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 will definitely be making this one forever. It was, hands down, the best banana bread I’ve ever made.
!
Thank you!
Maureen James
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Maureen!
Tried this recipe and it turned out so good but instead of walnuts I added equal parts of peanuts and cashews……. thank you for this my mom in law liked me because I baked her a banana bread with this recipe (:
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Anna! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I made your recipe and it was fabulous. It was easy to make and I can’t use sugar but I used substitute.
I’m happy to know that you loved this recipe, Jenn!
I plan to make your Banana Bread this week but was wondering if this recipe can be doubled? Sounds Delicious!
Hi Amy, our readers have doubled the recipe just fine in the past. When making a double batch, we usually just double all of the ingredients and divide into 2 separate pans then bake together. They may need slightly more bake time so be sure to check with a toothpick and remove when there is no wet batter sticking to the toothpick. We place leftovers in a large ziploc bag (or cover with plastic wrap) and refrigerate.
I just made this banana bread. I didn’t have regular walnuts so I used maple walnuts that I had on hand. It turned out so good.
That’s just awesome, Kim! I love when it all works out so great! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
This is the best banana bread recipe I’ve ever tried…and I’ve tried many. I modified slightly — 1/8 cup raisins and 1/8 cup chocolate chips, along with a little honey for extra sweetness.
I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for the review.
Thanks for the recipe. Didnt add raisins but very nice and moist.
You’re most welcome, Lina. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I love this recipe I make it like every other month. really wanting to make now but I only have 2 bananas…. Will it still work?!
Hi Brooke, if they are large bananas, that may work! You may also need to adjust the recipe a bit, though!
Hi, I would love to try this recipe, but have to eliminate the butter due to dairy intolerance. Would it be as good if I try coconut oil as a substitute?
Hello Pauline, I honestly haven’t tried that yet to advise. I think it’s worth experimenting with though! If you try that, please share with us how it turned out.
Oh my goodness!!! This is so yummy and moist. Not heavy like some is my other tried recipes. Thank you for this deliciousness! Will be my go to from now on!
You’re welcome! Very happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe.
Hi Natasha,
can i remove the walnuts and raisins from this recipe?
Hi Tamar, yes that would be fine to remove both. You can also sub with chocolate for chocolate chip banana bread
I got tired of complaining that my wife’s banana bread was too dry and found this recipe. It was so easy and my banana bread came out moist and delicious. I would highly recommend adding chocolate chips and nuts if no one has a nut allergy. The recipe suggests walnuts but I used salted cashew pieces and they worked just as great. Thank you so much Natasha for this great recipe. Although I guess I’ll have to make the banana bread going forward.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Amish! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Is there a reason why the vanilla extract is added with the walnuts and raisins step and not with the mashed bananas and eggs like in your muffin recipe? Thanks
Hi Irene, it should work both ways! I hope you love this recipe!
Can salted butter be used? If so, should the salt be cut back?
Hi Jo, we always use unsalted butter, especially in baking, to control the amount of salt in the recipe. If using salted butter, you would use less or no salt, depending on how much salt is in your butter.
Just finished making this banana bread its so moist I added dried cranberries to it thank you for sharing this recipe, now I’m still trying to find a blueberry muffin recipe I’m not the greatest on my I Pad so happy I found your Blog making your chicken dish today also trying to see which one my family would 👍 🥰♥️
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Sandi! We have a Blueberry Muffin recipe HERE. I hope you love it!
I loved this recipe. I used honey instead of sugar and it came out perfect.. My husband wanted sweeter but I’m trying to cut back on the sugar. I’m thinking next time maybe I can make muffins with it and add some brown sugar/cinnamon on top of his like a crumb topping . Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Terrie! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Made this for the 2nd time this week and it was delicious! The only thing was the bread was very dark brown all around it. The 2nd time I made it I put aluminum foil over the top and put it a little higher in the oven in hopes it wouldn’t brown as much. It still did brown a lot but still delicious
I’m so glad it all worked out, Cassidy! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Another amazing recipe! Added cinnamon as a finishing touch.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Michelle!
This is the second time I’ve made this recipe. Each time The bread has sunk in the middle. The first time I thought I did something wrong, but two times? Help!
Hi Mimi, it’s hard to say what went wrong with out being there, but I recommend ensuring all of your ingredients are not expired, especially the flour and baking soda. Oh and ensure you’re using Baking Soda and not Baking powder since they differ greatly in results.
Mine has sunk when I don’t cook it long enough. Just pop it back in the oven and cook it longer and it’ll rise back up 🙂
This banana bread is a winner! I did not use raisins, used 1/2 cup walnuts and 1/2 cup chocolate chips + I added a teaspoon of ground flax seed with the egg. Delicious, everybody loved it! Thx!
Yum! Totally craving this right now! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Enza!
I’ve made this several times and it turns out delicious! I love adding semi-sweet chocolate chips and nuts in mine, and it’s always so moist with the perfect amount of the sweetness. This recipe is so good that my mom, who has stuck to her old recipe for 15 years, has asked for this recipe and uses this as her go-to now! Thank you so much Natasha 😉
Wow, that’s awesome! That’s great to hear, Amanda. Thanks for the review!