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 you please tell me whether its a salted or unsalted butter?!
Unsalted. We always is unsalted unless I say otherwise. Great question!
Sorry… im new to baking.. so didnt know certain basics.. so asked you.. im going to tryout this recipe tomo.. hope it turns out well
I have made this banana bread 3 times in the last week! Needless to say, it’s a success! This recipe makes it so moist and heavenly. I even tried it with chocolate chips and that came out delicious as well 🙂
That’s fantastic! Thanks for the great review Regina 🙂
Just wanted to say this Banana Bread is so delicious!!!! Our whole family loves it!! I bake it very often!!! Just one question,what difference does it make with roasted walnuts? I always add them just as is! And also do u crush ur walnuts into little pieces or jus add them as they are?
Roasting them enhances their flavor. They are usually coarsely chopped 🙂 I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe!
When I make my banana bread I mix in the flour at the very end using a folding motion, being careful not to over mix it. I bake it at 325 degrees for an hour and 20-25 minutes. It turns our fluffy, moist and doubles in size! I also hand mix all the other ingredients as well and I think this is the secret for the best banana bread.
Thank you so much for sharing that tip! We will have to put it into practice next time. I’ll pass your comment along to my hubby! 🙂
This bread looks super delicious n i wanna try it,but one question what size of bread loaf are u using since there are several sizes of bread loaf pans in the store!! Thanks!
It is a 5″ by 9″ bread pan 🙂
Hi, did you ever measure the amount of mashed banana? Since bananas vary in size..
I believe it’s maybe two cups. I never measured exactly, but it doesn’t have to be precise. Just use medium/average sized bananas.
3 bananas usually equals about 1 cup imo
Made this many times and always delicious! Thanks!
Thanks so much for a great review! I’ll tell my husband you loved it 🙂
I have made about three batches of this (notice I said batches.). It is really good. My boys were impressed that a guy came up with the recipe. I have to make batches because it disappears so quickly around here. I have to guard it. Thanks for another great recipe!!
I’m so glad it’s popular in your household 🙂 You have to guard it huh? lol. Thanks for an awesome review! 🙂
Hey Natasha,
Thanks for this AWESOME recipe. I had 4 ripe bananas at home and so tried it out today and everyone at home just loved it. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
My daughter has a stomach upset today and I would like to save a piece for her before it all disappears. Can I store it in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Thanks for the great review Mignonne :). Store leftovers in the fridge, and I hope your daughter gets well quick.
Hi Natasha!
I made the banana bread over the weekend and it turned out fantastic! We finished the whole loaf in a day! (it’s healthy right?;) ) I didn’t have raisins, so used cranberries instead, and was really happy with the results!! Thanks for sharing such an easy recipe!
Well, bananas are healthy and so are cranberries, so… the answer is pretty obvious. lol. 🙂 I’m so glad you loved it!
Such a perfect recipe! Made it today for the first time and it’s delicious 🙂 I used all-purpose flour and had to bake it for about 1h 10min, but it was perfect in the end!
Also, I used an aluminum one-time-use loaf pan, and it worked great. Might have to invest in a fancy one just for this recipe. 🙂
I’m so glad you liked it! 🙂 It is nice to have a good loaf pan! I scored a couple on a garage sale last year. So now I have 4. I told you, I’m a kitchen tool hoarder. 🙂 But the all get used and that’s how I justify it 😉
Yay!! So glad you liked it 🙂
Very easy to make and delicious! I have a regular mixer (No kitchen aid), and for some reason my butter and sugar wasn’t creaming up. Could it be the mixer? But the bread cam out fine 🙂
It might be the mixer. As long as the mixture is an even consistency it will work for this recipe. That’s what I love about this banana bread; it’s not finicky and it’s hard to mess it up 😉
hi Nataliya can use canadian flour?
Yes, you can 🙂
Natasha,
I just made this bread with a few tweeks, instead of dried fruits, I used chocolate chips and instead of walnuts, I used toasted almonds. Also added a drop of coffee imitation. Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you for posting and it’s become inspiring to try new things:)
I’m happy to be a source of inspiration! 🙂 P.S. your blog is beautiful!
I have been making you banana nut bread for a few year now. In the past two weeks my family of has eaten about 6 loafs. They are hooked, my five kiddos all under 8 years of age love it.
Ha! That’s fantastic! That’s music to my ears. 🙂 You’re awesome!
Natasha, I’m making this recipe right now!! Quick question, what size loaf pan did you use? I have a 8 x 4 one.. It doesn’t look like it will fit the whole batch. Can I fill it up full or does it need space to rise?
I think ours is a 9×5 Inch standard bread loaf pan. It needs a little space to rise. Did you measure it across the bottom of the top of the loaf pan? or does it say 8×4?
It says 8×4. I put it in already and it rose just a little past the rim so I think it will be perfect! Thanks, I can’t wait to try it!!:)
I’m sure it will be great! Ours never fills up all the way anyway 🙂
I’ve made this at least 3 times since I found this recipe 3 weeks ago. The best ever banana bread!
Woohoo!! I’m so glad you love it 🙂
Everytime I need to make banana bread-I go right over to yours,haven’t tried a better one yet! Thank you very much for the delicious recipe:)
That’s awesome! i’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Very good recipe, I made it yesterday with my kids and we ate it all 🙂 Next time I want to try it with chocolate chips out of curiosity, since I looove chocolate!!!
My husband doesn’t like chocolate chips but my brother-in-law makes the same recipe with chocolate chips and it tastes great as well :).
Great recipe! I tried many recipes and banana bread never turned out good. But this ones was perfect!!!
I have a question can I use frozen bananas?
Yes, just defrost them first. We do that often 🙂