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.
I’m a beginner in baking. I tried banana bread using full atta and brown sugar. It came out really well and my son and hubby enjoyed a lot. Thank u for such a great recipe
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you both enjoyed that!
I just made this and the only change I made was adding 2 more medium sized bananas. I put it into a greased (with butter) muffin tin and made muffins instead , cooked them for 20 minutes and they are AMAZING !! So moist and delicious! Bookmarking this recipe , it is now going to be my go to! It’s to bad I cant upload a photo to share !
I’m’ so happy you enjoyed this recipe, Angelica!
Hi Natasha,
Susan From JHB South Africa thank you so much for this and all your easy and cost effective recipes it helps when you are feeding teenagers any other lunch box tips will be great. Thanks
You’re most welcome, Susan. Thanks for your suggestion too, I’ll take note of it!
Me and my daughter make banana cake very often. Ur recipe is perfect and it comes out excellent every time we make it👍🏻👍🏻
That is so great! Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
Hi. Tried your recipe and it came our so well. I replaced walnut with peanuts though. Walnuts are not common here. Soft and nice .
Sounds great, Joan! Yes, it will be delicious using other types of peanuts too.
Hi Natasha. I absolutely loved this recipe. The banana bread was super moist and soft and just sweet enough. The only issue I had was when I tried to cut the loaf into slices it was crumbling. Any reason why this could be happening? I’ve just recently started baking so not sure how I can fix that for the next time.
Hi Tara, sometimes if you cut it while it’s still warm, it can seem more crumbly since it is more moist.
I really loved your recipes! I almost saved all of your recipes in my youtube account. I just tried this Banana recipe of yours 3months ago and my husband loves it! Thank you for sharing your best recipes, please keep doing it!
Godbless your family!
You’re welcome Mye! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Hi Natasha! I ran out of honey, and substituted it with maple syrup! It turned out great, just had a slightly darker color. By the way, my parents and I love your recipes! Thank you
I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Hi Natasha. I ran out of butter, can I substitute for vegetable oil instead?
Thank you
Hi Sue, I haven’t experimented with anything else, but one of my readers wrote in with the following helpful review: “The bread turns out rich and moist and wonderful!!! I have tweaked it a bit (as all bakers do) by using virgin coconut oil instead of butter, and using 1/2 cup of white sugar & 1/2 cup brown sugar in place of just white… Finally, I use milk chocolate chips instead of raisins or nuts. It is to die for!!!!” I hope this is helpful.
Plz suggest how to make this banana bread recipe without egg.
Hi Rahul, I haven’t tested this but one of my readers wrote: “Ground flaxseed and water is an egg substitute. I think it is 1 Tablespoon of flaxseed mixed with 3 Tablespoons of water is the equivalent of one egg. You may want to do an internet search for more information.” I hope that helps.
Absolutely delicious! I made it exactly as written and my husband and two grown boys became weak in the knees and said it was the best banana bread EVER! My bananas skins were totally black on the outside and the bananas inside were at the absolute peak of sweetness. Next time I’ll make many loaves and freeze them. Thanks Natasha! Well done!
You’re welcome, Rill! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!
Hi Natasha, love your recipes …I would like to know if I do not add the walnuts and raisins, does it stay the same? or, I would need to add more sugar , flour? Thanks !!
Hi Patricia, it will still work without them but we love the texture they add!
Hello,
Did you forget to add liquid like water or milk to make the banana bread?
Hi May, this recipe doesn’t require any more moisture than what’s already in the ingredient list.
I just finished writing this recipe down on my recipe book. This is seriously the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever tried! So moist and tasty. I don’t think I’ll ever need to search for another recipe ever again, I’ll just came back to this one 🙂
Super love it! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with us! I think this will become a favorite for you!
I love banana nut bread
It’s one of my favorites
But do to diet limitations I only can used gluten free flour and sugar substitute. So I did change those 2 ingredients and let me tell you no one could notice the difference. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
That’s just awesome! I’m so glad to hear this worked with gluten-free substitutions!
I just baked your cake, so very good, i added some chocolate chips…just to let you know, i,m from Azores, Portugal, very far..
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Delia!
I made this today and WOW! Very yummy! I added 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips instead of raisins and also some cinnamon. Definitely going to write this recipe down and keep it in my recipe box. Thanks!
So glad to hear that, Mallory! I hope you love every recipe that you will try.
I love the recipe as a new baker. My only problem is that it keeps splitting at the top.
Thanks,
I’m so happy you enjoyed that! The cracking is normal and expected in banana bread.
Natasha wd like to know if both roda of the oven have to be put on for baking bread ! Your recipes are amazing however please guide about the mode both rods on as very new to baking ! Love your recipes a lotttt!
Hi Geeta, I’m not sure what you mean by rods, but be sure to bake in regular conventional oven mode (not convection).
so i started baking and i first baked this banana bread. my family loved it so much! thanks for your recipes, i enjoyed baking so much.
So great to hear that, Hannah! Thanks for sharing that with us.