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.
Hi Natasha….the altitude where my wife and I live is 6800 ft. Do we need to change or add anything to your recipe?
Hi Steve, You might google to see what modifications need to be made for your altitude. I hope that helps.
Made it many times, shared with colleagues in the office and they all liked it…Thanks
I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
So if I eat the entire bread, is that over 3000 calories? Just double checking before I pack on too much during the holidays.
Hi Rocio that is correct. Your comment made me laugh. You should avoid eating the entire bread.
Hi. Well I really enjoyed making this and it was easy to follow with your instructions. I just felt it turned out really too moist and maybe a bit gooey. Even though the taste was great and my family loved it. I’m thinking maybe I mixed it too much before transferring to baking tray..?
Hi Jamilah, this post on measuring may help your ingredient measurements. If you’re scooping your ingredient incorrectly that may be the culprit.
Made banana bread this morning and it came out delicious. Thank you for easy and great recipes.
So lovely to her that, Tina. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I made this recipe last night. It was absolutely the best recipe I have ever found for Banana Nut Bread. Had a great shape and my husband agreed it was the best ever! Thanks and Merry Christmas!
That is so nice to know, thank you so much for your wonderful comments and feedback!
DElish!
I had very small bananas so I used 5. Added 1/2 t cinnamon. Omitted raisins. Baked for 64 minutes. Perrrrfect.
Awesome, thanks for your awesome feedback, Al!
Natasha, I have tried several recipes and nothing compares with my exwifes recipe. However yours is the closes
I’m sure her recipe is awesome too!
Natasha, can I use salted butter? I have three packages of salted butter but no unsalted. ☹ if so how much should I cut back on the salt? Thanks
Hi Silvia, you could use salted butter and omit the salt in the recipe.
Hello,
Made this banana bread today. It was delicious and very moist my family loved it. I did substitute honey for the sugar and loved it. Never tried substituting with honey. I liked the flavour it added. Thank you to you and your sister Anna.😋😊
You’re welcome, Linda! I’m glad that worked out for you! Thank you for sharing that with me!
I followed this recipe to a tee-minus raisins, and followed along to the video..it rose high in the center, cracked widely and wouldn’t set. I cooked it 65 minutes to get the center to set, but it didn’t and the rest is nearly burnt. Not sure how this could happen as I followed you step by step via video and recipe? I do not live in a high climate and I have a newer model stove? Also all of my ingredients were brand new except the 4 day old bananas
Hi Kelly, do you live in a high altitude area? You might google to see what modifications need to be made for your altitude. I hope that helps.
Sounds like what happens when I use a ceramic loaf pan. I threw mine out. Pretty, but worthless.
Hey Kelly, I just made the banana bread and I had some pretty big cracks starting to form around 40 minutes. As soon as it was nice and brown, maybe another 5 mins I covered it with tin foil for the remaining 15-20 minutes and it came out just perfect. I also cooked it on a layer of parchment paper which may have helped with the heat level. I also have a newish stove and I live in normal altitude and it set just fine for me. I should add, I did not use raisins, I used 1/4th a cup of brown sugar sub white and I added 1 tbsp of sour cream to mine in a wilton large loaf pan. Hope some of this might help!
Hi Natasha. Can I half the recipe? Do I still follow the same time and temperature?
Hi Cheryl, I imagine that should work.
Can this recipe be doubled? Always enjoy your videos. Thank you.
jas
Hi Jas, I hope you love this recipe! If you doubled it into one pan then it may require more bake time.
Hi Natasha,
Made your lovely banana loaf yesterday and it turned out beautifully. Hubby loves it so looks like this is going to be a regular bake. Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Caroline!
Hi Natasha
I made the Banana bread ,I had to use gluten free flour (one to one flour ) it hasn’t rised enough. I have this problem with all the cakes ! Any tips ?
Thanks ! Loveeee your recipes.
Hi Shery, someone shared this “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.”
I love banana bread & especially with anything crunchy in 😁 Thank you for your recipe I really enjoyed making it my self. I added dried cranberries instead of raisins it was delicious 😋 Thank you again for your recipe!!!
You’re welcome, Nilsa! I’m so glad you enjoeyd this recipe!
The best banana recipe ever! Super easy and a hit in every family gathering! Thanks Natasha.
I love to add a hint of cinnamon for a special umf 🙂
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed it, Yesenia!
Hi, I added dried cranberries instead of the raisins. Baked in 3 mini-pans for gift giving.
Sounds good, Linda. I hope you loved it!
I have to watch my carbs like most of your recipes they don’t have a serving size 🙁
Hi Michael, when at the recipe, click on Jump to recipe and you will see the nutrition info in the recipe card. Our new recipes have that already.
It does say on top that it feeds 10. So 1/10 would be the serving size.
I freeze my peeled overripe bananas in a ziplock baggie. I freeze three to a bag, mashing them as I put them in the bag with my fingers, since that’s what the recipe calls for. Very easy to stack flat in the freezer and ready to defrost when I’m ready to bake.
Thank you for sharing that tip with us!