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.
This will be the recipe I use every time going forward!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Brittany!
Yummy and delicious. I add a dash of cinnamon. I baked for 55 minutes and I think next time I’ll try baking for 40-45 minutes at the edges were a bit overdone but it was still delicious and didn’t last for long!!
Love it,
Classic one, true, yet still loving it
Thank you Natasha,
I miss your Menus.,,
Back to cooking again 😂😅🤣😢🥰
Thank you, John!
Very moist, light and flavorful.
I will definitely use this recipe again.
Excellent recipe!!! I used really 2 ripe plantains instead of banana. I added about 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, an extra egg because they were only medium size and about 1/4 cup sour cream. Absolutely delicious. Came out perfectly, moist, rose nicely. I was surprised that it rose so well since there was no baking powder but this is the perfect recipe! This will be my new recipe for banana or plantains… thank you so very much!
You’re very welcome, I’m happy to hear it was a hit and that it worked with both!
Nice and moist, I substituted the raisins for Macintosh two small apples cut up. Great recipe.
Hi Jamie! Thanks so much for sharing. That sounds great.
This is the best banana bread recipe I have tried. I replace raisins and walnuts with canned corn and my family loves it.
I made banana bread for the first time last week using this recipe. It was moist and delicious. I did not have enough raisins so, I am making another tonight. I choose your recipe because I use your meatloaf with the glaze recipe and it is always great. I am looking forward to trying some more of your recipes. Thanks Natasha for sharing it.
This moist banana bread is delicious, it’s now the only banana bread I’ll make after making different recipes this one is Tops for me.
Thanks Natasha 😋
I’m so glad you loved it, Angela!
Amazing recipe. The banana loaf was so moist and delecious ❤️❤️ definitely saving this recipe.😊
THE Best Banana bread recipe ever!!! I used 4 medium bananas and substituted pecans for walnuts. Also did a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar on top. AMAZING .. SO moist… this is definitely a keeper. Thank you, Natasha!
It was a great recipe. My family is already requesting more. Added more vanilla just cause I like it. Might try to add cinnamon.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Brandi!
It is very delicious and super moist. However mine turned out super dense didn’t really rise and didn’t really get that fluffy bread texture. I’m trying to figure out what I could have done wrong to cause that. The only thing different I did was I did not have any add ins like walnuts or raisins or anything. I know it’s probably an error on my end but I can’t figure out what to do differently.
Hi Melissa! Over mixing the batter is the most common cause of a gummy and dense texture. Mixing just until combined keeps it light.
Can you make it in mini loaf pans? If yes, how much batter should go in each? How long should it be baked for? Thank you.
Hi Cheryl! I haven’t tested mini loaf pans so I am not sure how many this recipe will make. I wouldn’t fill them more than 2/3 way full. Some of my viewers have and reported baking at the same temperature same temperature for 25–35 minutes. I would keep an eye on them and check early on.
I made it and received thumbs up from the family. I made some with nuts only no raisins and one without nuts. Thank you.
That bread sounds awesomely DELICIOUS! Can’t wait to make it!!👏
Great recipe. Substituted a few things to make it gluten and sugar free, it turned out great!!!
The first time I made this recipe I did it with adding fresh blueberries to it. It was amazing. So today I’m making it more like the recipe with the walnuts, but no raisins there not for me. I’m sure it will turn out just as fantastic as it did the first time. Thanks Natasha for such a great banana bread recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Hi Natasha, how much honey for sugar substitute?
Hi Diana! You can use the same amount, or if your bananas are very sweet you can use less too.
Looks good, smells good but took 75 minutes to bake. I hope it tastes as good as it smells.
Hi there. Did you use a smaller pan by chance? Also- make sure to fully preheat your oven. I like to use an internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to ensure my oven’s temperature accuracy.
I love this recipe, I usually add chocolate chips instead of nuts and add a touch more vanilla and a some cinnamon! It’s always a hit!
I was thinking about adding Cinnamon to mine as well! Not sure about the chocolate chips but definitely want to try adding the cinnamon.
I also added cinnamon and doubled the vanilla. This is my favorite banana bread recipe! I’ve made it several times.
Exactly what I did. Bananas were super ripe, added nuts, vanilla paste, choc chips and tasted it. Decided to add some cinnamon. Baking now. Smells fantastic!
I was unsure of of batter taste. I used honey instead of sugar. This turned out to be the best banana bread ever. Super moist & delicious!
Wow, Im actually surprised on the rating. Thought for sure it would be great. Unfortunately, it was good… no where near as moist as stated or as moist as pre-made store bought.
So had a family member try and came out the same.
HI Jen, if it’s not moist, it’s likely over-baked. Make sure you are baking in a conventional oven (not convection) and check for doneness a little sooner if you know your oven runs hot.