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

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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 6481 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 6481 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Concetta Bulock
    January 24, 2026

    Can I use peacons instead of walnuts? Can the peacons be toasted?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 24, 2026

      Hi there! Yes, pecans work great and they can be toasted beforehand.

      Reply

  • Alicia Mahoney
    January 24, 2026

    I’m trying this recipe for the first time and it’s baking now. This recipe looks great as written, so I followed it, but left out raisins and added 2 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp Mexican vanilla. It looked yummy going into the oven. I’ll come back and let you know if it was a hit in my house!

    Reply

  • Rebecca
    January 22, 2026

    Can I use disposable pans and is it ok if the only ones I can find are 8in X 3/4in X 2 1/2

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 23, 2026

      Hi Rebecca! Yes, you can. You’ll want to make sure not to overfill them or they won’t bake up properly.
      Pour the extra batter in a smaller dish to bake separately. Since it’s made of thin foil it has poor heat regulation and can bake unevenly, especially if the foil buckles in. The bread browns fast on the outside but stays gummy or underbaked inside so you’ll need to lower your oven temp by 25 degrees and bake it longer.

      Reply

  • Veronica Diego
    January 22, 2026

    Can I substitute brown sugar for regular sugar?

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 23, 2026

      Hi Veronica! Sure, you can replace with the same amount.

      Reply

  • Randy
    January 22, 2026

    Great recipe!! If you want to know a secret, you can substitute Almond extract for the Vanilla extract. But it’s a secret…

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 22, 2026

      Awesome! Thank you for sharing your secret with us!

      Reply

  • Roe
    January 21, 2026

    I turned this batter minus nuts and raisins add chocolate chips and banana chocolate chip MUFFINS were born!

    Reply

  • Lex
    January 21, 2026

    I i’m in the middle of making it right now and I realized I didn’t have any baking soda and only baking powder… is it possible for it to still turn out if I use baking powder??

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 22, 2026

      Hi Lex! It can work with baking powder too, but it’s less potent so you’ll need to use more.

      Reply

  • Nancy
    January 21, 2026

    Love this recipe! Just what I’ve been searching for, flavorful & moist!!!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 21, 2026

      So glad you found this recipe, Nancy!

      Reply

  • T
    January 21, 2026

    Do you know how many grams or cups of bananas is needed for this recipe? My bananas are somewhere between small and medium so I would rather have the amount in weight if possible. Thank you in advance!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 21, 2026

      Hi T! I do not have the exact amount, it’s fairly forgiving to use a little more or less. A medium banana is about 118 grams (4.2 oz) peeled or 135–140 grams (4.8–5 oz) with the peel. I hope that helps.

      Reply

    • Shawna
      January 21, 2026

      A little extra banana only makes it better, I always add a little extra, personally. I just made a double batch with 7 large bananas 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’d try 4 medium, or 5 small bananas?

      Reply

  • Deb
    January 20, 2026

    Very good and tasty! It lasted about 5 minutes. Everyone had to have more.

    Reply

  • Aaronda Ivery
    January 20, 2026

    This recipe is the best I’ve ever used! It’s moist and delicious with the perfect amount of sweetness. I bake several loaves to take to team meetings, and I don’t have leftovers🤩I was wondering if I could make muffins with the batter?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 20, 2026

      I’m so glad to hear it was a hit with the team, Aaronda! Here’s my recipe for Banana Muffins. Hope you love them!

      Reply

  • Christina
    January 18, 2026

    Natasha this banana bread is fantastic! I love that it is loaded with nuts and raisins! Your recipes are always scrumptious. Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 19, 2026

      Thank you for sharing, I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply

  • Sarah
    January 18, 2026

    The best banana bread recipe…period. I skip the raisins and walnuts because we don’t like them but add chocolate chips to half the batter. It’s so moist and delicious. It’s definitely my go to recipe whenever I make banana bread. Thank you for sharing it with us!!

    Reply

  • Christina
    January 18, 2026

    Wow! So delicious and easy to make. I threw in a handful of chocolate chips and crushed nuts. Will make again for sure.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 18, 2026

      Oh that defilinite sounds delicious. More chocolate sounds more fun! Glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • George
    January 18, 2026

    This recipe was so easy to make and came out delicious. I toasted the walnuts but also added a few chocolate chips. It was moist and flavorful.

    Reply

  • Shanna Glore
    January 18, 2026

    Best banana bread I’ve ever made. I didn’t change a thing about the recipe. Moist and delicious.

    Reply

  • E
    January 17, 2026

    Hi! Can I substitute sugar with maple syrup? What would be the amount if so?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 18, 2026

      Hi, One of my readers reported great results substituting sugar with 1/2 cup maple syrup.

      Reply

  • Bratt
    January 17, 2026

    This is delicious, I add applesauce with cinnamon to add to the moist

    Reply

    • Jaikeele T Jackson-Oboh
      January 21, 2026

      I also added applesauce with cinnamon for moisture. It’s in the oven now! I believe it will be AMAZING!!!

      Reply

  • Linda
    January 17, 2026

    WOW
    The best I’ve ever baked
    Thank You

    Reply

  • Renee
    January 17, 2026

    VERY delicious, and easy to make! Thank you for this recipe, my family and I LOVE IT!

    Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.