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 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
Thank you for your wonderful review, Kirstie!
Can I double this for 2 loaf pans?
Thank you
Hi Debbie, yes that should work well!
I love this recipe! It turns out great every time, I’ve made it 5 times already!!!
So happy to hear you’re loving it, Janny!
Can I use roated pecans instead. Of walnuts
Yes, they work as a great substitute.
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 🧑🎄
Thank you for your great feedback and recommendation, Carla! I’m glad you love this recipe a lot!
You’re VERY welcome! You DESERVE an awesome comment because your recipes are SO DELICIOUS 😊
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?
I do not add the extra liquid and it works out great using thawed bananas.
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.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Caralyn! happy Holidays!
Your banana bread recipe is amazing. I have made this so many time.
Thank-you for all you do.
Merry Christmas 🤶 🎄
Hi Kal! Thank you so much. I’m happy you love the recipe. Merry Christmas!
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.
Thank you for sharing your awesome review with me, Donna!
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.
Thank you for sharing! Yes, it could be the size of the loaf pan you used since your first batch came our perfect.
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!
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.
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!
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
I’m so happy you loved the recipe and I hope this banana bread becomes a favorite for you!
Best banana bread ever. I doubled the bananas and committed the raisins, substituted the walnuts for pecans
I’m so glad you loved it, Cita!
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.
Great to hear that you family enjoyed the Banana Bread recipe even without the nuts and raisins!
Made this recipe to a T! Several times! Always my favorite! Simple and so moist!
I’m so happy you found a favorite on my blog, Cacilda!
I use King Author 1 to1 gluten free flour and it turns out awesome.
Did u replace any other ingredient as well due to change in flour
Exceptional, moist,easy to make in a short time, family loves it.
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.
Hi Edward! That’s correct, the baking soda is activated from the natural acidity of the bananas.
I have not made this yet but will try today. This looks so delicious 😋
I hope you love it, Carmen!
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.