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.

Banana Bread on a cutting board with walnuts, raisins and ripe bananas to make healthy banana bread

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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.

Ingredients for Banana Bread with ripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, butter, walnuts and raisins

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!

Slices of banana nut bread on a plate

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!

  1. In the mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
  2. Mix in mashed bananas and eggs.
  3. Whisk together dry ingredients: flour, salt, and baking soda and add to batter.
  4. 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

Moist banana bread recipe sliced to show banana nut bread center

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:

Moist Banana Bread Recipe

4.97 from 6172 votes
Banana bread sliced on a cutting board
This Banana Bread Recipe is loaded with ripe bananas, tangy-sweet raisins, and toasted walnuts. It is one of our favorite ripe banana recipes and even better with overripe bananas.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 people

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

350kcal Calories45g Carbs5g Protein18g Fat7g Saturated Fat57mg Cholesterol243mg Sodium270mg Potassium3g Fiber20g Sugar354IU Vitamin A4mg Vitamin C26mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Moist Banana Bread Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
350
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
18
g
28
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Cholesterol
 
57
mg
19
%
Sodium
 
243
mg
11
%
Potassium
 
270
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
45
g
15
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
20
g
22
%
Protein
 
5
g
10
%
Vitamin A
 
354
IU
7
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
26
mg
3
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Breakfast, snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: banana bread, banana nut bread
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 350
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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.

Moist banana nut bread on kitchen towel

This Banana Bread Recipe is loaded with ripe bananas, tangy sweet raisins and toasted walnuts making it a banana nut bread. One of our favorite ripe banana recipes and even better with overripe bananas! This banana nut bread is super moist, easy and makes a great breakfast on-the-go. | natashaskitchen.com
4.97 from 6172 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Warren Wilson
    January 28, 2023

    My wife made it today, and it was excellent. She used very little walnuts, roasted them in unsalted butter and used 1 teaspoon less sugar than the recipe suggested. Those were her only changes, and it came out very well. Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 28, 2023

      So glad you loved this recipe. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Amy Swartz
    January 25, 2023

    My husband’s grandmother makes banana bread often and she adds whatever canned fruit or preserves she may have on hand to add moisture and to just mix it up a little. It’s always delicious.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 25, 2023

      Sounds good, I’m sure it’s always delicious!

      Reply

  • Gabe Escareno
    January 24, 2023

    This recipe is so east and great ! I did add some of my personal touches to it that you may like. I add cinnamon and nutmeg to the dry mix . About a teaspoon of both and than I sprinkle brown sugar on top of the the mixture after I put it in my loaf pan. Bake. The brown sugar creates a really great crispy crust !! Enjoy Gabe

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 24, 2023

      That sounds delicious! Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Gabe!

      Reply

  • Becca
    January 21, 2023

    I love how this recipe shows you the measurements of the ingredients in the instructions! Its so useful because you don’t have to scroll up and down to find out how you need to mix in.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 21, 2023

      Thank you for the feedback, Becca! 🙂

      Reply

  • Denise
    January 17, 2023

    Can you make muffins with this recipe? Reg size and mini? I don’t have a pan that size but I’ve got some very ripe bananas.

    Reply

  • Linda
    January 16, 2023

    I have made many banana bread recipes but this is probably the best. I used GF flour and subbed pecans for the walnuts but otherwise followed the recipe. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 16, 2023

      Hi Linda! That’s wonderful. Thank you for sharing your results.

      Reply

  • Rhino
    January 16, 2023

    Excellent!
    Following your suggestions, I did substitute the sugar with Blue Agave Nectar (was out of honey) and swapped the raisins with Craisins (was what we have on-hand), and the results were an OH-SO tasty loaf that was not as sweet as other recipes I’ve tried. Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 16, 2023

      That’s great, Rhino! Thank you for sharing your results with us! 🙂

      Reply

  • Kj
    January 16, 2023

    Blended everything together with a fork. No nuts or raisins. Delicious

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 16, 2023

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  • Sofia
    January 16, 2023

    I don’t have almond flour on hand and I really need banana bread. Can I use almond flour?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 16, 2023

      Hi Sofia, Do you mean All-purpose flour by chance? I haven’t tested using almond flour to advise. I think it’s worth experimenting with; if you try that, please share with us how it goes.

      Reply

  • Lupe
    January 15, 2023

    It turned out moist and super fluffy, tasted great! I really loved it, I had not tried banana bread before this, I can now say I love banana bread! 10/10

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 15, 2023

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Lupe!

      Reply

  • Laura
    January 14, 2023

    This is my new favorite banana bread recipe! It was so moist and delicious. I will be making this again and again. I used brown sugar instead of white sugar and added cinnamon. Thank you for the recipe. All your recipes are great!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 14, 2023

      You’re so very welcome, Laura! Thank you for the feedback.

      Reply

  • Melissa
    January 14, 2023

    I made this recipe and tweaked it a bit and it was just delicious. I used white chocolate chips instead of raisins & hazelnuts instead of walnuts since that’s what I had on hand. I also added my favorite vanilla bean paste along with some cinnamon. I will definitely be making this loaf again! Thank you Natasha for your wonderful recipes 🙂

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 14, 2023

      You’re very welcome! Glad you loved it, thank you for sharing!

      Reply

  • Heather Williams
    January 14, 2023

    Had a better result with your banana loaf when I used baking powder instead of b. soda

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 16, 2023

      Hi Heather, I always recommend making the recipe as directed since different ingredients in a specific recipe work to activate various kind of leavening.

      Reply

  • Anjali
    January 12, 2023

    Hello from India. I made this for my mum’s birthday today and she loved it. I reduced the sugar to half a cup and added 1 tsp cinnamon powder. I made it in a heart shaped cake pan:). It was done in 47 min tho’. Many thanks.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 12, 2023

      Hello! Thank you for sharing. Happy Birthday to your mom! I’m so glad she loved the recipe.

      Reply

  • LaRae Jelmeland
    January 11, 2023

    Made this banana bread yesterday. By far the best banana bread I have ever tasted. The toasted walnuts and raisins add such an amazing flavor!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 11, 2023

      That’s great! I’m so glad you tried the recipe. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Anne
    January 10, 2023

    I was doubtful about the raisins, but man this turned out well! Super moist and perfectly cooked. I have an 8 inch loaf pan, so I cooked for 62 minutes and let it sit for 40. I’ll be making this again.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 10, 2023

      Hi Anne! Thank you for trying my recipe. I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply

  • Viola Juarez- Frost
    January 9, 2023

    This is my new favorite banana bread recipe. I roasted the walnuts as you suggested and didn’t change a thing. The Boom. Thank you

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 9, 2023

      I’m so glad you loved it! Thank you for trying my recipe.

      Reply

  • Joan
    January 9, 2023

    Loved this recipe , thank you for sharing all your delightful recipes

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 9, 2023

      You’re welcome, Joan! I’m glad you loved it.

      Reply

      • dick
        January 10, 2023

        Im on my second loaf with overripe frozen and thawed bananas. turned out great.

        Reply

        • NatashasKitchen.com
          January 10, 2023

          Sounds great! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.

          Reply

  • def
    January 8, 2023

    Made this with raspberry flavored cranberries ( didn’t have raisins ) and was delicious. It added a slight different taste as I’m sure the raisins would. This is a keeper recipes for sure.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 8, 2023

      So glad you found a keeper! Thank you for sharing your experience.

      Reply

  • BKS Joe
    January 7, 2023

    Great recipe, just made it. Easy and delicious. I added chocolate chips. It is more moist and less dense than any of the last number of previous banana breads I have had. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 7, 2023

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

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