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.







What’s the best way to store the bread? It’s delicious!!
Hi Alicia! I’m so glad you love it. For short term storage like 1-2 days you can store it at room temperature. Just wrap it in an airtight container or plastic wrap. For longer storage, you can refrigerate it for a maximum of a week and you can also freeze it for longer storage.
This is a perfect simple banana bread recipe. I omitted the walnuts and raisins because my husband doesn’t like them, and I don’t miss them at all. Crust is ideal, flavor is sweet but not too sweet. Moist without being too dense, light but not cake-like.
10/10. No notes. ❤️
I substituted blueberries for the walnuts! Absolutely delicious!
Hi Natasha I am making it right now it smells so good can’t wait to try it we are tired of throwing away the bad bananas I think I am keeping this recipe thank you for simplicity of it can’t wait to try it thank you again Happy New year have a very blessed one !
I hope you loved it, Cheryl! Have a happy and blessed new year!
I added a little cinnamon to the dry ingredients and did chocolate chips instead of nuts. Always a winner!
Hey there! Just wanted to mention that this recipe easily veganizes. I switched the APF for oat flour for added fiber, used flax eggs, and substituted chopped dates for the sugar. Turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!
Thanks for sharing that with us, Jax!
This recipe is so good !! Can I use Brown sugar ,if yes how much
Hi Addy! Sure, you can replace with the same amount.
This has been my tried and true banana bread go to recipe for almost a decade now and every single time I make it I get the ooohs and ahhhs and can we have this recipe- I have made many variations of it as well and it never disappoints! Thank you Natasha’s Kitchen for years of enjoyment! Happy New Year!
You’re very welcome! I’m so glad to hear this was a hit!
I made this recipe and split the batter into 2 small loaves. Baked them for 40 minutes and they came out perfect. That way I made one loaf with walnuts and one without. Perfect
Should the raisins be soaked in warm water and drained (of course) before adding them? My dad swore by doing so when making oatmeal raisin cookies
Hi Mary! That’s not necessary, but you can do so if you’d like.
I’m not a baker but I love banana bread. I got tired of chucking overripe bananas and this recipe looked so easy and having the video was a plus. The bread was delicious. My family enjoyed it. I did add a dollop of sour cream and had a pan of water in the oven for the first 15 minutes. Next time I think I’ll soak the raisins in rum.
I’m so glad you tried and loved this recipe, Veronica!
I used duck eggs. Very yummy!
I have been searching for the perfect BNB recipe for years and I finally found it. It’s probably the best I have ever baked. I also baked additional loafs with reduced sugar and added tbsp of maple syrup and 1/2 of caramelized chopped apples with some cinnamon and I have to say it was amazing but I couldn’t have done it without this recipe. its absolutely amazing.
Thank you for your awesome feedback! I’m happy to know that you loved this Banana Bread recipe!
This is the best banana bread I have ever had. It is easy to make and so moist with great flavor. The family loved it.
Great recipe. My family asks for for this every week
Very good. I have made this loads of times. Buy her book. Perfect Orthodox Christmas present
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful review, Birgit!
Excellent recipe. I cut the sugar to 1/2 cup
Thank you for sharing that with me, Regina!
I love this banana bread. I substitute raisins for the walnuts , I also put in a grated carrot. I get so many compliments on it. I do give it as a gift ! Thank you
I’m so glad to hear that, Debra! Thank you for sharing that with me.
I always have trouble with my banana bread sinking in the middle. Does this recipe rise properly or do you have any suggestions so my loaf won’t sink?
Hi Ellie, this is one of my most popular recipes with over 7000 reviews on the blog alone, we have never had a problem with it sinking. Be sure to use the correct size pan – this is important, your oven is properly calibrated and pre-heated and your ingredeints are not expired (baking soda) and it should be perfect. I hope you love it.
Thanks so much for giving me confidence! I will try this recipe when my bananas are super ripe!
Could possibly be not enough baking soda
This banana nut bread turned out amazing. The flavor was very tasty, the slight crisp on the top edge of the bread I loved, and there was a perfect amount of moist consistency. I actually used a combination of brown sugar (1/2 cup), pure cane sugar (less than 1/4 cup), and honey (about 1 tbsp) for the sweetness. I put in just a little less amount of each liquid ingredient to compensate for the brown sugar and honey I used. Also, I did not add any raisins since I am not a fan of those in my breads.
Thank you for sharing that with us! Happy to hear that you loved the Banana Bread!