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.
May I know how to keep the banana cake moist? Because my cake dries out
Hi Sq, I haven’t had it come out dry following the recipe. The bananas, eggs, and vanilla do the trick.
Are you talking about after it’s baked to store it to keep it moist? I’m sure just an air tight container or wrapped in tinfoil. When I warm mine I always put a damp paper towel over it in the microwave at 15 sec intervals.
The banana loaf has just come out of the oven. Smells and looks delicious. Waiting for it to cool. First time I’ve tried this recipe and sooo looking forward to a taster. Thank you.
I bet your home smells AMAZING! I hope you love this recipe!
I made this today and it was a hit with my family! I used Pamela’s gluten free all-purpose flour, replacing 1 tbsp of flour with ground flax. I replaced the sugar with coconut sugar and reduced the sugar to 1/2 cup, since I used overripe bananas. I divided the batter between two 4×8 loaf pans and baked for about 50 minutes. Forgot to toast the walnuts but it still came out amazing!
The texture was super soft, no one could tell it was gluten free! I know we’ll be making this banana bread for years to come. Thank you for the incredible recipe.
hank you for sharing that wonderful review with us Brynn!
I recently lost all my treasured recipes and in looking for a new banana nut bread recipe came across this one. It is a fabulously delicious recipe. Highly recommend. I did alter it a bit by splitting the sugar between white and dark brown and adding cinnamon.
Hey GM, great to hear that you loved this banana bread recipe. I hope you love every recipe that you try!
Great recipe! So many times I have tried to make a great banana bread, with no good results, but your recipe changed everything! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
So great to hear that, Erika. Thank you for your excellent feedback!
BEST BANANA BREAD EVER!!!! thanks a lot Natasha
You’re welcome Amirah! Thank you for that great review!
it came out beautiful and moist, thanks for share
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
Thanks a lot Natasha for this wonderfully moist and delicious banana bread recipe my family loves it!!! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes
You’re welcome! I hope you and your family will love every recipe that you try.
Thank you for sharing all these wonderful recipes
I love your recipes, very easy follow.
Thank you!
hi Natasha!!! love all your recipes so simple and easy to make and of course super delicious. Gonna try making this recipe today will let you know how it comes:)
I hooe hope you like it! Please let us know how it goes.
Hi,found your channel so interesting and helpful. Tried the banana bread following the recipe, my outcome looks more like a banana cake than bread.It was however sweet, soft and very nice but one would think more of banana cake than bread
Hi, It is a very moist bread and not like regular sliced bread, but that is how it is supposed to be. I’m so glad you enjoyed the banana bread!
I made your banana bread recipe with raisins and walnuts and it is the best I’ve ever had. So moist and delicious! Everyday the flavors get even better.
Love watching you create these wonderful Recipes! Best to you and your family! Stay safe.
Thank you,
Linda
Logan, Utah
Aww that’s the best Linda! Thank you so much for that awesome review!
Hi Natasha I have made the banana cake at least 10 times now and it is now our weekend treat! we just love it. Thank you
Sounds like you found a new favorite! That’s so great!
what would the bake time be as well as the temp for mini loaves?
Hi Geraldine, I haven’t tested that and I bet that could work! You will need to adjust the bake time.
If I don’t have baking soda, what can I use as substitute? Thanks.
Hi Cynthia, I haven’t tested this but baking powder may be an alternative. Just remember baking soda is 4 times stronger than baking powder.
I have always made banana muffins using raisins and walnuts or replacing raisins with crasins. I want to try your recipe but in mini loaf pans. what would be the changes in temps and baking time? I love your recipies by the way! My family went nuts for your chocolate cake and strawberry one also!
Hi Geraldine, I have not tested this in a mini loaf. It is possible but you will need to adjust the bake times.
OK so I made the mini loaves. With one recipe of banana bread, it makes 5 mini loaves! I filled 3/4 of the pans and lowered the temperature to 325. I baked for 25 minutes. ( start checking it at 25, if not quite done, check every 5 minutes) They came out moist and delish! Hubby loved them as did I! Thank you again. On to Pumpkin now.lol
That’s just awesome! I bet our readers will find this helpful! Thank you for sharing that with us Geraldine!
can this be switched to muffins? I make so many of your recipes and am always pleased…keep up the good work.
Hi Dorothy, I haven’t tried making this in muffins yet, I imagine that should be okay however I cannot advise you of any changes in measurements since I haven’t tested it yet. If you want to do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
This recipe is so great, I was skeptical about it being moist but oh my goodness my loaf has a crunchy outer layer and the most mouth melting inside layer
I’m so happy you liked that Dorian!
Hi Natasha, always bake you banana recipe, my family loves it.
Thank you so much for your great feedback!
Hi natasha ! this recipe is our family favorite however once i replaced sugar with honey and it was very moist … and soggy type. Pls give some healthy alternatives to white sugar and some tips to perfect it … thanks alot
Hi Namrita, I’ve had a couple of readers report using honey as a substitute with success, however, none provided details. I’m curious if there was too much of it used?