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.
Can this be made and frozen. I may slice first before freezing. Then take out slices and warm/toast slices in oven as needed.
Hi Sue, Yes, it freezes great!
Took out raisins (no one here likes them) added an extra banana. Used pecans instead of the walnuts (that’s what we use in the south) and did half brown sugar and half granulated sugar. It’s delicious!
the banana bread was actually really good
I followed this recipe and it’s now in the oven😋 /fingers cross🤞😁
Have
Always
Been awesome. Another way I serve them is to make individual mini muffins and dunking the baked tops ( when finished) into melted butter quickly and the. In powdered sugar while still warm.YUM!
Oh my goodness that sounds like a treat!
That’s so great, Loretta! Thank you for sharing that with me.
My family Loved this bannana bread, I was low on raisins so I snuck 2 peices of one of those Choeser raisin, hazelnut bars from Aldi. Chopped it up, couldn’t taste the chocolate but I lowered the sugar to 1/4 cup, it was delicious.
I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the Banana Bread Recipe!
I split the difference on the sugar and honey using both. Added 2tbls of rum and used vanilla bean paste vs extract. Made two loves. They came out great.
Could I double this recipe? I have 6 Bananas!
Yes, you can double the recipe. Enjoy!
It’s AWESOME to double it! Twice the YUM!!!!
Excellent receipe
I’m so happy you loved it, Anjula!
What do you mean “ let it rest “ and do you mean take it out of the pan to transfer to a wire rack? Thank you in advance for your help
Charmain
Hi there! That means, after you take the banana bread out of the oven, you let it sit in the pan for about 5–10 minutes so it dosn’t fall apart when you remove it.
I’ve been using this recipe and added double the bananas for super moist feel- it’s so tasty and I’ve done chocolate chips and today I used pecans.
Thank you for sharing! Great to hear that you’ve been using this recipe and that you always love it!
I’m going to try this with what’s on hand. So, I’m going to be using Craisins & Pecan halves, instead of raisins and walnuts.
Should I prep the pecans in any sort of way, before I add them to the mix?
Hi! You can toss the chopped pecans or chopped raisins in a little flour before folding into the batter.This helps them stay suspended and not sink to the bottom.
So delicious!!! I am wondering… I have family that cannot eat eggs due to a culture choice. What can I do to make this for them without the eggs? A substitution? I would love for them to be able to try this as well 🙂
Thank you for your help!!
I haven’t tested an alternative but some options would be to use flax eggs, or apple sauce. One of my viewers reported using 1/2 cup of applesauce for 2 eggs. Use unsweetened applesauce or reduce the sugar slightly if sweetened.
Can you give an idea for time and heat adjustments for mini loaf pans?
Hi Laura! Some of my viewers have tested mini loaf pans 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 this recipe and it was delicious! Does it freeze well? Having company and thought it would be great to have on hand.
Hi Pam! I’m so glad to hear you loved it. Yes, it freezes great!
I absolutely loved this Banana Bread recipe!
I did use Mexican Vanilla and added Cinnamon to the recipe, sprinkled sugar on top before baking gives a nice crispy gaze!
Sounds amazing, Nancy!
Can I use self rising flour and leave ou salt and baking soda?
Hi Dora, I personally haven’t tested self rising flour in this recipe, but likely you’ll need to add baking soda to ensure it rises. One of my readers mentioning trying that and their bread did not rise, baking is a science and it will definitly need a few adjustments if you go that route. If you try it, I hope you love it, Dora.
Can I make this with oil instead of butter?
Hi Julio, Some of my readers have used oil instead but we prefer butter for better taste and texture.
Hi.
I only use salted butter so can/should i omit the 1/2 tsp salt?
Can I also do half brown, half white sugar or even maple syrup?
Too many comments to read through to check, lol!
Many thanks!
Hi Kate! Yes, salted butter works and you can omit the salt. Brown sugar works too, I haven’t tried maple syrup, but honey is a great substitute so maple syrup should be fine too.
Has anyone tried this recipe in a 4-loaf pan? What are the adjustments to time/temperature?
Hi there! Some of my viewers have tested mini loaf pans and reported baking at the same temperature same temperature for 25–35 minutes. I would keep an eye on them and check early on.