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

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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.

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 6214 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 6214 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Barbara Peek
    April 20, 2020

    Love, love, love your recipes and the humor you bring to preparing each recipe! Can I substitute applesauce in place of the sugar in the banana bread recipe, and how much? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 20, 2020

      Hi Barbara, I haven’t tried substituting with applesauce to advise. If you experiment please let me know how you like that.

      Reply

  • Heather
    April 20, 2020

    I made this amazing banana bread last week and have requests to make MORE!

    It’s delicious.
    Thank you Natasha.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 20, 2020

      You’re so welcome Heather. Thanks for giving this recipe a try and for the great feedback!

      Reply

  • ilhem
    April 19, 2020

    i did it yesterday it was so yummy thank you for the recipe

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 19, 2020

      You’re welcome! So glad you enjoyed this recipe.

      Reply

  • Gail
    April 19, 2020

    Love,love,love watching you create amazing food dishes…
    This Banana bread is great !!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 19, 2020

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the banana bread and our other recipes. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

  • Claudia
    April 18, 2020

    Yes, I did it and it was spectacular!!! Thank you ❤️

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 19, 2020

      Yay so happy to know that, Claudia. Thanks for your great feedback!

      Reply

  • Fran Levien
    April 18, 2020

    This is my go to Banana Bread! Tried multiply recipes but this one is a keeper and freezes very well too.
    ENJOY!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 18, 2020

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a favorite!

      Reply

  • Vickey Henson
    April 18, 2020

    Can I omit the bananas and make apple nut bread using this recipe?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 18, 2020

      Hi Vickey, I have not tested that with apples, I recommend reading through the comments but I wouldn’t be able to advise.

      Reply

      • fatima
        April 20, 2020

        I just made this today and it was amazing. It was simple, easy, and delicious!

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          April 20, 2020

          I’m so glad you enjoyed that Fatima!

          Reply

  • Karen
    April 18, 2020

    I made this and took it to work and everybody raved. One of the doctors said. It was the closest thing to his grandmother’s that he had ever tasted!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 18, 2020

      Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m all smiles!

      Reply

    • Robin
      April 27, 2020

      Flavor was great it came out dry. Not sure why – was on point with all measurements except maybe banana because it was already mashed and I had to guess equivalent. May add sour cream or a touch of oil next time. (Baked in aluminum pan for 55 min)

      Reply

      • Natasha
        April 27, 2020

        Hi Robin, if using fewer bananas, it won’t be as moist so that may be the culprit. Also, it could also have been the aluminum pans which might have needed less baking time.

        Reply

  • Eunice L.Carter
    April 18, 2020

    Just made this and I used dried cranberries instead of raisins, sadly I burned the chopped walnuts, so I used pecans instead. It is moist and delicious! Thanks Natasha and hubby!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 18, 2020

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Roxanne
    April 17, 2020

    Natasha, thank you for this recipe. First time I tried my hand at banana bread and it was a success, totally delicious!! The toasted walnuts and raisins were excellent in this recipe. I will be baking again this weekend. Hats off to you and your hussie.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 17, 2020

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Sarah
    April 15, 2020

    I tried this last night and it was so good. Thank you, Natasha, for helping me learn to cook for my family!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 15, 2020

      Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me! I’m all smiles, Sarah!

      Reply

  • Kymber
    April 15, 2020

    Can I add a little sour cream to this recipe? If so, how much?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 15, 2020

      Hi Kymber, that should work! Here is what one of our readers shared with us “Every one of your recipes that I have tried is pretty amazing! Just made 3 portions of this banana bread and plan on freezing 2. I just add 1/4c. sour cream thinking it will be even more moist. Thank you for many yummy ideas!

      Reply

  • maria
    April 13, 2020

    what can I replace the raisins with

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 13, 2020

      You can omit the raisins, Maria or replace it with some chocolate.

      Reply

      • Kim Corcoran
        April 18, 2020

        I’ve done it with dried cranberries, and once with chopped up dried apricots. Hey, dates would be good too!! 🙂

        Reply

        • Natasha's Kitchen
          April 19, 2020

          Yeah I’m sure! That’s what I love about this recipe, you can try making it different each time.

          Reply

  • bahman
    April 12, 2020

    Hello.i kooked banana nut this afternoon.it was very good.thanks

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 12, 2020

      So great to hear that!

      Reply

  • Sakshi
    April 12, 2020

    Can you please also include some eggless receipe. Or mention some substitutes for eggs.
    It would be very much appreciated.
    Thanks.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 12, 2020

      Thanks for your suggestion!

      Reply

    • Michelle
      April 22, 2020

      Applesauce is a substitute for eggs 🙂
      If a recipe calls for 2 eggs, use 1/2 cup of applesauce. If the applesauce is sweetened, simply reduce the sugar in the recipe.

      Reply

    • Beverly
      April 27, 2020

      You can replace eggs in any recipe with Chia seeds. I put chia seeds into a sm bowl and add H2O. It can take 15 – 20 mins for the seeds to make a gelatinous substitute for eggs, I just use about the same amount of liquid that eggs would contribute to the recipe. You could investigate further on vegan sites.

      Reply

  • Elizabeth
    April 12, 2020

    Could you use margarine instead of butter? I have made this with this recipe but I am out of butter but don’t want to make it with margarine unless I know it will work.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 12, 2020

      Hello Elizabeth, sorry but I haven’t tried using margarine yet to advise. If you want to experiment, please share with us how it goes.

      Reply

  • Becky
    April 12, 2020

    I used 2 cups of walnuts and no raisins. Absolutely delicious.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 13, 2020

      Awesome! Thank you for sharing and for your excellent review, Becky.

      Reply

  • Ruchira
    April 12, 2020

    Hi. What can I use as substitute for unsalted butter?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 12, 2020

      Hi you could use salted butter and just omit the salt in the recipe.

      Reply

  • Yvette
    April 11, 2020

    It came out amazing and so moist. It was so easy to make. My family loved it , definitely doing it again. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      April 12, 2020

      So great to hear that you loved this recipe, Yvette! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Violetta
    April 11, 2020

    Its awesome! Simple and yummy. Everybody loved it!

    Reply

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