absolutely loves this recipe. I’d give it 10 stars if I could!
As I wrote several years ago, your banana bread is my go to. I now have 3 prolific loquat trees, so I used this recipe, substituting 1 1/2c of puréed loquats. SO good!
I’m going to make this today, but I only have spreading butter which is salted, so should I skip the salt in the recipe?
Yes, you can skip the salt in the recipe if you’ll use salted butter.
This was my first time to make banana bread. The hardest part was deciding between golden or regular raisins, so I did half and half. It turned out moist and delicious! I will be making this again.
This is the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever tried!!
WTG Natasha….my wife has been making banana bread for years. I made this, and she liked it better than her’s. Guess who’s stuck making banana bread now? Thanks…lol
Haha! I’m so glad she loved the recipe. It’s our favorite.
Loved this recipe! Very easy. I omitted the raisins and substituted mini chocolate chips for my grandchildren and omitted the toasted walnuts as my daughter has a tree nut allergy. It was perfect and so easy!! Thanks for yet another great recipe!
You’re very welcome, Robyn. So glad you enjoy this recipe.
Very easy recipe and it doesn’t require milk like some recipes.
My go to banana bread. Everything Natasha, never disappoints.
Thank you so much, Heidi! I’m glad you love it.
Question: If I bake small loaves, how long do I bake and do I change the temperature?
Hi Lana! I haven’t tested it myself but here is what one of my viewers said, “I made this bread today, and it turned out great. Very delicious! I had good luck making 3 mini loaves instead of the single large loaf. (Same recipe, same oven temp, just bake approximately 30 minutes).”
I hope that helps.
It’s was awesome made mine in 9×9 pan shorter baking time. Tasted best I ever made, mine usually doesn’t turn out.
I made banana bread for the first time and have been told its the best banana bread my friends have ever had! One said it tastes like Amish Banana Bread (a huge compliment around here!”
If I skip the walnut, should I add more flour?
Hi there, no need to add more flour if you decide to skip the walnuts.
All of your recipes online and in your book are great but the banana bread is exceptional! My family loves it and my picky eater granddaughter calls this her favorite. The book also makes a very nice gift. Thank you for making me a better cook!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Phyllis!