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.
Does the temperature or baking time change at all when baking it in cupcake pan?
Yes. Please reference my Banana Muffins Recipe .
What did I do wrong? Followed according to recipe. Was extremely salty. Had to throw away.
Hi Jackie! Did you use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Can I use cake flour instead of regular flour and would there be a difference in amount to use?
Hi Patrick! I’ve had a few viewers report negative results using cake flour. I don’t recommended using it unless a recipe specifically calls for it.
Can i subsitute brown sugar for regular sugar?
Hi Jean, yes you can. But it will change the taste and texture.
Absolutely perfect… I especially love the raisins and walnuts in it
Can you double this recipe? Sometimes it doesn’t work.
Hello! Yes, you can double the recipe. Enjoy!
I followed the recipe and it turned out delicious! When it comes to storing the bread, do I leave it covered on countertop or put it in the refrigerator? Thanks!
Hi Damaris, for short term storage like 1-2 days you can store it at room temperature. Just wrap it in an airtight container or plastic wrap. For longer storage, you can refrigerate it for a maximum of a week and you can also freeze it for longer storage time.
This is awesome!! Kept the recipe as is, only I added chocolate chips. DELICIOUS
This was the best banana bread I have ever made. So good!!! Love this recipe as is!
I’m so glad you loved it, Patsy!
Excellent banana bread recipe!! Make it!! You won’t be disappointed.
Love this recipe so much and have made it so often lately that I think I can prep I like 5 min! But now I want to try using mini loaf pans so I can gift them easily too. How would I change recipe or bake time for those?
Hello! I think it’s a good idea to give it as gifts! I would keep the temperature the same with a baking time of 25–35 minutes, but start checking for doneness at 25 minutes by using a toothpick inserted in the center. Fill each mini loaf pan about ¾ full—gives them room to rise without spilling over.
I’ve been meaning to write this for a while. I used to have a favorite banana nut bread recipe that I made for years. I tried yours once, and never went back. Yours is GREAT! But, my partner doesn’t like gluten or stuff too sweet. So I use buckwheat flour, and cut the honey to half a cup. But I add a quarter cup of good dark rum, and a tsp of cinnamon and ½ tsp of nutmeg just for grins.
I’m so glad to hear those substitutions worked well in this recipe, Kerry! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
If using honey instead of sugar how much would I use?
Hi Cindy, You can use honey in place of sugar. Use an equal amount, or less if you prefer.
My go to banana bread recipe loved by all who taste it. Thank you for sharing!
So happy to hear you’re loving the recipe!
How could I replace the egg due to an allergy?
Hi Cynthia! One of my viewers mentioned using 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce in place of 2 eggs.
Great recipe! Made in loaf pan multiple times. Can these be made into muffins? If so approx how long of a bake time?
Hi Maria! Yes, I have a Banana Muffins Recipe.
Have you ever added marchino cherries? I cut them in half and they add more sweetness to the receipe
Hi Duane! I have not, but it sounds like it would be great.
Our new favorite hands down!! Can I double this recipe?? I worry about the baking soda.
Thanks so much!
Hello! I’m glad to hear that this is your new favorite! Yes, you can double the recipe. Enjoy!
Hi can I use coconut oil instead of butter pls to make it healthy:)
I haven’t tested using coconut oil, I imagine that will be fine as long as you use refined coconut oil as it has almost no flavor.
I made with only 1/2 cup of sugar in the batter and sprinkled random chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds and some pistachios) mixed with @2 tbsp. turbinado on top. So a little bit less sugar in the bread and a touch of sweetness on the crunchy top. Delicious!
Incredible recipe. Thank you Natasha! T seems everything you make is great…Thank you again, CHEF!