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 make it all the time! Never fails! Right now, I have two loaves in the oven. Today I added both walnuts and raisins. Can’t wait! A useful tip, when your bananas start getting brown, peel them and freeze them in ziplock bags. They will be ready for your banana bread craving in a jiffy!
Thank you for sharing that tip with us, Irene.
First time making it and its delicious!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I give 5 STARS !!!!
Thank you for that wonderful review, Rita!
Hello Natasha, I am Rita Yesterday I tried a banana bread I change a little your recipe instead sugar 3/4 I just put 2 tablespoon because banana is sweet and instead of raisins I put a cranberry It’s was SOOO Yummy , thank you its very easy recipes and I love it!!! You are The Best!!!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Rita!
It was my best banana bread ever 😊 thanks a lot for this recipe
You’re welcome Juhi! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Made this yesterday. I added a variety of nuts and coconut flakes. I used 1/2 cup of sugar and used some oil too but cut down a little on butter.Just love it. Turned out to be soft ,moist, light with a crunch. So good. Thanks for sharing the recipe
You are most welcome, Doli. Thank you so much for sharing that with us!
Natasha, this was the moistest banana bread ever. I used 4 bananas and added (2) tsp of Banana Extract along with extra crushed walnuts.
I also used a popover pan to make muffins instead of a loaf and they were incredible.
This is the best ever for super moist banana bread
Thanks again for sharing
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Thank you Natasha for this wonderful recipe! I made some adjustments: replaced 10g of flour with cacao powder, used 100g of sugar instead of full 150g as the recipe calls for, added raisins only (as I don’t have any walnuts), and used round mold instead of bread pan. And I baked with airfryer (155°C in 60 minutes), and the final result: the bread is super tasty and moist! Absolutely the BEST banana bread I’ve made! Thank you again for sharing this recipe.
Yay, that is so fantastic! Thank you too for sharing the adjustments that you’ve done for this recipe. So helpful!
Hi Natashas,
I have baked this 2X and it was perfect!!
Any changes to taste and texture if I split this into small loafs?
Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving…
I bet this could work as mini loaves! I do recommend watching your bake time closely, as it will require less time for smaller loaves.
The recipe I use for banana bread has sour cream in it. People would tell me it was the best one they ever had.
Just made this and it was delicious! I used the whole wheat flour and added a 1/2 tsp of cinnamon. Sooo good!
Sounds awesome, Leigh. Thank you and I’m glad you loved it!
This banana recipe is a keeper. I over cooked it but still super moist
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Sylvia!
YUM YUM. Made this today. Delicious, & hubby approved :). Made pretty much as written except I left out the nuts, used 1/2c white sugar, 1/4 C brown sugar, and put Pumpkin Pie spice (generous 1/2 tsp) & about 1/4 tsp of ground ginger into the flour mixture. Had 2 very rip bananas & lol, I have no idea how many bananas were in my bag of frozen bananas (prob 1 1/2 or 2). Thawed those & drained & proceeded as the recipe said. I put batter into 2 foil mini loaf pans for 50 on recipe (the last 15 mins I laid foil over top as it was very brown but not done in middle yet. Will make again. Very moist & got nice and brown and very tasty. TY
Glad you loved this recipe, Susan, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us!
I just to let me know that I just took it out and we cut it when it cooled I cut us a slice (we could hardly wait. My Husband said that a keeper.Thanks do some wonderful recipes.
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You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Sue!
Has anyone tried making this with almond flour?
Hi Tracy, I haven’t tried this with almond flour yet, but it might work. It doesn’t look like anyone else commenting tried it. If you experiment, please let me know how you like it.
I used about a quarter cup of almond flour and 1 and a quarter cup regular all purpose flour. It was very good.
Hi Natasha! 🙂 Can I add some rum to this? How much will be appropriate? Thank you!
Hello Ella, I haven’t tried that yet to advise. If you will do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Thank you for the recipe! I goofed it up a bit but it came out delicious! I had 2 1/2 very ripe bananas (1/2 was gross so threw it away), I mixed the bananas with the butter and the eggs, it didn’t want to blend so I beat it with my hand mixer. Then beat the dry ingredients with the wet until very well blended, then hand mixed in the crushed walnuts. Couldn’t find my loaf pan so I used a round cake pan. Sprinkled more crushed walnuts on top and a tablespoon of sugar. Baked at 350, checked it at 35 min, it was done! Perfect and so yummy! I guess it baked faster because it had less bananas?
Yes could be it. Thanks for sharing your experience making this recipe, Amie. I am happy that you enjoyed it!
Everyone touts their recipe as “the best”…however, this one is the best I’ve tried so far. It’s easy and delicious and has definitely moist! I did have to do some alterations due to 1) I have a severe allergy to casein – which is the protein in dairy, so I cannot use butter/cream/milk/etc. 2) I had 3 very ripe bananas ready to go into bread until our 17 year old ate one! Who knew he liked more ripe bananas? haha! So, my slight alterations are as follows: in lieu of butter, I used coconut oil; because I was short a banana, I used half of a ripe avocado I happened to have on hand from yesterday. I also ommitted the raisins as the 17 yr old hates raisins. Since I used avocado, I decided to add 1/2 cup of brown sugar. Normally, I like to test recipes just as they are written – but even with my slight alterations, this recipe is hands down the best I’ve tried! I will definitely use this as go-to, and considering half the bread is already gone, I may need to make another one before the weekend! Thank you for an excellent recipe!
Hello Diem, thank you so much for your kind words and awesome feedback. We appreciate it and I hope you will love all the recipe that you will try.
Hello Diem, thank you so much for your kind words and awesome feedback. We appreciate it and I hope you will love all the recipes that you will try.
Ok, I totally Frankenstein’d your recipe but had amazing results! I substituted the 3/4 sugar for 1 cup dark brown sugar. I also added a dash of lemon extract, cinnamon, ginger,and nut meg. Instead of making a loaf I made 6 muffin baked for aprox 30 mins.i also tossed a bit of brown sugar on top before I baked
I’m happy you enjoyed that! Thank you.
Now my go to banana loaf recipe. Sooo delicious
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!