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 I use this recipe to make mini muffins?
Hi Carol! Sure, just watch them in the oven. They’ll likely bake around 10-12mins.
OMG SO DELISH i didnt have walnuts or raisins but i added dark chocolate chips 10/10 so moist not too sweet i also sprinkled some brown sugar and cinnamon on the top before baking and it added a delish glaze. made it for a potluck tonight but i might eat the whole thing beforehand
That sounds wonderful, Mary!
My go to recipe for leftover ripe bananas at home. Hands down the best. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes.
Great recipe! Though the bread was ready at about 45 minutes — any longer and it would’ve been even browner.
Love this recipe, thank you! I add a little bit of cinnamon and nutmeg, 1/4 tsp of maple extract, and use 1/2 cup of sugar and add some honey. Sometimes I’ll throw in some chocolate chips or something similar. Comes out great every time, you’re the best!
Thank you, Scott! Glad to hear you love it.
Best recipe ever! So Delicious. I omitted the walnuts and raisins because I didn’t have any but added cinnamon.
I love this recipe I use it all the time and everyone that has tried it always ask if I can make more. I also used yogurt as a substitute for eggs once and it still came out really Good.
Thank you for sharing that with us, Lilliana.
Love this recipe,best 🍌🍌bread I’ve made, your recipe is a keeper,Thanks Natasha!
I make this all the time and It is the greatest banana bread recipe i’ve ever had.
If I am using a convection oven what would change in your banana bread recipe?
I would lower the temperature by 25 degrees and keep an eye on it.
I didn’t expect this bread to be any different than any other recipe I’ve tried, but it was indeed the most delicious and moist I have ever made. I increased the walnuts to 1 1/2 cups and omitted the raisins. I forgot to add the vanilla. I baked it in a half-size bundt cake pan. It turned out great! Thank you.
That’s wonderful, Gayle! Thank you for trying the recipe!
This recipe is so easy and I had only 2 large, ripe bananas and no nuts available, so thought I’d take a chance. The bread came out flavorful and very moist, as stated. Thank you!
I love this recipe! I usually use 4 small bananas (because I buy smaller bananas and I use chocolate chips instead of raisins, and I make mini loaves which only need about 40 mins to cook but they are amazing!
Hi Natasha! Thank you for sharing your awesome recipes. Question: what would you recommend using in place of raisins? I love raisins but kids don’t care so much for them. Thank you again.
Hi Valentina! You can leave them out or replace with dried cranberries or tart cherries.
Great recipe;I would like to make it Eggless ? What should I replace with eggs ?
Hi Kala! I haven’t tested a ln eggless alternative, but some of my viewers have reported using applesauce. One viewer said she used 1/2 cup in place of 2 eggs.
Great banana bread. Couldn’t find this recipe and had to use a different. It is so dry. I’ll use this from now on.
I’m so glad you found this recipe!
I have tried this multiple times and always turns out to be the best. Thank you for sharing your recipe
I made this banana bread. We loved it. Thanks for sharing this recipe!!
You’re very welcome, Sarah!
I love this recipe Can I use cashews and raisins and few chocolate chips instead walnuts and raisins
Yes, that will work fine.
Great recipe! Used my medical cannabis butter for a fun and mysterious experiment that’s easy for anyone looking to brighten up there kitchen skills!
It was delicious! Thx! I used pecans instead of walnuts. I also added 1/4 c of light brown sugar as part of the sugar in the recipe. I added a T. of honey to improve flavor because I used diced dried apricots instead of raisins. It worked like a dream and is the best Banana Bread ever.