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.
You are absolutely right. This is a very easy, delicious banana bread recipe. I’ve made it at least 4 times and it comes out perfect every time.
I’m so happy you loved it, Frank! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Baked as mini loaves( for half the time)..came out perfect..my family loves them
I followed this recipe pretty much to a tee besides the three ripened bananas. I only had 2 1/2 also instead of the reasons I used blueberries and did not add any milk. It was very gold and brown on the outside and soft in the middle.
As good as it gets! Also freezes well. I slice it up before I put it in the freezer, and then take out a slice at a time and microwave it and it’s still ninety five percent as good as fresh. Considering I don’t have to make a loaf from scratch, it might even be a hundred and ten percent better than fresh. 😂
I thought i saw adjustments if using honey but can’t find it now. Will someone respon?
Hi SAB, it’s up in the blog post. You can use honey in place of sugar. Use an equal amount, or less if you prefer.
I increase bananas to 4
And increase the eggs to 3 slightly beaten
Use 1/4 tea salt and salted butter
Moist and delicious
My friends absolutely LOVED this banana bread! so good! fun to make and such a delicious banana flavor! My new fave banana bread recipe!
That’s wonderful to hear, Alexandra!
I was out of raisins and walnuts. I did however have a cup of Dates I removed the seeds from and chopped up. I followed the recipe and folded the Dates in last. Baked per instructions and it is amazingly moist and delicious.
Hi! I was thinking about making this recipe sometime soon, but I was wondering, how would it be with chocolate chips?
Hi Alexandra, I haven’t tried that but it will work! Here’s what one of my readers wrote “I made this recipe several times but instead of raisins I added couple spoons of Nutella and put 1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips. So yummy. Thank you for simple and delicious recipes!”
thank you so much! i will try it with chocolate chips tomorrow when I bake with my friend!
it tastes delicious with chocolate chips!
Super easy and amaaaaazing! You’ll feel like eating the whole loaf by yourself 🤣
I’m so happy you enjoyed that, and yes, it really is hard to step eating this! Thank you for sharing that review with us, Amanda!
I absolutely love this recipe. I made it for family and it was a hit! It was finished quickly. I will definitely make it again.
can i make the banana bread batter and leave in the fridge overnight and then bake it
Hi Mia, I haven’t tried that, I worry it will lose volume before baking resulting in a dense bread, but here’s what one of my readers wrote “This banana bread recipe is one of the best I’ve tried! And I’ve done several. I make it without the raisins & nuts, let it rest overnight to let the flavors concentrate, trust me on this one. And then I warm it up and spread Nutella, it’s soooo good!” I hope it helps.
I always use this recipe! I dis t have any chocolate chips handy or rasins so I used a Dubi chocolate bar we had in the fridge. I grated it into the batter with a cheese grater and OMG!!! Turned out amazing!
I love it, but I’m worried about one thing. After the first slice, I considered making it into French toast and I’m afraid my family will never have enough of it!
Thank you so much for this recipe. I’ve used it over and over and it always turns out amazing. I sprinkle some of my toasted walnuts in the top with some sugar. Just a little. It’s so good. Today I am making a double recipe.
I love this recipe!! I make it at least once a month! My go to for a mildly sweet treat!
My bread is taking 75 minutes to cook?..not sure if I did something wrong…don’t want to over cook but the center still has batter on toothpicks
Hi Michele! Did you fully preheat your oven before baking? It could also be the type of pan you’re using and the material it’s made from. A glass pan will take longer to bake. If you’re using a glass pan, decrease the oven temperature by 25 degrees and bake longer.
I just made this bread, and it’s deee-licious!
Even though it’s still warm, I couldn’t resist tasting it. I bet it’ll be even better tomorrow!
Thank you for another great recipe😋
I have found the best way to tweak this recipe and bring it to the next level. You will not regret trying this
-Do around 1/2 of the flour oat flour (you can easily blend any oats you have up)
-1/2 of the sugar is honey
– brown the butter first!!!
– chop up chocolate chips are perfect in it
– a yummy icing has melted browned butter, powdered sugar, and a little water for a drippy brown butter icing!!
!!PLEASE TRY YOU WILL NOT REGRET ITS SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS !!
Can I make this in a larger toaster oven? What temperature please and how long. Thank you
Hi Carol. I have not tested that to provide those instructions. I’m sorry.
I have made this bread 3 times and they were good every tine. I am making them right now, but using cupcake pan.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Megan!