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.
I made this recipe. Easy and fast. I made it to give away to the young volunteers at my senior center.
I only have two 7×3 silicone pans, should I split the recipe into the two of them and lower the cooking time? What do you suggest?
Hi Paige! I think that would work.
First time making the banana nut bread. I used 4 bananas and crushed some walnuts . I made 3 loafs. It looks great. Very moist. Very easy to make and I mixed my Ingredients in my electric mixer. Very easy to make. Love this recipe
Love this recipe so much but it always curdles when mixing in the banana how do I prevent that
Hi Marcus, that’s a common issue and it’s OK. It usually happens due to the temperature of the ingredients and moisture balance. Banana bread is very forgiving, and it shouldn’t affect the end result.
Best baked goods I’ve ever made in my life
This was the first time I tried your recipe and found it very good. Used half sugar and half Splenda, had no walnuts so used pecans. Only 2 bananas. I found it a bit dry so next time I will use 3 bananas. Also just for your info I saw your cookbook and ordered it!
Thank you for your feedback and for purchasing my cookbook. Banana bread gets most of its moisture and tenderness from the bananas. The recipe calls for 3 medium ripe bananas so using only 2 will naturally make the loaf a bit drier and denser.
This has been my favorite banana bread recipe, ever, but I just moved to a high elevation. Has anyone made this at 6500ft elevation and found whatever changes need to be made, there?
Hello there! I have not tested that to advise but this guide on High-Altitude Baking can be useful.
Great recipe! I made it for the first time, and it was incredibly delicious! I did not put raisins, just walnuts. The bananas were super ripe, so I reduced granulated sugar to about 100g and added a little bit of honey (did not measure). Came out perfect both sweetness and texture! Thank you!
You’re so welcome! I’m happy that you enjoyed the banana bread!
This is THE BEST!! I’ve made this recipe three times. I add pumpkin pie spice for a secret deliciousness.
Over a year’s time I’ve made this great banana bread too many times to count. It’s been a fantastic success everyone loves it from a 1 year old to all the way to 90 either for breakfast or any time of day. The only change I made was to add 8 oz of blueberries in place of the nuts and raisins. Next step is to make muffins with it. Love your recipes.
Make this bread all the time. It’s my favorite and so easy to make.
Made this recipe as a thank you gift for my neighbor. It was perfect. I used a 9×9 because I didn’t have a loaf pan. There just was a slight difference in bake time. 40 minutes for the 9×9.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing, I’m glad it was a huge success!
This is by far the best banana bread recipe! My husband would always ask for a slice of banana bread from Starbucks. I decided to find a recipe instead of paying $5 per slice. Since finding this recipe a few weeks ago, I have made this banana nut bread at least 5 times. It is moist, filling, and is so much better than store bought. My hubby and family absolutely love it! 💕😋
This is amazing! I have made this many times and always a hit! Thank you
I’ve made this banana bread , many times and delicious and nutritious ..thanks Deb
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Deb!
If I only jhave 2 bananas can I use another fruit to make up the rest?
Hi Dea, if they’re larger bananas they may work, you’ll need about 1 3/4 cups of mashed bananas for this banana bread.
Will this recipe fill a 9×13 pan? Making it for my FIL and he has no loaf pan.
Delicious! I did all brown sugar instead of white sugar because the molasses in it helps keep the bread moist plus I just like the flavor better. Also added about a tablespoon of maple syrup and pecans instead of walnuts. Very very yummy and will make again!
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it using brown sugar! Thanks for sharing that with us.
help, am. i just doing this wrong? i followed everything to a T and yet it came out slightly darker than im normally used to. it smells a tad burnt. should i lower the time its cooking?
Hi Drew, are you possibly using a convection oven? Or does your oven typically run hot? In that case, you would need to reduce the temperature. My best tip is to get an in-oven thermometer to gauge the actual temperature. They are a great (inexpensive) investment.
Perfection. It was so moist and just out standing. I do half white sugar and half dark brown sugar.
Thank you for sharing that with me, Scott!
Very easy to do and great eating. It didn’t last long either. Eliminated need for freezing.
It sounds like it was a hit, Larry!