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 recipe is delicious!! I didn’t have walnuts so I only used the raisins. I will be making this again and trying different add-ins for sure!! Thank you so much for posting!!
You’re very welcome, Lori! I’m so glad you liked it.
This was my first time making banana bread from scratch. The recipe was easy to follow and the bread came out delicious! 100% would recommend.
Thanks so much, Aria. Appreciate it!
I only have two bananas! Would you recommend adjusting the ratios?
Hi Bonnie! You can change the serving size at the top of the recipe card and it will convert the ingredient list for you (try 7 servings).
You can use a smaller pan if you’d like or use the same pan but it will be flatter. You’ll need to watch it in the oven, the bake time will be different.
Wow! Very moist and light. A tad too sweet for me, but nonetheless delicious. Omitted nuts, as I have picky eaters. I’ll try adding chocolate chips next time. Thank you sooo much. All your recipes are spot on.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Nanette!
This banana recipe is amazing, thank you Natasha! I made it for my 2yo son today by using a silicon tray with different shapes. It was very easy to make and ready in no time. I’m sure he will love it 🙂
Thank you, I hope he loves it!
I just made this recipe and boy is it delicious. I omitted the raisins and replaced them with chocolate chips. So good. I also added a dollop of sour cream and as recommended by another person put a tray of water in the oven for the last ten minutes. it came out literally perfect!! will def make again!
So glad that you enjoyed our Banana Bread Recipe with chocolate chips too!
I’ve made this a few times and it’s ALWAYS good! We add chocolate chips instead of nuts!
Hi Chelsea! Thank you for sharing. I’m glad you love the recipe!
I just made this the other day. I have never made banana bread from scratch so I was really nervous. I omitted the walnuts and raisins then subbed 1/2 cup peanut butter chips (and 1/2 cup chocolate chips, too!). I used an air fryer oven and baked for an extra 10 minutes. I have got to say, in all my life, I have NEVER had a more scrumptious banana bread! 10/10 would recommend. Super easy instructions and seriously delicious! I have tried dozens of different banana breads (from the store and from family/friends) and this is by far the most perfect banana bread I have ever had. Thank you for posting this terrific recipe! ❤️
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, April!
good bread. i made it for a banana bread contest and got last. too many walnuts 🙁 that’s my only complaint
I’m sorry to hear that, Maddie! This can definitely be made without the walnuts too, so feel free to experiment with the add-in’s.
I’ve made this recipe before and I love it. It’s a great banana bread recipe. I always use walnuts and chocolate chips inside and my in-laws love it!
I’m trying to make it today but I got mini loaf pans, do you have a recommendations for how long to bake it?
Hi Teags! I haven’t tried this recipe as mini loaves myself, but my readers mentioned in the comments they did. They reported the following: “I made them in 4 mini loafs and baked them for 35 minutes. No top cracking!” I hope that helps!
5 Stars all the way! This was a great recipe, so moist and tasty. It dissapeared so fast from the house and nobody will own up to eating a whole loaf in a day.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Anna!
Hi Natasha! Big fan…actually I dare to say your biggest fan! I make this probably twice a week! I will be taking one loaf out of my freezer to give to my church this weekend- what are instructions for unfreezing a loaf and how long does it take to de thaw? -Kaylie
Hi Kaylie! I’m so glad you enjoy the recipe. I appreciate the love and support.
I have not timed how long it takes to thaw this from frozen, it can depend on the room temperature too. If left out overnight it should be thawed by morning.
The best I have ever made thanks to your recipe 😋 😊 it came out perfect for ever baking this
Hi Millie! Thank you for trying my recipe. I’m so glad you loved it. It’s our favorite banana bread!
The best Banana Bread I ever tasted !
Excellent recipe, tastes Amazing and so easy to do.
Thank you Thank You
PS: By the way all your recipes (the ones I tried) are extra fabulous.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Svetlana! Thank you so much for sharing that with me!
This was delish. I added a bit of sour cream because I do like mine incredibly moist. Sour cream has always been my friend in banana bread recipes! Thanks for sharing!
That’s great, Nicole! Thank you for sharing.
My favorite banana bread recipe. Never fails this not-so-great baker.
So glad you love this one, Judy! It’s one of our favorites too.
Just made this! 😃
Turned out amazing!
Never had a banana bread trun good!!!!
Only thing I did additional was in the last 15-20minutes I put a cookie tray with just water in it, on the oven rack below the bread pans.
Sooo good!! ❤️
Thank you for the feedback! I’m glad you enjoyed this!
It’s an ohkay recipe. Came out a little dry even though I watched it like a hawk to make sure I didn’t overtake.
Hi! I’m sorry it was dry. This recipe has hundreds of 5 star reviews, it’s been tested and proved to be one of the best we’ve ever tried. I have never had this be dry when following the recipe as instructed. Using too much flour or over baking it could be the cause. I’ve attached my tutorial on how to measure ingredients to show you my process. Every oven bakes differently so I highly encourage the use or an internal oven thermometer (affiliate link) to make sure you oven is at the right temperature. I hope that helps.
Thanks for adding the metric measures. With only two bananas (one got eaten in the night) it was easy to divide. Still used 2 eggs. Delicious !
You’re welcome! Glad it was helpful.
I would give 100 stars honestly. My work had a ton of browned bananas we couldn’t use so i decided to make banana bread with them and found this recipe. I made three loaves and they were all gone in two days, so i has to make more! I used walnuts and chocolate chips instead of raisins. SO moist, but not gooey. Saving this recipe forever!
Hi Sarah! This is our favorite banana bread recipe! I’m so glad it was a hit!
I want to make this today but I don’t have walnuts or raisins. Do I need to adjust anything in the recipe to compensate for the missing ingredients?? 🤔
Hi Nicole, you sure can, we have a section in the recipe titled: “Can I Omit Walnuts and Raisins?” I recommend reading through there for steps! I hope you love this recipe!
How much honey would I need to use instead of the sugar? I don’t think I would need 1.5 cups of honey lol
Hi Kiana! See my notes above under “Substitutions for a Healthy Banana Bread.” Feel free to experiment with less honey if you prefer.