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.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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.
HI, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS WITH FIGS, HOW MANY CUPS ( FIGS COOKED AND CREAMED) WOULD I USE TO REPLACE THE BANANAS, THANKS
Hi Maureen, I haven’t tested that with figs to advise. If you experiment, please let me know how you like that.
Hi Natasha! My banana bread comes out great and moist, very light actually. However it falls apart easily when I slice into it. I want it to be able to hold its shape somehow.. (my only tweak is creaming the butter and sugar for at least 3mins + adding chocolate)
Could I be adding too much air? How could I fix this? Thank you!
Hi Rex, I’m not sure what you mean by + adding chocolate. We do have a chocolate chip banana bread recipe if that helps. It definitely helps to let it rest and cool to room temperature before slicing. If you slice while the bread is still warm, it will be much softer and tend to fall apart.
Gotta be honest – during these rough times you and the way how you present your recipes inspired me to start enjoying baking and cooking too. Love all your dessert and chicken-based recipes! Accessible ingredients, easy to make, and of course – mega tasty! Thank you Natasha!!!
P.S. Just one question here, could we somehow replace baking soda with baking powder? Thanks!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying our recipes! Baking powder is a leavening agent that adds rising power to ingredients. Baking soda is 4 times stronger than baking powder so if you do substitute you would need to make the appropriate adjustments.
Can we double this recipe? Thank you
Hi Anjum, you can definitely double this recipe! I hope you love it!
Would you repost your recipe for vanilla cupcakes? I missed it the last time. Thanks
Hi Robert, you can find it on our blog HERE.
Do you think I can double this recipe and make it in a Bundt pan?
Hi Anjum, I haven’t tried it in a bundt pan but one of my readers shared this. I hope it helps! “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:)”
Can replace with self raising flour ?
Hi May, I haven’t tested that but here is what one of our readers wrote ” I’ve just made this and couldn’t wait for it to cool to have a slice, it is lovely and light. I wasn’t sure what all-purpose flour was so I used self-raising flour and it is perfect, thank you for the recipe.” I hope that helps.
Thank you for this incredible banana bread recipe! You are my go to site anytime I head to the kitchen to make food for my three kids and husband. They have been surprised it’s me in the kitchen! Thank you Natasha!
You’re welcome! Thank you for your great feedback, I appreciate it!
Natasha, if I could grade you even higher, I would. I am no baker and I never thought that I could bake anything that anyone would like, let alone, love. This is the easiest, most delicious and most bagged about recipe that I have ever made. I have done it twice and Im working on my third time today. The first time I used very ripe bananas, because it was all that I had and the bread came out really good. The second time I used not so ripe, but just ripe enough banana (with spots) and the really did the job. It was amazing. I followed the instructions once more on the second, but this time also added cranberries and my husband couldn’t get enough. He cant seem to get enough and is on the weekly basis requesting that I make more. So with that said Natasha, THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this amazing recipe with all. Cant wait to try some other of your recipes.
Wow! Thank you for that wonderful review! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
YUMMY! Excellent banana bread recipe! I’ve made it with/without nuts, with/without raisens, with/without dark chocolate chips, & mixed combos. Doesn’t matter what combo you use or simply banana bread. This recipe comes out so moist & tastey! First time was hot banana bread breakfast, umm, I ate it all while sipping tea watching the birds in the bird bath. Before I knew it-I ate the whole thing! Thank you!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Best banana bread Thank you Natasha
I’m so glad you enjoyed that! Thank you for sharing that great review with us!
Hello Natasha! I tried the banana bread; the taste was awesome but it was a little soggy on the middle top. What could have caused it? I did not use raisins and walnuts
Hi Sherry, I have not had that experience. Did you possibly use too many bananas? This post on measuring may help your dry ingredient measurements.
Bake it 5-6 minutes longer.
Before trying this recipe, I had tried out 4 miserable banana bread recipes. I wasnt expecting much from this try. But pleasantly surprised how amazing this bread turned out!!! Except being a little crumbly the bread was out of the world.
That is so awesome, thanks for your great review!
I made this recipe but had planned on using almond flour instead and coconut sugar since I previously bought it ! I couldn’t find almond flour at the store so purchased coconut flour . My bananas were ripe and great to use but bread did not rise well . What do you think ? Does lack of baking powder have anything to do with it ? Haven’t tasted it yet either.
Hi Linda, I haven’t experimented with gluten-free flour/ coconut flour so can’t make a recommendation or suggestion. That may be the culprit.
Hi Natasha, can you please tell me size of cup used for measurement? Planning to prepare it.
Tried with the cup size I had and came out nice and moist. Thank you. Best Banana bread ever.
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed that!
Hi Jyothi, we used a measuring cup. We have this post on measuring that may be helpful to you.
You are not kidding. I’ve been baking a lot during this pandemic and tried quite a few banana bread recipes. My family has voted this hands down the best! It is seriously delicious and never fails. Moist and amazing. Thanks from the Stern family
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Lisa!
Shouldn’t you use a liquid like oil or butter milk or something I’ll just make a very dry cake
Hi Mary, I haven’t had it come out dry following the recipe. The bananas, eggs, and vanilla do the trick.
I tried today and it is so good – soft and moist!
So great to hear your feedback, Nettie. Thank you so much!
Hi Natasha,
Thank you for all your recipes .
I try 2 recipes it taste so good.we love it and I’ve gonna try more ,may be next time ,your chocolate cake . Thank you,Doll
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you’re enjoying our recipes Dolly!
Love it!!! Very recommend!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
Hi Natasha..Tried this recipe and it came out perfectly well and my family just loved the came. Thank u so much for this recipe! Love to try more of ur recipes 😊
Thank you for sharing that with us, Lola. I hope you love every recipe that you try!