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.
Hello Natasha… I made the same recipe but I just replaced the butter with the oil … It is very successful and delicious … Thank you Natasha …
Nayla from Lebanon
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Nayla! I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Hello
Can I substitute brown sugar for white sugar? Does it improve or change the texture or taste?
I wouldn’t recommend skipping the brown sugar as it helps give color to the banana bread.
I don’t understand. The recipe calls for granulated ie white sugar.
Oops sorry, I was referring to another recipe! I haven’t personally tried that but I saw someone else commented and shared this “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 nutmeg. 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 hope that helps.
Doesn’t the brown sugar also help with keeping baked goods moist? I’ve never heard of brown sugar referred to as adding color to anything
Hi Lu, If you read further down, I was referring to a different recipe. Also, since brown sugar has molasses in it, it does give baked goods a different hue.
I use this recipe all the time now… my kids just ask not to add any nuts or raisins. Sometimes I would add an extra egg and some baking powder, or just 2 bananas…just to see the difference. Great recipe overall.
Hi Valentina, I’m happy to know that this is now your go-to-recipe. Thanks for sharing and I hope that you and your family will love all the recipes that you will try.
Hi, tried the recipe yesterday and my husband love it. We all do. Thank you so much for the recipe. God bless.
Very nice! Thanks for your good feedback, Mae.
Love the receipes, keep them coming.. Can you do a receipe for Chicken Franchise
Hi Sylvia, we have a similar recipe called Chicken Piccata.
Can the same recipe be used for banana cake?
Banana cake is lighter, but feel free to use this recipe as a cake. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Hi have Banana Bread in oven ! Nuts and Raisins added ! Smells so good ! Hopefully it will look and taste as good as yours..love all your recipes and videos !
Sounds great! Please share with us how it goes. I hope you love it.
I made it and I love it!
a big thanks for the moist banana bread recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
we love your coocking and your esipe from austrelia
Thank you! I’m glad to hear that, Charlie.
Great recipe!
I didn’t use the walnuts or raisins. I also used 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and I subbed 1/4 cup of brown sugar and then did 1/2 cup regular.
So good and would do it again!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Have you tried substituting the white sugar with Dark Brown sugar. I am wanting to make this soon. I always use brown sugar in my banana bread recipe. I find it takes the flavor to the next step. I even replace the sugar in my Butternut snowball cookies. Just can’t eat one. Everyone loves them. I am new to your website. I am hooked. Thank You
Hello Jill, I haven’t personally tried that but I saw someone else commented and shared this “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”
Love watching you cook all the time . You are sooo cute and always jolly.
Thank you for always watching my videos!
Hi there, if I add some honey to the recipe how much sugar should I remove?
Hi Mike, I haven’t tried that yet to advise of the measurements but others tried using just honey and liked it! But usually for baking, up to one cup, honey can be substituted for sugar in equal amounts.
Ok, I have just double the recipe and added raisins to one of them. I will let everyone know how great they are, just can’t wait
Sounds good! We would love to know how it goes.
Love watching your videos. If I dont have time to watch I at least read through your recipe .
Thank you for trusting my recipes, Barbara. I hope that you will love every recipe that you will try!
My batter is also too liquidy not thick like yours. I hope it doesn’t affect my loaf and cooks properly. Maybe next time I could put just 2 bananas?
Hi Carole, that never happened to me before and that should not be the case if you followed the exact recipe. Was there anything that was changed?
2nd time baking your bread.
Can’t say my family enjoyed no one is here to share. Yeah me!
Its in the oven and will post when done. Enjoy your videos.
Perfect tutorial. Than you.
I’m glad the tutorial is helpful! I hope you love this recipe!
I would like to know if it makes a difference if you us salted butter rather than unsalted. I was told that you just omit the additional salt. Is this so as I only have salted butter in the house
Hi Norma, you could use salted butter and omit the salt in the recipe.
Hi Natasha, I just made your banana bread and it is delicious!
I follow you and love all your recipes! Thank you 🙂
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
My daughter tried this recipe yesterday and it came out looking and tasting amazing. We made no changes and it worked perfectly.
A definite ‘go to’ for banana bread
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!