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.







My son baked it on the weekend and the whole family enjoyed it. He used chocolate chip in place of raisins and it was fantastic.
Thank you for sharing, Tatiana. Chocolate chips sound like a delicious substitute for the raisins. I am so glad the whole family enjoyed it.
hi, i am going to use this recipe, have made zillions of banana breads. i will add chocolate chips, though, along with chopped/crushed pistachios, and a touch of “chai spice’. have done this before with similar recipes, and it tasted great.
That sounds like a wonderful flavor combination. The chai spice, pistachios, and chocolate chips will be a delicious addition to the bread.
Used this recipe, but it ended up with caramelized crust and the inside seemed raw, yet didn’t stick to the toothpick. I don’t know if “undercooked” is the right word to describe. It’s just a little more gooey than a normal banana bread, doesn’t look like the original. Maybe I did something wrong?
It sounds like the oven may have been running a bit hot, which cooks the outside faster than the inside. Next time, you can tent it loosely with foil if it is browning too quickly. Also, ensure your bananas are measured accurately, as extra moisture can make the texture a bit gooey.
Second time making this with semi sweet chocolate chips. Turns out amazing.
That’s another great add-in; this is our favorite banana bread recipe.
Made this three times now and this is the best banana bread ever!
We make this so often. It’s a family favorite in our kitchen.
Have made this countless times now, I’ve also added mini chocolate chips into the batter as well as added them on top of the loaf and sprinkled a little sea salt to top the chocolate and people LOVE it!
That sounds wonderful! I’m sure it was great.
First time making this bread with no nuts and a mix of dark chocolate and milk chocolate chips, and it turned out a little burnt and dry around 30 minutes on 340.F It was cooked thoroughly all the way through. Our gas oven runs hot, so I wasn’t too surprized. Thank you for the great new base recipe!
Have made this recipe a dozen times! Thank you! We make loaves, muffins, and mini-versions with this recipe!
Making this a dozen times is the ultimate compliment. I love that you have adapted it into muffins and mini-versions too. Thank you so much for being a loyal reader and for sharing your wonderful feedback.
How long and what temp do you do muffins?
Hi Shawn! See my Banana Muffin Recipe here for baking instructions.
Love your banana bread recipe! So moist with walnuts and chocolate chips! I made your zucchini bread, too, using your recipe. Also delicious! Especially with zucchini in season right now.
Hi Ruby! I’m so glad you loved the zucchini bread too; it really is the perfect way to use up that fresh summer zucchini. Thank you for the sweet feedback!
Question: can I use a 9×9 pan in place of the loaf pan?
Hi Karen! A 9×9 pan will work, but the banana bread will be thinner and will bake faster than in a loaf pan. I recommend to start checking for doneness about 10–15 minutes earlier, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Hope you love the banana bread!
Can I use brown sugar instead of granulated sugar?
For brown sugar, here’s what one of my readers wrote trying brown sugar “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!” I hope this helps.
Literally the BEST banana bread I’ve ever had. I left out the raisins and walnuts and added chocolate chips (measured with the heart)
Thank you for your great feedback! I”m happy that you enjoyed the banana bread a lot.
Absolutely delicious!!! I am making a second loaf tonight with the rest of the bananas.
I’m so glad you loved it, Nicole!
My baking soda is on its last legs. It’s probably inactive, so I was worried about my Banana Bread. Even so, it is DELICIOUS!
I’m so glad it worked out, Kathy!
I have tried a lot of banana bread recipes and this one is definitely the best!!!
Wow, that is the ultimate compliment, Ruth! With so many banana bread recipes out there, I’m honored that this one is your favorite. Thank you!
The absolute best banana bread recipe I have tried! Keeping this in my recipes for the future. I made 2 loaves for my coworkers, one with chocolate chips & the other with cinnamon sugar. I can’t wait to get their reactions! Thanks!
Awesome! That’s kind of you to share the banana bread with your coworkers. I hope they love it too!
Hi! I only have salted butter. Can I use salted butter and leave something out?
Hi Keren, yes, you can use salted butter and omit the salt in the recipe.
Thank you for a perfect recipe. My son wanted banana bread for his birthday dessert. I made three loaves and hoped they would turn out for our guests. (I have a bad track record for breads) I was thrilled with how easy the recipe was and baked perfectly!
Great to hear that it was a huge hit! Thank you for sharing and I hope your son had a wonderful birthday celebration!
Is the bread supposed to be super dense?? Mine came out weighing about 40lbs
Hi Jon, I’m sorry that happened – that’s a bummer. It’s definitely not supposed to be dense. It’s moist and has a pleasant and tender crumb. You might check that your leavening is not expired and that your oven is heating properly.
One of the best banana breads I’ve ever made. Also 2nd time I added a little honey and chocolate chips. Didn’t hurt a thing lol
Great to hear that you enjoyed it!
I only have a glass pyrex loaf pan. Should i use different temperature? Will amount of time to bake change?
Hi MJ! With glass pans, it’s recommended to decrease the temp by 25 degrees. Keep an eye on it in the oven, it usually takes a little longer to bake through.