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.







Natasha I live at 6000 ft now and I think I should of turned the oven up to 375. Do you have any suggestions for this recipe, cooking at high altitudes? It tastes great but it got a little bit too brown trying to get the center cooked.
Hi Corinne, I don’t have experience with high-altitude baking but you can find more tips on High Altitude Baking HERE.
Hey Natasha!!
I just tried this one and it is just soooo good! I have tried several recipes for banana bread and this is hands down the best recipe. It’s just the perfect amount of sugar and is really delish with all the ripe banana flavours. Tysm for the recipe<33
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Zainab!
Hey Natasha!!
I just tried this one and it is just soo good. Nice and moist with all the beautiful banana flavours!!
I have tried several recipes for banana bread and this is hands down the best one!
Will definitely make it again because I’ve just got a new favourite recipe;))
Tysm for the recipe! Lots of love<3
I’m so glad this was a hit, and you loved it! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Zainab!
This is my favourite and go-to banana bread recipe! I just discovered it a couple of months ago and have already made it three times (one is currently in the oven!). I only use 1/2 cup of sugar and don’t add the walnuts and raisins (just personal preference!). My in-laws love it and my mother-in-law always asks me to make it for her now. Would highly recommend!
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Annam!
Why dose my banana bread almost burn on the bottom before it if fully baked.
Hi Darlene, I haven’t had that happen – are you possibly baking on a lower rack? I’d recommend baking in the center of the oven. Also, make sure you are using conventional oven modes (not convection)
I didn’t have a bread pan I only had a muffin tray so I made these into muffins, they were so moist and so delicious 🤤 will definitely make these again . Thank you for another great recipe
Yum! That sounds amazing, Angie! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Can you use bisquick mix instead of flour for this recipe ?just curious if it will change the taste
Hi Lillian, I haven’t tested that to advise. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hi Natasha,
This looks so delicious!
Could I perhaps use a 9.5 inch bread pan?
Charmonnay
Hi Charmonnay, I bet that could work! We used a 9.25 long x 5.25 wide x 2.75 deep pan.
Hiii Ms. Natasha, what is the size of pan that you used? Thank youu
Hi Yssabela, here’s the Amazon Affiliate link for the pan that I used.
Hi Natasha,
The butter ½ cup (8 Tbsp) is melted? or just scope from a tablespoon 8 spoonful? or use a cup to measure 1/2 cup? Is it half a bar of 125g please?
I’m making tomorrow. 1st time. Trust it will be successful. Tks for the tips.
Hi May, butter is measured before it’s melted. Our butter packaging is marked with tablespoons so 8 tbsp is a stick of butter. If you scroll down to our printable recipe card, most of our recipes have a metric conversion option on the printable recipe card. We are currently working on adding metric measurements to all of our recipes, but it is taking some time to add them one at a time. Thank you so much for being patient! In the meantime, check out our post on measuring which should help.
Hi Natasha
The banana bread recipe was amazing! I didn’t use walnuts because I burned them :} But I put in lots of coconut flakes and the raisins. I look forward to trying more of your recipes!
I’m so glad you loved it, Stephen!
Your very welcome Natasha. Now my neighbours think I’m an amazing.
Love love love it. I’ve made this so many times and in Sri Lanka there are numerous varieties of banana and everyone of them I tried was amazing. Once we got bananas from our neighbours so I made them banana bread and they raved thank you so much Natasha and Vadim(there might be misspellings)
You are so welcome! Great to hear that this is now your go-to recipe, thanks for the review!
Thx u for sharing u tasty recipe’s
Pls tell me is baking soda the same baking powder 🙉
You’re welcome and they appear similar but they are not the same. I recommend checking google for more info on the difference of the two.
This is the best banana bread recipe! Such a light fluffy bread when baked. I usually make this recipe into muffins and mini-muffins for my family. My kids love the mini ones that I add mini chocolate chips to. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
Aaw that’s awesome feedback, Melanie. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Love this recipe! The only thing I do differently is soak the raisins in some type of liquid for about an hour (used apple cider last time and next time would like to use spiced rum). The raisins are so plump and juicy. Oh, Also used golden raisins as I prefer the flavor. Thanks for the yummy recipe 😊.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Kathryn! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Natasha!
Can I add part white sugar/part brown sugar to this recipe instead of all white sugar?
Hi Gia, I bet that could work! I haven’t personally tried that but I saw someone else comment 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” I hope that helps!
I notice that do not add any water or milk? Is liquid not necessary?
Hi Paulette, that’s right, the bananas provide the moisture, and no additional liquid is needed.
I made your recipe for Chocolate Chip Banana Bread and it was absolutely delicious -so moist and lots of banana and chocolate flavor. I am wondering if you think I could substitute fresh blueberries for raisins in your Raisin and Walnut Banana Bread?
Hi Terry, I haven’t tried that, but it sounds delicious! If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I made this for my adult kids who all came in to town for vacation. They loved it, saying it was the best banana bread I have made. I’m going to try the slow cooker lasagna next-looks so simple and easy.
That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great!
Hi Natasha,
Can I substitute 3/4 cup of sugar with 3/4 cup of honey or maple syrup?
Thanks,
Vinu
Hi Vinu, that may work here, 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
Hi natasha i really like your recepies But Please also note the recepie ingredients in Grams and miligrams that will be really helpful . Thank you!
Hi Camelia, you can actually convert the ingredients to grams. Just click Jump to recipe then click Metric to do that.
Hi Natasha! Thanks for the amazing recipes! I had to replace the second cook at my job, I was nervous because I have little experience. Luckily I stumbled across your website, the recipes were easy to understand and execute, and they were always a huge success with the crew!! Thanks so much!!! Keep up the amazing work!!
Thank you, Stacie. I appreciate that! I hope you’ll love all the recipes that you will try.