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 6482 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 6482 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Kirstie
    December 4, 2025

    This is the best banana bread I have ever made it’s so delicious. I used pecans instead of walnuts. I didn’t use cranberries or raisins but it was soft moist and yummy

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 4, 2025

      Thank you for your wonderful review, Kirstie!

      Reply

  • Debbie
    December 4, 2025

    Can I double this for 2 loaf pans?
    Thank you

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 4, 2025

      Hi Debbie, yes that should work well!

      Reply

  • Janny
    December 3, 2025

    I love this recipe! It turns out great every time, I’ve made it 5 times already!!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 4, 2025

      So happy to hear you’re loving it, Janny!

      Reply

  • Carrie M Gwosdz
    December 3, 2025

    Can I use roated pecans instead. Of walnuts

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 3, 2025

      Yes, they work as a great substitute.

      Reply

  • Carla
    December 3, 2025

    SO easy to make and very delicious!! Give it a try you won’t be disappointed with this recipe!

    Thank you Natasha for sharing your expertise recipes with us!!
    Happy Holidays 🧑‍🎄

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      December 3, 2025

      Thank you for your great feedback and recommendation, Carla! I’m glad you love this recipe a lot!

      Reply

      • Carla
        December 12, 2025

        You’re VERY welcome! You DESERVE an awesome comment because your recipes are SO DELICIOUS 😊

        Reply

  • Betty
    December 3, 2025

    I’ve defrosted frozen bananas before and notice when they thaw they release a lot of liquid. Am I supposed to use that banana juice or will adding it to the flour mixture make the batter too runny?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 3, 2025

      I do not add the extra liquid and it works out great using thawed bananas.

      Reply

  • Caralyn
    December 3, 2025

    Hi, Natasha – I haven’t made your banana bread recipe -yet- but I most def will. In the meantime I want to share with you a flavor enhancer that I’ve used in other banana bread recipes: Use coconut oil instead of butter. Really gives a depth of flavor beyond what butter does.
    Thank you for so many great recipes; so glad I found you. Happy Holidays to you and your family, from Seattle.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 3, 2025

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Caralyn! happy Holidays!

      Reply

  • Kal
    December 3, 2025

    Your banana bread recipe is amazing. I have made this so many time.
    Thank-you for all you do.
    Merry Christmas 🤶 🎄

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 3, 2025

      Hi Kal! Thank you so much. I’m happy you love the recipe. Merry Christmas!

      Reply

  • Donna
    December 2, 2025

    Love this recipe! I can’t add nuts or raisins due to diet restrictions but it is very delicious as it is. I had to used half brown and half granulated sugars because I was low on sugar. It was wonderful.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      December 2, 2025

      Thank you for sharing your awesome review with me, Donna!

      Reply

  • Rae
    November 30, 2025

    Absolutely wonderful recipe. I doubled it and put half the batter in muffin tins, cooked for 5 minutes @ 425 then 13 more minutes @ 350. The best banana muffins I’ve ever had. Browned with a chewy exterior but still super moist.

    Unfortunately, the other half went in my loaf pan and was a disaster. The top browned quickly and the outsides baked and baked while the middle stayed goo through the full hour. I noticed my loaf pan was smaller than the recipe called for so I’m guessing it was overfilled.

    Make sure to check your pan measurements. So bummed half of the batter was wasted, but I’ll absolutely be back! Best recipe I’ve ever tried.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 30, 2025

      Thank you for sharing! Yes, it could be the size of the loaf pan you used since your first batch came our perfect.

      Reply

    • Amelia
      December 2, 2025

      Love this recipe !!! Super moist and I tried making it in muffin trays with the 5 min@425 and 13 more @ 350, it was amazing!

      Reply

  • kristina meštrović
    November 30, 2025

    Soo moist and fluffy,toasted walnuts are game changer….i added chopped dark chocolate and it was wow! Don’t even like bananas but in this bread i love the subtle taste.

    Reply

  • Lisa
    November 29, 2025

    This banana bread was so good. I didn’t use the walnuts because I didn’t have any, or I would have! Instead of raisins I used a cherry, cranberry, golden raisin blend. It’s absolutely perfect! Thank you!

    Reply

  • Violeta Santiago
    November 29, 2025

    Hi Natasha ‘I’m so glad I found you ‘I started my first recipe ‘creamy filet mignon with mushrooms ‘outstanding ‘my husband loved it sooo much ‘my next is your banana bread ty ty much

    Reply

    • Natasha
      November 30, 2025

      I’m so happy you loved the recipe and I hope this banana bread becomes a favorite for you!

      Reply

  • Cita
    November 29, 2025

    Best banana bread ever. I doubled the bananas and committed the raisins, substituted the walnuts for pecans

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 29, 2025

      I’m so glad you loved it, Cita!

      Reply

  • Ferdy K.
    November 27, 2025

    I made this recipe with my 4y old daughter and we love it. The loaf came out moist and kept his moist for several days. We didn’t add the walnut and raisin for the sake of the little one.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 27, 2025

      Great to hear that you family enjoyed the Banana Bread recipe even without the nuts and raisins!

      Reply

  • Cacilda Astolfi
    November 27, 2025

    Made this recipe to a T! Several times! Always my favorite! Simple and so moist!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 27, 2025

      I’m so happy you found a favorite on my blog, Cacilda!

      Reply

  • Lu
    November 26, 2025

    I use King Author 1 to1 gluten free flour and it turns out awesome.

    Reply

    • Diya
      November 26, 2025

      Did u replace any other ingredient as well due to change in flour

      Reply

  • Mini
    November 26, 2025

    Exceptional, moist,easy to make in a short time, family loves it.

    Reply

  • Edward
    November 26, 2025

    Are you sure it’s supposed to be baking soda, and not baking powder? I don’t see anything acidic in the ingredients list to activate the sodium bicarbonate in the soda.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 26, 2025

      Hi Edward! That’s correct, the baking soda is activated from the natural acidity of the bananas.

      Reply

  • Carmen Gill
    November 25, 2025

    I have not made this yet but will try today. This looks so delicious 😋

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 25, 2025

      I hope you love it, Carmen!

      Reply

      • Theresa Mowery
        November 28, 2025

        I made this moist banana I baked two banana bread and in a week they are gone. My husband doesn’t like the bread your recipie.

        Reply

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