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.







Mad Banana bread for the first time. Very moist. I did burn the bottom a little bit as left in the oven for more than 55 mins. but still delicious. Will watch it more carefully next time.
I have used this recipe several times now and it comes out perfect every time. Very moist. I have substituted cranberries for 1 banana and apple as well. Very versatile recipe! Chopped up a nut mix from Costco and sprinkled on top. Awesome with coffee!
Amazingly awesomeness!! Love love love this recipe!! I add chocolate chips or peanut butter chips to this recipe they are just scrumptiously delicious!! 💜💜💜
Hi Natasha,
Your recipes are truly delicious. My Mom, who has lived a long life as a great cook, said this is the best banana bread she has ever tasted! I substituted a third of the sugar with maple syrup.
Hi Robin! That’s so sweet to hear. Thank you so much for sharing.
Hi Natasha,
If I use this recipe and use mini loaf pans, do you have recommendations on temperature and time? I LOVE LOVE this recipe. It’s the best one!
I’m glad to hear that you love this recipe a lot! I have another recipe for Banana Muffins. You can use this one instead.
Followed the recipe but used salted butter because that’s what I had and omitted the salt. Turned out excellent. Perfectly moist but not too heavy. Thank you for sharing!
My family loves this. It’ll be a regular now. 😘
Very moist and easy to make. Love the videos!
To make a healthier version l will be using coconut oil instead of butter, almond flour instead of regular flour and maple syrup instead of sugar. I hope it comes out good.
Wow, I saw video Banana Bread beautiful art.
I myself use other shortcut made banana bread quick easy.
I make 25 them one days for Elderly my own favorite recipe.
I am call Banana Bread Tammie
They love it how i make.but no raisins put other favorite just to please them.
I myself will like to uses beautiful art with raisins and smell so beautiful taste gourmet.
Thank you
Time: 4:16 Am
November 12, 2025-Wed
Coronado, Guevara
Houston Texas Hehaw
💗💓🌹🤪🥰
Natasha, love the recipe@ Thank you for sharing! I used 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup walnuts, raisins, & semi sweet chocolate chips. It came out perfect.
Excellent Banana Bread! My new go to. I’ve never before added raisins to banana bread – quite tasty and moist. Thank you Natasha! 😊
I’m so glad you found a favorite on my blog, Elizabeth! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is the best banana bread!!
I have struggled to find a recipe that isn’t dry on the outside or to doughy in the middle! But I have now found the perfect moist and not dry on the outside recipe and it’s this banana bread recipe I love how it turned out! This is totally a 5 star for sure!!! It’s amazing!🤤
Moist? I think not. I followed this recipe to a T and it was the driest banana bread I’ve ever made. Not good, at all.
Hi Martin! I’m sorry you didn’t have good results. This recipe is one of the moat popular recipes on my blog, with thousands of 5 star reviews. I’ve made it many times myself and it’s one of my family’s favorites to make. I would be happy to help troubleshoot. The most common reason for dry banana bread is over baking or using too much flour. Be sure to measure your flour correctly. I have a tutorial on How to Measure Ingredients here.
Maybe you should try and make it again before you give her a bad review because this is the best banana bread recipe! Obviously you didn’t follow it to a T
My go to recipe. Just a question on measuring ingredients, what is the recipe conversion that you use ? Online calculations show different conversions like 1 cup=120 g or 1 cup=140 g
Hi Steffi, there is a computer generated conversion calculator within this platform that enters those amounts automatically. For all purpose flour, you’ll find most calculators are using 120-125g for 1 cup.
If you’re unsure, you can reference a guide from a reputable source such as this one from King Arthur Baking.
We love this recipe. I always make a double batch and mix up my mix-ins. This time I used: 1/2 cup of raisins, 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips, and 1 cup of chopped toasted pecans.
so moist and down right delicious and definitely a saver and will double the batch to freeze
Best banana bread recipe ever. I have keep a loaf in the fridge for my 95 year old mother she can’t get enough of it . Love all your recipes that I have tried so far.
That’s so wonderful, Thank you for your review, Christian!
amazing! I also added chocolate chips but as a beginner baker this is my first banana bread success!
I make two at a time and this is about the fourth time I have made them. So good, moist and easy to make. Try it, you will be happy you did. Thank you I love your recipes
You’re very welcome, Wendy!
The BEST recipe out there
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Lily!