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.
The BANANA PECAN RAISIN loaf was simply AMAZING! (used pecans not walnuts). Oh my…this is a keeper!
Perfect, I’m glad you enjoyed this recipe!
It really is the best banana bread recipe! I’ve used this at least 10 times now and it’s my go to!!
Yay, that’s awesome! I’m glad this has become your go-to-recipe now. Thanks for your good feedback, Melissa.
I made this for my dad today, but I used wheat flour due some health issues and it came out really good, really moist!
Thank you for this😊
That is awesome to know that it works great with whole wheat flour. Thank you for sharing that!
Hi I’m Lu
I’ve always been a fan of your recipes ,easier simple and lovely. You are an inspiration keep up the good work.
God bless the work of your hand .
Regards
You’re so nice! Thank you for that wonderful compliment, Lu!
Hi Natasha!
This is a great receipe! I tried it and my family loved it so much! I can’t wait to try out more receipes from you.
Thank you so much
You’re welcome, Lalita! I’m so happy you’re enjoying our recipes!
Hands down best banana bread recipe! Love watching your videos! You put a simple twist to cooking! Question? What brand hand mixer do you use ? I have a Cuisinart 9 speed!!
Thank you so much for your good comments and feedback, Rita.You can see the kitchen tools that I use here on my Amazon affiliate shop
If I want to use an 8.5″ x 4.5″ loaf pan, what quantities of each ingredient will I need?
Hi Shal, we used a 1 lb pan with dimensions of 9″x5″ and deep so the dough doesn’t overflow. Your pan will work great for this recipe.
This is SO delicious! I have been making my favorite, tried & true banana bread recipe for many, many years… but now that I made your recipe, mine got kicked to the curb! Everyone in my family loves it!!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Made banana bread and it was delicious. I’ve since made it twice for a couple of neighbors and they loved it. Yummy
I’m so happy to hear that, Lupita! I love that you brought this to your neighbors.
I’m not sure why, but when I tried to make this the batter came out very thick after I added the flour. It was more like cookie dough
Hi Zoe, I’m curious if there was too much flour added. Be sure to measure by fluffing the flour first with a spoon then spoon it into a dry ingredient measuring cup and scrape off the top. If you push your measuring cup into a flour bin, you will get up to 25% too much flour. Also, do not tap the flour down in the measuring cup.
I have made this banan nut bread twice this week. The best our family has ever eaten. It’s moist and just the right amount of raisins, nuts and walnuts. I will be making this again,for sure. Thanks for sharing this with everyone.
That is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing that with us. I’m glad your family enjoyed it!
Hello, love all your recipes, sometimes I have to find ways to modify as I’m type 2 diabetic person. Also I’m doing a modified version of keto, but I have a family of men, so gotta give a little. Anyways, I find my banana burns on the bottom, I’ve tried to lower the temp, also I put a ceramic bowl under loaf pan and it still comes out a little well done. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so. Btw I use coconut cream on some of your recipes and it works really well.
Hi Nadira, it is normal for the edges to be a rich brown color with banana bread, but it should not be burned. A lighter color pan can help get a lighter color, but the flavor should still be the same. Also, make sure you are using the regular bake mode and not convection mode since you would have to modify the temp or time to achieve the same results. I hope that helps to troubleshoot.
Hi Natasha,
If baking on convection mode – what will be the temp and time?
Hi Swati, I can’t advise on using convection mode, but here is what one of our readers wrote: “This was delicious! I used the convection setting in my oven, and it baked for about 48 minutes. Very moist! QUESTION: I want to divide this recipe into two pans. What size loaf pan should I use? Love this channel.” I hope this is helpful.
Thank you natasha for the recipe we enjoy the banana cake they love it.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
First time I baked banana walnut bread following your recipe.
It was so easy and everyone enjoyed it.
I’m glad you loved it! Thanks for sharing that with us.
You make cooking and baking so simple and easy. I made this banana bread recipe and it’s a hit! My hard-to-please teenagers loved it! I won’t be wasting my ripe bananas from now on 🙂
God bless and more power, Natasha!
Sheila
Thank you for your kind words and good comments Sheila. I appreciate it! I’m glad your teens enjoy this recipe!
The fact that you take out time to reply every comment is amazing! By the way, This banana bread is SO GOOD!!!! This has become THE recipe in my home. Kudos Natasha
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful compliment with me. I’m all smiles
Thank you for so many delicious enjoyable and easy.
You’re very welcome!
I made this for the first time today. So good! I didn’t have raisins, so I substituted dried cranberries. My husband, and I loved it. Thanks for sharing. God Bless.
Sue
I’m glad to hear that, Sue. Thank you for sharing!
Super easy! Also so moist and yummy!!! Totally recommend the recipe! thanks!
The only challenging part is that after 30min the top part is fully cooked but not the inside.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for all your amazing recipes. Love to watch your videos. You make baking/cooking so much fun.
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Paulette. I’m all smiles
Thank for the supper easy recipe again. Your recipies save my life and time a lot. We can have good food and spare time for family activities. Best with love.
You are very welcome, Yen. I’m glad you and your family are enjoying my recipes!