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 was craving something sweet today and had some ripe bananas so decided to make your banana bread.. Yumm!! Yumm!!! It was so good with a cup of milk!! Thank you for your wonderful recipes!!
Ooh that sounds perfect with a tall glass of cold milk 🙂 mmmm
Omg!!! I’m soooooo sorry. Yeah! It says white sugar. I guess I was in hurry and didn’t read it correctly lol I really feel ashamed 🙁
lol. No worries. 🙂 I hope you love it!
Ooo, yea!!!! We love it! Thanks to Vadim for the recipe and to you for sharing it 🙂 P.S. why do u have only 5 stars? 😉 Some recipes earn more than 5 stars 🙂
Awww thank you 🙂
Hi, Natasha! What do u do with 1 cup of white vinegar? Please, reply ASP because I already started to make it and don’t know what to do with the vinegar.
Do you mean sugar? There is no vinegar in this recipe. The 1 cup white sugar goes in at step 2 🙂
I have tried a few banana bread recipes before and this one is by far my favorite! I put chocolate chips instead of the raisins and it turned out amazing! Thanks for sharing..
My husband isn’t a fan of chocolate in banana bread but I think it’s good 😉
This is the most moist, most delicious banana bread recipe ever. EVER!
Thank you Olga for the wonderful review!
im not seeing a temp here. Is it just me or is it hiding?
I do have a temperature on the post, preheat your oven to 350°
This was very tasty. This reminded me of the banana bread that Starbucks sells. Good job Vadmin!
Thank you so much Olga 🙂 I read your comment to Vadim. He smiled and he is glad you enjoyed the recipe!!
Your blog never disappoints! Thank you for all of the time and energy you put into this. I love this banana bread recipe. A total hit everytime!
Thank you Galya, I always love a good report :).
Natasha, thank you for the recipe! When I saw that I have 4 brown bananas in my pantry first thing that hit my mind was banana bread. I searched your site for the recipe and no regrets. The only regret I have we ate it too fast. I have 2 pans, so next time will do 2 at a time. My husband never had banana bread before so I am so happy he loved it.
Also one more detail I always trust your recipes. I check many sites and if I find similar recipe I always try yours. 🙂
We never let bananas go to waste anymore 🙂 and thank you for trying the recipes.
This recipe looks almost like the one I make 🙂
Last time I made this bread I used 1/2 cup of yogurt I had in the fridge instead of butter. And I put in 1/2 cup of quick cooking oats along as well. Oatmeal sprinkled on top of the batter gives it a nice lovely touch 🙂
I like your substitutions Nelli :). My brother in law uses chocolate chips instead of raisins which taste really good as well.
Hi there. I made this bread twice already. It is really good, perfect for breakfast, snack or healthy dessert. The first time I made it in a loaf pan and baked it according to recommended time. The bread turned out kinda too dark on the outside and in the middle top it had some mushy unbaked spots. Nevertheless, it was delicious. The second time, I got the idea to pour the batter into a bundt pan. It was awesome. The bread (or the cake) baked through really well, and it wasn’t extremely dark on the outside. I also dusted it with powdered sugar on top (Natasha’s snow version. Lol) and it was very pretty. And so good. Only one little piece left:)
I’m glad you like the recipe Alena, I have 3 brown bananas ready for the banana bread tomorrow :).
Natasha, I don’t see a print option for this recipe. Am I missing something?
Thank you for letting me know, just got it fixed.
AMAZING banana bread!!!!
This is the best one I have ever made! Even though I have over 5 different recipes of banana bread! Good job Vadim creating it and Natasha for baking it!!! THANK YOU!!!
Also one thing I did change about this recipe was putting baking powder instead of baking soda. 🙂
You are welcome Elizabeth, I’m glad you love the recipe :).
Hi Natasha, quick question. Would this recipe work for banana muffins instead of a loaf?
Yes, it will, but much shorter baking time. I haven’t tested the timing, so my recommendation would be to check with a tooth pick after 20 min if its done.
Just finished baking them and they’re amazing, oh and I love the smell in the house after they bake 🙂 The muffins took 30 min to bake. Thank you!!!
Thank you for letting me know, now I know the timing :).
I totally LUV this banana bread!! I am a big banana bread fan, while my husband doesn’t care for it at all, but when I made this bread EVEN HE ate it!! 😀 …I just made another loaf, it’s in the process of cooling down right now, although I already cut off a nice piece (just couldn’t resist lol 😉 Thank you sooo much Vadim for this one!! 🙂
Thank you for your sweet comment Mariya. My bananas are actually almost ready for the banana bread :).
Natasha thank you!! …and Vadim of course for this mouthwatering, delicious recipe! Im stuffing my self with them as Im typing! It tastes even better than Starbucks Bananna Bread! Yum!!!
Ever since we started baking banana bread, no banana is ever left behind in our house :).
The bread was delicious!!! Yummy. 🙂
Thanks for letting me know 🙂 I always love to hear from people who have tried my recipes. 🙂
I was craving some banana bread and after reading all of these awesome reviews – I went ahead and made some today! It is currently in the oven. Will definitely come back and tell you how it was! I am so excited! :)))
Have you tried adding small apple sauce?
No, but I’m open to suggestions :). Will be trying with apple sauce next time.
i made this i used mini chocolate chips instead of walnuts and raisins, it turned out good