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 love this. Thx for sharing. Easy, easy.
Hi Natasha! I just made this banana bread and it tastes amazing😋 I did notice that my batter wasn’t as thick as it was in your video so the bread was a little more moist than it was supposed to be, what should I do to make the batter thicker? :)) anyway it was so easy to make and I’ll definitely bake them again soon!❤️
Hi Sabrina, it’s hard to say without being there. I’m wondering if you used more bananas than the recipe called for?
Hi Natasha! I’ve made this the second time and it turned out perfect :)) I’m guessing I overmashed the bananas the first time so there’s more liquid which made the batter runny
Hello Sabrina, so great to hear that you loved it!
My supper stet and I love your recipes and how you present each of your videos. You are so beautiful and each recipe we have tried is a hit with our family. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. Donna Wawro
Hi Donna, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. I hope you love this banana bread and every recipe you try.
I’ve been experimenting with both savory and sweet dishes with my special Moroccan spice blend and it worked wonderfully with this moist banana bread recipe. I did use pecans because that is what I had on hand. I also included some almond meal for a little nuttier taste. Delicious!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I can see where a Moroccan spice blend would blend well with a banana bread like this.
Oh my goodness 😮 The best banana bread ever. I’ve been making banana bread forever, but it has always been too dense and dry, not this recipe. This recipe is the only one I’ll use from now on 😄
It sounds like you have a new favorite! I’m so glad you discovered our blog and this recipe, Lisa!
Hi Natasha!
Do you think this recipe would freeze well? I would love to bake and freeze it after so it saves me time. With 2 young toddlers, a school aged child, I don’t have a lot of time.
Much love from NB, Canada
Hi Suzanne, Banana Bread freezes wonderfully and still tastes great. My husband uses Food Saver bags and seals them before putting in the freezer. But freezer friendly zip lock bag would work as well.
Hi I wanted to make this gluten free. Can you substitute the flour for (gluten free flour from Trader Joes or Almond flour?
thanks
Karen
Hi Karen, one of our readers wrote:“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.”
This is my 2nd time making your banana bread. It’s in the oven now. Mmmm! Mmmm!
All your recipes are terrific and delish!
Thank you!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Thank you SO much for this recipe!! I just made it for the second time and CANNOT wait to dive in:p So delicious!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
My BF and I ate the whole thing silently!! (-:
I’m so happy to hear that! That’s pretty funny – it was so good that it went down silently – ha!
Turned out great
Hi Eva, I’m so glad you loved the banana bread!
I love your recipes. The banana bread is so good. Thank’s for sharing.
My pleasure, Antonia. Thank you for your great comments and feedback!
I made this banana bread recipe last night, I just used cinnamon and no walnuts or raisins because my uncle has a nut allergy (we didn’t have raisins either). It plopped perfectly out of the pan baked at exactly 350° for 55 mins. I’ve never cut such a perfect loaf of banana bread that I’ve made. It’s so firm but so moist. I stored it in Tupperware and it’s even better this morning since it’s been in them over night. 10/10 thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
That is fantastic! I’m so glad to hear that you were able to make the perfect banana bread. Good job and thanks for giving this recipe a try!
Sounds scrumptious Natasha.
Will be making this week….a.s.a the bananas are ripe enough.
Baking has kept me sane over lockdown.
Stay safe and well.
Sounds like a great plan, Del. Enjoy and stay safe too.
Hi Natasha, I am wondering how I could cut the recipe using only 2 bananas I have that are very ripe and ready. What do you recommend? Also,I love your recipes! Thanks!
Hi Andria, you can use the recipe serving size slider to adjust the recipe or add apple sauce to supplement the difference – per our reader comments.
Hi Natasha,
Love your recipes, I was wondering if there is a substitute for eggs in your recipes. we have some food restrictions.
Hi Shilpa, thank you and I’m glad to hear that. Unfortunately, I don’t have any substitute for eggs in my recipes. I think you can find some recommendations online but I have not tested them yet to advise.
This is the ultimate banana bread recipe. It came out so delicious, moist and flavorful. I ran out of vanilla extract, so I made mine without. But it still tasted amazing. Will be making this for our neighbors next!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
Nyc!! It was good and looks too yummy 😋
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Yummmy recipe …my favorite ..perhaps a banana pudding recipe another favorite.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
it is really good but instead of the walnuts and raisins i added chocolate in it it was really good!
Thank you for sharing that with us!
How many cups of banana should I aim for? I used 6 small/medium bananas, baked in a glass loaf pan, and unfortunately it came out a little dry. I wonder if I didn’t use enough banana. Also, is it possible that beating the eggs too long or over mixing the batter might have affected the overcome? Will definitely give this another try. I’m sure it was something on my end as I’ve enjoyed preparing your other recipes without issue 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Shirley, it’s usually about 2 cups of mashed banana. Make sure not to over-bake which could cause the issue. You might test with a toothpick and take it out a littler earlier for a moister bread. Glass can bake faster than a metal pan.
First time using one of your recipes. And wow… amazing. The banana nut bread was so moist, flavorful, and great. I had to use a little more flour to get the consistency in your video and cook a little longer (probably since I used a glass bakeware) but it was still awesome. I can’t wait to try your other recipes. Thank you.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Jaime. I hope you’ll love every recipe that you try from my website and videos!