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 6175 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 6175 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Pamela Rude
    August 1, 2023

    I’ve made this numerous times and it’s always great! I use pecans and sub raisins with mini chocolate chips. It’s really good!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      August 1, 2023

      Thanks for sharing, Pamela. Happy to hear that you always make our Banana Bread Recipe.

      Reply

  • Mary Grace Richardson
    August 1, 2023

    Very yummy! I highly recommend checking it at 40 mins. Mine was over cooked at 45 🫠

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 1, 2023

      Hi Mary! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply

  • RuthAnn Funderburk
    July 31, 2023

    best Best BEST Banana Bread I’ve ever made. So moist. Perfectly sweet. Seriously. Everyone needs to try this recipe.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 31, 2023

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, RuthAnn!

      Reply

  • Heather Weller
    July 30, 2023

    Absolutely the BEST banana bread I have ever made!!! Thank you soooo much!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 30, 2023

      You’re super welcome! Great to hear that you loved our Banana Bread recipe, Heather.

      Reply

  • Barbara
    July 30, 2023

    Really good bread! (I added apx 1 teas. of cinnamon and a bit more vanilla. My oven baked it in 55 minutes.
    It’d be great if the reviews were given after a recipe is made, not before. That’s how we all learn!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 30, 2023

      Thanks for your review, Barbara. We appreciate it!

      Reply

  • Brooke
    July 30, 2023

    So good ! Tried it at my in laws and had to have the recipe. Left out the raisins but was still delicious !!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 30, 2023

      Glad that you loved it!

      Reply

  • Shery Sullivan
    July 28, 2023

    I love all your recipes and your emails. Today I’m making your banana bread. For my sugar I used what I had left of my brown sugar, also brown sugar Swerve, leftover from baking for my friends with diabetes, then granulated for the rest. Should be perfect.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 28, 2023

      Hi Shery! That’s great. Thank you so much for the feedback. I’m glad you are enjoying the recipes.

      Reply

  • Liz D
    July 28, 2023

    All time favorite recipe! A little crispy crust and moist inside! DELICIOUS!
    Thank you!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 28, 2023

      Hi Liz! I’m so glad you love it!

      Reply

    • Barbara
      August 10, 2023

      Best recipe ever for banana bread! I bake mine in a non- stick Bundt pan for 45 minutes and it turns out perfectly every time. It makes really nice serving slices.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 10, 2023

        That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Barbara!

        Reply

  • Allison Hatfield Edge
    July 27, 2023

    It’s delicious! I’ve made this several times and everyone loves it! How much is a serving?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 27, 2023

      Hi Allison! So glad you loved the recipe. The servings are listed at the top of the recipe card, it serves 10. The nutrition facts is per each slice.

      Reply

  • Erika
    July 25, 2023

    This was super easy to make but I’m glad I set the timer for 45 minutes because this almost dried out! Fingers crossed that it tastes good, trying tomorrow. 👍

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 26, 2023

      Hi Erika! I hope you love this banana bread as much as we do! I highly encourage the use of an internal oven thermometer (affiliate link) to make sure your oven is calibrated and that you don’t over bake it.

      Reply

    • Jay
      July 26, 2023

      What would you change the time to for cupcake pans ? Children want to have their own bite sized.

      Reply

      • NatashasKitchen.com
        July 26, 2023

        Hi Jay! You can reference my banana muffins recipe.

        Reply

        • Heather
          August 4, 2023

          Have made banana bread using several recipes in the past with no issues. As others have stated, this one wasn’t very banana-y at all. It’s not the bananas – I taste checked them and they’re super sweet. I do believe we need more sugar, or even brown sugar, as other recipes have called for. Also 350 at 55 min was too long. (Oven calibrated perfectly fine – no issues with any other baking recipes). 40 min was plenty of time at 350 degrees.

          It may be personal preference – perhaps all these 5 star reviews are by those that aren’t looking for anything super sweet. But where I’m brought up at, banana bread is sweet like cake.

          I’ll definitely be going back to the other recipes!

          Reply

  • danielle L Grzelecki
    July 23, 2023

    Added 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg, and added an additional 1/2 tsp of vanilla. Left out the raisons. Loved it!! Thank you so much. I will be making this again. The consistency is perfect. Not too wet or dry. So many banana breads are soggy. The sweetness is also perfect. Just the right amount of butter.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 24, 2023

      Thanks for sharing, Danielle. Great to hear that you enjoyed the result!

      Reply

  • Diahann
    July 23, 2023

    Absolutely delicious! I made it without raisins because I didn’t have any. I will definitely be using this recipe from now on. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 23, 2023

      You’re welcome! Thanks a lot for your good comments and feedback.

      Reply

  • Lucille Ann Chigi
    July 23, 2023

    My husband loved this. He hates everything. I will keep this recipe forever!!!!! Thanks!!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 23, 2023

      Aaaw that’s really awesome! I’m so glad!

      Reply

  • Amanda
    July 20, 2023

    I baked this today due to all of the great reviews and everyone who had a slice LOVED it!! I ditched my old recipe and will be using this from now on! Thank you for sharing 😋

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 20, 2023

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

      Reply

  • Rashidah Abdul-Khaliq
    July 20, 2023

    The bread is in the oven. I’ll be sharing with associates at the Mosque today, maybe tomorrow and Saturday. We have so many bananas. Will let you know how things turned out. It’s smelling good. First time the walnuts were cooked. Ten more minutes, well actually 20, and I get to dig in!!!!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      July 21, 2023

      I hope it becomes a hit!

      Reply

  • Laura
    July 19, 2023

    This was fantastic. Super easy to follow and perfectly moist and delicious! I threw in a little cinnamon for personal taste, couldn’t use walnuts because I have a picky eater as well, but still a wonderful recipe. I am just confused on what the serving size is as far as the nutrition information. I love that it’s customizable by servings as far as ingredients but what exactly is the service size for this?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 19, 2023

      Hi Laura! I’m glad it was enjoyed!
      The number of servings is at the top of the recipe card, it serves 10 slices. So the nutrition facts are for one slice. I hope that helps.

      Reply

    • Amina
      July 24, 2023

      Tried the exact recipe and turned out amazing. I have always been skeptical about using bananas but this was just perfect moist , fluffy banana bread.
      Will be trying the healthier version with whole wheat!. Haven’t read any reviews on that though.
      Thanks a ton 😊

      Reply

      • NatashasKitchen.com
        July 24, 2023

        Hi Amina! I’m glad you love the recipe. See my notes above, “Substitutions for a Healthy Banana Bread.”

        Reply

  • Cass
    July 19, 2023

    Excellent recipe!
    I was down to my last 4 tbsp of butter in the house so I subbed the other 4 for coconut oil. I added 1 tsp cinnamon. It was awesome!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 19, 2023

      That’s great, Cass! Thank you for the feedback.

      Reply

  • Paul Stokes
    July 19, 2023

    Hi I’m a chef working in Yorkshire England, I’d like to try your recipe but here we work in both metric and imperial measurements for accuracy how could I convert these measurements accurately thanks for any help 👨‍🍳

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 19, 2023

      Hi Paul! Yes, you can click on “metric” in the recipe card and it will convert the ingredient list for you.

      Reply

  • Jade
    July 18, 2023

    Absolutely delicious. This is the only banana bread recipe I will use.
    I subbed chocolate chips for raisins as personal preference, and Wow! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 18, 2023

      I’m so glad you love it, Jade. Thank you for the feedback!

      Reply

  • Nat
    July 16, 2023

    Oh, myyy! Very nice! Great recipe Natasha, thanks for sharing!

    Made a couple alterations to fit my taste; subbed the raisins with chopped moist dates! Used brown sugar and honey. Added a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon. And a splash of rum extract! Hehe. Delish!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      July 16, 2023

      Hi Nat! I’m glad you loved the recipe. Thank you for sharing that with us.

      Reply

      • Nat
        July 22, 2023

        You’re very welcome, Natasha! 😊
        I made it again yesterday. Fantastic! Gave a loaf to my mom, who doesn’t care for banana bread, but tried a slice and loved it! Win.

        Took a couple slices, dipped them in egg, and made French toast with them! A slathering of homemade strawberry jam and sliced banana… omg 😵

        Reply

        • NatashasKitchen.com
          July 22, 2023

          That sounds so good!

          Reply

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