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.

Banana Bread on a cutting board with walnuts, raisins and ripe bananas to make healthy banana bread

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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.

Ingredients for Banana Bread with ripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, walnuts and raisins

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!

Slices of banana nut bread on a plate

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!

  1. In the mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
  2. Mix in mashed bananas and eggs.
  3. Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking soda and add to batter.
  4. 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

Moist banana bread recipe sliced to show banana nut bread center

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:

Moist Banana Bread Recipe

4.97 from 6606 votes
Banana bread sliced on a cutting board
This Banana Bread Recipe is loaded with ripe bananas, tangy-sweet raisins, and toasted walnuts. It is one of our favorite ripe banana recipes and even better with overripe bananas.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 people

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

350kcal Calories45g Carbs5g Protein18g Fat7g Saturated Fat57mg Cholesterol243mg Sodium270mg Potassium3g Fiber20g Sugar354IU Vitamin A4mg Vitamin C26mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Moist Banana Bread Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
350
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
18
g
28
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Cholesterol
 
57
mg
19
%
Sodium
 
243
mg
11
%
Potassium
 
270
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
45
g
15
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
20
g
22
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
354
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
26
mg
3
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Breakfast, snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana bread, banana nut bread
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 350
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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.

Moist banana nut bread on kitchen towel

This Banana Bread Recipe is loaded with ripe bananas, tangy sweet raisins and toasted walnuts making it a banana nut bread. One of our favorite ripe banana recipes and even better with overripe bananas! This banana nut bread is super moist, easy and makes a great breakfast on-the-go. | natashaskitchen.com
4.97 from 6606 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Belle
    August 21, 2025

    Tried the recipe and wow!!! My friends and I loved it. Thank you so much! 10 star for it.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 21, 2025

      Thank you so much for the wonderful review, Belle!

      Reply

  • Betty
    August 21, 2025

    Can I substitute GF flour, and what adjustments for convention oven,

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 21, 2025

      Hi Betty! Several of my viewers have reported good results using GF flour. I haven’t made this in a convection oven, but I would lower the temperature by 25 degrees. I’m not sure how long it will take to bake, so keep an eye on it.

      Reply

  • Julie
    August 20, 2025

    Super delicious banana bread. Easy to follow, the batter is light and fluffy. Yummy 5 stars for me.Thank you so much,Natasha
    🙂

    Reply

  • Jollene
    August 19, 2025

    Has anyone made this without the walnuts and raisins? I’m not a fan of either.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 19, 2025

      Yes, you can leave them out. You can also substitute with chocolate chips like my Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe.

      Reply

    • Skeeter
      August 20, 2025

      I love this recipe! I have made it with walnuts and I have it with pecans. Also I have made it without any nuts or raisins. DELICIOUS!

      Reply

    • Brittni
      August 20, 2025

      I make it without the walnuts and raisins. It is still delicious and my favorite banana bread recipe.

      Reply

  • Annie
    August 19, 2025

    We had 7 very ripe and skinny bananas left over which was perfect for a double batch of this recipe. We added chocolate chips at the very end to make sure they didn’t sink. It came out delicious and I got to send off my father in law with some and he loved it, too!

    Reply

  • Waynia Batoo
    August 18, 2025

    Wow this recipe was so simple to follow, I made it yesterday and it came out so moist and yummy. Will try others like carrot, pumpkin etc. Thanks for this recipe.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 18, 2025

      You’re very welcome. I’m so glad you liked it.

      Reply

  • alex
    August 18, 2025

    made this recipe, although it only needed to be baked for about 30-40 minutes, i did add an extra banana because mine were smaller. came out super good! would you also happen to know if altitude makes a difference?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 18, 2025

      Hi Alex! Altitude could make a difference, as well as the size and type of pan it’s baked in. I would also encourage using an internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to verify your ovens temperature accuracy. Every oven bakes differently so it’s important to know how your oven bakes. Also- I used a conventional oven not convection/fan (which bakes faster).

      Reply

  • Liam
    August 17, 2025

    First time trying this recipe, it came out black and broke apart with the bottom being stuck the the pan.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      August 18, 2025

      Hi Liam, this sounds like it was severly over-baked. Did you possibly use Celcius instead of Farenheight baking temperature? Or did you use convection oven settings? This recipe is written in Farenheight and also for a conventional oven (not convection which would need adjustments).

      Reply

  • Denise Granado
    August 17, 2025

    Can I use macadamia nuts in this instead of walnuts?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 17, 2025

      Hi Denise! Yes, that would be a great substitute.

      Reply

  • Lisa Kroeker
    August 16, 2025

    I just made this. I didn’t have raisins and I didn’t feel like toasting the walnuts, so I just smashed them a little bit in a baggie and dumped them in. Baked for 60-62 minutes. It is very good. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 16, 2025

      That’s great, Lisa! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Lisa!

      Reply

  • Scarlette
    August 16, 2025

    What is I use a 8×4 pan? How long should I bake for? Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 16, 2025

      Hi Scarlett. I don’t recommend using a smaller loaf pan since it will be too much batter and will not bake correctly.

      Reply

  • Amruta
    August 15, 2025

    I’ve been making this recipe so many times! It’s my fail proof go to banana bread recipe..I also like to add chocolate chips in it!

    Btw, the nutrition/ serving is mentioned, but what is the serving size though? Is it one slice? Maybe I missed if it’s mentioned somewhere.

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 16, 2025

      Hi Amrita! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipe. It makes 10 slices and the serving size is one slice.

      Reply

  • Charlize
    August 15, 2025

    I have been using this recipe for a long time and it has never failed to deliver what an amazing recipe!!!!

    Reply

  • Marcia
    August 15, 2025

    I made the banana bread and also put in zucchini I shredded some zucchini and put that in with the banana bread recipe. Very delicious.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 15, 2025

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Marcia!

      Reply

    • Lacy
      August 16, 2025

      I only have two bananas. Will this recipe work? Would you add some Greek yogurt or something to compensate for the moistness? Also, how do you get the middle done so well without burning the outside?

      Reply

      • NatashasKitchen.com
        August 16, 2025

        Hi Lacy! One of my readers, Margie, shared this helpful review: “This was the best! I only had two bananas so I added 1/4 C applesauce and also 1/4 tsp of baking powder. Came out so moist and delicious.”
        I use a conventional oven on regular bake mode.
        Be sure to fully preheat your oven before baking and use the correct type/size pan. Every oven bakes differently so it’s important to know how your oven bakes and I also recommend using an internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to verify the accuracy of your oven temperature. If your oven is burning the bread, you should turn the temperature down and bake it longer.

        Reply

  • Holly Jones
    August 15, 2025

    I substituted the walnuts and raisins for chocolate chips.

    Reply

  • Andrea
    August 14, 2025

    Literally the BEST banana bread recipe!!! Came out moist and so yummy! Perfect in every way! I substituted the raisins for dates and it was lovely! Thank you for sharing!!

    Reply

  • Luciana
    August 13, 2025

    Was definitely delicious!! Moist and flavorful. I used pecans instead of walnuts. Also reduced to 1/2 cup sugar and it had the perfect amount of sweetness. Thanks for a perfect banana bread recipe 😋

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 13, 2025

      You’re so very welcome. We love this breed too, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it.

      Reply

  • Victoria
    August 12, 2025

    I love bananas and can never seem to finish a bunch so I make banana nut bread often. I’ve tried many recipes. I did a few things a little different but this is the best recipe by farrrrr. Are you kidding? So friggin good

    Reply

  • Jackie
    August 12, 2025

    Everyone loved it! Easy to make and turns out delicious every time . I use an 11 x 7 non stick pan 350 degrees @ 35 minutes . Perfectly cooked and very moist . I always check to make sure my cakes / breads are done cooking with a toothpick. This method hasn’t failed me yet ! If your bread doesn’t turn out … I say it’s bakers error . This recipe is perfect !

    Reply

  • Faye
    August 12, 2025

    I absolutely love this banana bread! Made two loaves two nights ago and it’s gone. I have two more in the stove now lol. I used chocolate chips instead of raisins and walnuts.

    Reply

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