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.
I have used this recipe so many times – I have added all kinds of different things to the batter (raisins, nuts, cranberries, chocolate, cinnamon), and even added nothing! It turns out amazing every time. I keep getting asked for the recipe by others as well and I happily share it. Absolutely the best, hands down.
Best banana bread I’ve made! I was wondering could you substitute the banana for applesauce to get an apple bread?
Hi Katie, One of my viewers mentioned using 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce in place of 2 eggs but not in place of the banana so I can’t advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I just made this tonight (first time ever making banana bread!) and wow!! It might be the most delicious banana bread I’ve ever eaten!! I accidentally added 3 eggs instead of 2 but it seemed to be just fine. I also didn’t add any nuts or raisins, instead I added it to bit of semi sweet chocolate chip cookies. It was a good huge hit with the family!!!!
Wow! Easy recipe with 5* results! I substituted chocolate chips for walnuts and raisins, and the outcome was phenomenal!
Great recipe….I have to make a triple batch so I can share it with friends.
My go to Banana bread. Never disappoints! Thanks
It tasted so good!I totally recommend this recipe 👌
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Abigail! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is an amazing banana bread! And super easy. I literally just mix all the wet, then the dry, then together. And I use oil instead of butter since it’s cheaper, and it comes out great! I also sometimes HALF the oil and sugar , and it’s still AMAZING! You couldn’t tell at all, if anyone else wants to give it a go.
It really is that easy, Rachel! I’m so happy you loved it.
It’s easy and yummy. How to make it moist? Mine did not turn out moist.
Hi there! This is generally a very moist bread. Did you make any changes or substitutions? Also- be sure to measure your flour correctly and don’t overbake. Using too much flour can lead to a dense and dry bread. Watch my How to Measure Ingredients (Wet and Dry) VIDEO here for details.
Love this recipe. It is so easy and it turned out great and tastes amazing.
Simply lovely! … even I was able to make this delicious bread following this simple recipe. The raisins really make thisnbread flavorful. Try it out!
This has been the easiest BB ive made and im a pretty bad baker in general,can’t follow directions to save my life. It came out fluffy, tasted great and now doughy or strong on the egg flavor. I did use a 9×13 pan(not following directions again) and it came out well still. I didnt add the nuts/fruits inside but did do sunflower seeds on top which toasted very nicely and added to it well. Thanks for the great recipe.
Why did it take so long to get the center baked? The outside of the bread besides very brown before the center comes clean on a toothpick. I tried dividing the dough into 3 small loaf pans & had the same problem.
Hi Joyce. Are you using a convection/fan oven? If so you will need to lower the temp and bake it longer because it bakes much faster and will burn the outside before the center bakes through. I used a conventional oven on regular bake mode. This can also happen if your oven runs too hot. I highly encourage using an internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to check the temperature accuracy. Are you using a glass pan? If so, you’ll need to lower the temperature and bake it longer as well since it distributes heats differently.
What if I don’t have raisins? Will it taste the same? Love all your recipes.
Hi there, yes that would be fine! It’s still going to be delicious!
I’ve thought I had some dried cranberries. And no way to go to store.. but I do have some dried cherries. I’m thinking. Will that taste alright with bananas? Could you let me know if it would please? I know probably jst have to jst try right.
Hi Sherry, while I haven’t tried that, a few of my readers have, here’s what one wrote: “. I only had one banana, so I also diced up an apple very fine, put in dried cherries with the dried raisins and added Walnut pieces. It was delicious.” I hope this is helpful.
Very easy to make and delicious 🫶🏼 It’s a keeper.
First comment I have ever left for any recipe.
At 66 years old this is THE BEST BANANA BREAD I have ever tasted or made.
Great job! 👏 I made the recipe exactly as written.
Thabk you so much, Mary. I appreciate you taking time to leave your comments.
Can I make this delicious recipe in a muffin pan? I just was wondering if you can how long would they bake for 10-12minutes?
Ho Renee! Yes, please reference my Banana Muffins Recipe .
Ho Renee! Yes, please reference my Banana Muffins Recipe .
The eight muffins I made with this recipe turned out great. They quickly disappeared.
Can I use self raising flour instead of all purpose flour and not use the baking soda?
It might work but you need to adjust the leavening and salt accordingly. We’d love to know how it goes if you try it!
Does it need to be made in the loaf pan? Could it also work in an 8×8 since my loaf pan just broke😫
Hi Meredith! Yes, you could bake this in another pan. An 8×8 square pan may be a little large so you’ll end up with a thinner cake which will also bake faster so keep an eye on it in the oven.