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.
This sounds so good!Can I double this recipe and bake 2 at once?
Yes, we have done that several times and it works great.
I made this soooo many times and every time I baked this, it always came out sooooo good and sooooo delicious.. i tried added pecans and still taste so good and very fluffy… Thanks for this recipe 😘
You’re so welcome! I’m happy to hear that the recipe turned out great and you loved it. Thanks for sharing that with us.
I noticed someone said they substituted honey for the sugar. How much honey should I add if I cut the sugar to 3/4? Or what would you suggest the measurements be sugar and honey? Thanks!!
Hi Christy, one of our readers mentioned the following about using sugar “I used a half cup of honey, as my bananas were very ripe and added enough sweetness.” I hope this helps
This will be my go to recipe from now on. Left out the raisins and nuts for now but may try it
later. Super moist! You mentioned substituting honey for the sugar but did not mention the measurement, could you provide this?
Hi Mary Lou, one of our readers mentioned the following about using sugar “I used a half cup of honey, as my bananas were very ripe and added enough sweetness.” I hope this helps
Natasha, Please, do you have any suggestions how to store it? For how long?
Hi Irina, I think it will keep well in the fridge for about a week if stored well.
Love your banana bread
I have made the bread for husband and friends they love it,
We love that after I made the bread let it cool and put it in fridge, wrapped in parchment paper and put in covered plastic container, stays moist, fresh, soft days later, made this a number of times perfect,best banana bread Thank you so much
I’m so glad you love this recipe, we make it a lot! thanks for the great review.
I had four ripe bananas so used three to make this recipe then used the same recipe except with one banana and an 8 oz can of untrained crushed pineapple. They are in the oven. Can’t wait to see what the family thinks, especially the grandkids (teens). Love your videos.
I’d love to hear how it goes using pineapple in the banana bread.
It was delicious with the pineapple and a lot lighter in color.
I’m so glad you enjoyed that and pineapple sounds delicious!
Have you ever measured out exactly how much banana you use? They vary in size as sometimes I can only find small ones vs. med/large ones. It would be helpful to have a more precise measurement. Thanks!
HI Dawn, it is about 1 3/4 cups mashed bananas.
I live at high altitude. 6200 ft. and would love it if you could post the high altitude adjustment for this recipe. Than you
Hi Linda, I am not able to test this at high altitude, but here is a great resource for high altitude baking adjustments.
I have been trying to find a recipe to equal the banana bread that I had in Maui 6 yrs ago which was The Best Banana Bread Ever (might have had something to do with tropical temperatures, turquoise water, and lush rainforest, though 😊) and I think I have found it in this recipe! I accidentally melted the (salted) butter when trying to soften it, so decided to go ahead and brown it. I also used brown sugar. SO delicious! Thanks for this recipe. It’s definitely a keeper.
You’re welcome, Rae! I’m so glad you found a new favorite!
Hi, Natasha.
I made this recipe yesterday and am sold its amazing, will definitely be my to go banana bread recipe going forward thank you for sharing it.
I did use salted margarine, omitted the salt, added 1tsp cinnamon, mixed peel and also added a 1/2 tsp of baking powder since I was worried it would not rise, it did not rise as much but it was amazing.
I’m so glad you found a new go-to! That’s so great! Thank you so much for sharing that excellent review with me.
This came out wonderful! I tweaked it a little. Subbed 1/2 cup roasted semolina for 1/2 cup of the flour. Subbed same amount of baking powder for the baking soda. Added sultanas, dates and cashew nuts. Super recipe! Thank you
Nice to know that your substitutions worked great! Thank you for your review.
I made this tonight and used a stand mixer which made it faster to make. The end result was DELICIOUS and now I think I should have doubled the recipe since it is almost gone in the last 30 minutes. I am going to follow for more recipes!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Wendy!
The banana bread looks so yummy I will try it because I love banana bread.
I hope you love this recipe, Maina!
I just made this banana bread last night – just a few things. My bananas equaled one cup. Out of walnuts so used pecans. Added 1/2 cup sour cream. No raisins — ewww (lol). Was deeelish! Love all your recipes and your fun personality cooking.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Stephanie!
This was by far the most amazing banana bread I have ever had. Everyone in my house loved it. It was moist, and a lot of flavour.
I did have an issue with the banana bread not rising in the middle… Not sure what happened, but I didn’t use room temp eggs (used straight from fridge as I forgot to take them out before to get to room temp lol) they were also mediums as I accidentally grabbed medium not large from the grocery store haha. Also my bananas were very very ripe and I still used 3/4 cup of sugar.
I feel like it’s the eggs fault the banana bread sort of flopped. So I will use large and room temp next time for sure… LOL
A winner in my books!
Hi Nora! It sounds like you found a new favorite recipe! The eggs were likely the culprit in the rising issue, but I’m so glad this was a winner!
Wow Wow Wow! loved this recipe. I’ve been doing quite a bit of baking whilst in lockdown here in Sydney Australia. It will be my go to recipe from now on. I didn’t change anything and it was fantastic. Thank you Natasha
I’m so glad you found a favorite on our blog, Lyn! That’s so great!
Hmmmmm yummy!! Thank you Again Natasha! This is the best Banana bread recipe I’ve had so far! First is the Chicken and Broccoli! Thank you for your hard work I’m sharing this recipes online! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Tifany!
I love all your recipes the absolute best! They are easy to follow and they are the ideal ones I’m most likely to want to make. THANKS
Aww, that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m all smiles
Try substituting vanilla liquor for vanilla extract. It’s amazing!! I do this a lot in recipes and it’s my “secret ingredient” that my friends find ultra delicious!
Great idea! Thank you for sharing that Suki!
Hi Natasha,
I love your recipes. I love making your banana bread but i ran out of all purpose flour. Can i use bread flour?
Hi Liset, I haven’t tested that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.