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 6214 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 6214 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Sharon
    September 16, 2025

    This was so good! I added a cinnamon sugar topping to it and left out the raisins.

    Reply

  • Hannah
    September 16, 2025

    Hi! I wanna use plant-based butter. Will that affect the amount of butter I need to use?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      September 16, 2025

      Hello Hannah! I haven’t tried that to advise. If you do an experiment, we’d love to know how it goes!

      Reply

    • Erin
      September 16, 2025

      I used plant based butter last time I made it and it turned out perfect.

      Reply

  • Faith
    September 15, 2025

    This recipe is delicious! However my husband wants MORE banana flavor, I have 5 bananas instead of 3 for my next batch. How would I go about the recipe with extra bananas?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 15, 2025

      Hi Faith! I haven’t tested that. To get the most banana flavor, make sure to use bananas that are ripe enough, if not they will be bland and the flavor won’t come through. Some of my viewers have reported making this successfully with more banana and no other adjustments.

      Reply

      • Faith
        September 18, 2025

        I made it with 5 bananas and put them in a muffin tin and they turned out wonderful! My loaf was always dense and a little wet through the middle and dry on the bottom so the switch to the muffin tin was great! Cooked for about 20mins on 350°.

        Reply

  • Debra Wensauer
    September 14, 2025

    I multiplied this recipe by 7 and omitted the raisins, it turned out AWESOME!

    Reply

  • Onyxana
    September 14, 2025

    Love this recipe. I doubled it, added a box of banana pudding, added 1 sleeve of graham cracker crumbs. Brushed top of bread with honey butter. Added my fall seasoning to dry ingredients. I added Cinnamon. Cloves, Nutmeg, Ginger, Allspice. And vanilla.

    Reply

    • Kitty
      September 14, 2025

      I love this recipe! Never disappoints. I make mini breads in cute shapes tins and top with extras! Maple pecans, brown sugar cinnamon, chocolate chips, berries or dried raisin ,craisins whatever you got hanging around! Love it, as most all of Natashas recipes 😊

      Reply

    • Paige
      September 14, 2025

      Can I ask what this was turned into? Was it still a bread or did you bake it in like a 9×13 pan? Super curious!!

      Reply

  • Wilder Jacobson
    September 13, 2025

    Best one yet

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 13, 2025

      So happy you enjoyed the recipe.

      Reply

  • Nadia
    September 13, 2025

    The best moist banana bread I ever made. Oh, I threw in golden raisins which just was over the top!!!!!

    Reply

  • Renee
    September 12, 2025

    This is an absolutely delicious recipe! I only made 2 minor changes, subbed chocolate chips for the raisins (sorry I can’t stand them) and sprinkled sugar on top of the batter for a crunchy sugary top. Make this banana bread, you’ll love it.

    Reply

  • Billie Dotson
    September 12, 2025

    I substituted dried plums for the raisins and added a dash of cinnamon to the mixture and my fiancé ate almost all of it . He said it was so delicious and asked when I was going to make more of it.

    Reply

  • Tiffany
    September 11, 2025

    I added some oats and reduced flour. Great recipe!

    Reply

  • Alison Warning
    September 11, 2025

    This banana bread is delicious! I replaced sugar with a half a cup of real maple syrup and added Hu chocolate chips! Yummy!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 11, 2025

      I’m so glad to hear you loved it with the syrup, Alison! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • PE
    September 10, 2025

    Substituted coconut and semisweet chocolate chips for nuts and raisins. Delicious!

    Reply

  • Kappy Pembleton
    September 10, 2025

    Best banana bread I ever made! will definitely make it again.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 10, 2025

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Pauline
    September 10, 2025

    Substituted unsweetened coconut and semi sweet chocolate chips for nuts and raisins. Amazing!

    Reply

  • Michelle Ageno
    September 9, 2025

    I make with 1/2 cup honey. Very simple and tasty.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      September 9, 2025

      I love that substitution and I’m so glad you loved the Banana Bread recipe.

      Reply

  • Andrew
    September 9, 2025

    Ooh, tasty bread. I don’t like raisins. lol

    Reply

  • Keith
    September 9, 2025

    Fantastic!

    Reply

  • Janlyn Blake
    September 9, 2025

    Easy to make! Delicious to eat! Hubby kept raving about how good it was! Key word was! He ate almost all of it by himself!! 🙂

    Reply

  • Donna
    September 9, 2025

    I made this for the first time yesterday sinceI had bananas going bad. Instead of walnuts/raisins, I put 1 cup mini chocolate chips. I don’t actually eat it so I gave it to my daughter. She called and said it’s the best bread she has ever tasted. So moist. She now wants the recipe. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      September 9, 2025

      That’s amazing, Donna! So happy she loved it. It’s our favorite.

      Reply

  • DA
    September 8, 2025

    Thank. Yummy. Wished I read the previous comment first. I overmixed and it was gummy too. I just simply gave it more cooking time.

    Reply

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