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

  • Jennifer Wilson
    November 25, 2023

    I love the recipe and will definitely try again – but I had issues getting it done in the middle. I ended up having to burn it a little around the edges (cooked 75 min). I wondered if there might be tricks to getting it done in the middle better? Like tin foil or something? Thank you for sharing your recipe – the nuts and raisins were delicious with bananas! 😍

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 25, 2023

      Hi Jennifer! Did you use the correct size loaf pan? If it was smaller the there would be too much batter and it won’t bake properly without adjusting the time/temp. I would also encourage the use of an Internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to verify your oven is heating correctly. If it runs too hot, the outside will burn while the center remains raw. The type of pan used can also affect how it bakes, different materials distribute heat differently. I hope that helps for next time.

      Reply

  • Momshie
    November 24, 2023

    I tried this recipe twice. One with raisins and walnuts. The second one with chopped chocolate pieces. Our ripe bananas were small so I used 4-5 pieces. I also used muscovado sugar. Both banana breads were perfect! Thank you Natasha and husband from our family in the Philippines!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 24, 2023

      That’s awesome! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this recipe.

      Reply

  • Kalyssa
    November 23, 2023

    Great recipe! It turned out super moist. Only change was a little bit of cinnamon.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 23, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Kalyssa!

      Reply

  • Lainie B
    November 21, 2023

    Easy to make. I added a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and what a great banana bread.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 21, 2023

      I’m glad you loved it!

      Reply

  • Melissa
    November 21, 2023

    This bread recipe is absolutely amazing! So yummy. The only change I made was using brown sugar instead of granulated sugar. Next time I would probably only do a half cup. Other than that which is my own doing, A+!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 21, 2023

      So glad you loved it! Thank you for sharing with us.

      Reply

  • Brian Gordon
    November 20, 2023

    This is the only banana bread I make the family and friends love it.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 20, 2023

      I’m so glad to hear that, Brian!

      Reply

  • Klea
    November 19, 2023

    Perfect every time, very moist with nice crispy outside. I used chocolate chips instead of nuts and raisins and baked for 60 min.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 19, 2023

      Great to hear that you enjoyed it, Klea!

      Reply

  • Austin
    November 18, 2023

    Wow best banana bread I’ve ever had. The first time I tried this recipe it came out pretty dry. Idk if it from the walnuts and raisins. But this time I watched your video about measuring and I used more banana and its perfect. Also I’m at 7200ft so I used half a tsp of baking soda.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      November 19, 2023

      Thank you, Austin. God to know that it turned out perfect the next time you tried it!

      Reply

    • Sharon Hubbs
      November 20, 2023

      Can I substitute ap flour with Pillsbury gluten-free all-purpose flour.

      Reply

      • NatashasKitchen.com
        November 20, 2023

        Hi Sharon! I haven’t tested it myself but some
        of my readers have reported using GF flour successfully for this.

        Reply

  • Stacy
    November 17, 2023

    Heaven in a pan. Used 5 bananas because they were going bad.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 17, 2023

      I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply

  • Traci
    November 16, 2023

    Oh my gosh, this is the best Banana bread I’ve ever had – let alone bake! I was doubtful with the white sugar instead of brown, but it is sooo good!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 17, 2023

      Thank you so much for trying the recipe, Traci! I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply

  • Lynne
    November 16, 2023

    How long to you leave them in the over if you do muffins? I’m not sure if I need to cut the time down or not.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 16, 2023

      Hi Lynne, I have a note on this in the recipe, we love this Banana Bread so much we even created Banana Muffins from this recipe.

      Reply

  • Rainer Glaser
    November 15, 2023

    Really super moist. Amazing quite actually. Mine came out very dark, but so tasty. Used more bananas and they were way past their prime. But good for banana bread. I guess the raisins are key.

    Reply

  • Jami Leigh Harris
    November 14, 2023

    I made this bread, and my family LOVES it!! I made 2 loaves yesterday, and they’re both gone already. I added a pinch of cinnamon to mine, it was amazing.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 14, 2023

      That sounds wonderful! This disappears fast in our house too! I’m glad you loved it!

      Reply

  • Karen
    November 13, 2023

    Hi! Can’t wait to try this! Is the honey to sugar 1:1? Thanks. Love so many of your recipes!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 14, 2023

      Hi Karen, yes- replace it 1:1 with honey. If your bananas are sweet very ripe, you can even use less.

      Reply

  • Cindy Hawke
    November 13, 2023

    Y’all! This is the best recipe I have found and I have made several!
    I used 4 bananas instead of 3 and it was sooooo moist!! Incredible! This is my go-to recipe now ❤️
    I did turn the heat down to 340 about 30 min and used a loose tin foil cover the rest of the 25ish min because it browned kind of quick on the top.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 13, 2023

      Hi Cindy! Thank you for sharing. I’m so glad you found a new go-to recipe!

      Reply

  • Debbie Rudd
    November 11, 2023

    I follllowed the recipe exactyly. The bottom was over done and the middle was goey. How do I fix this? Thanks

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 11, 2023

      Hi Debbie! Did you use a different size pan by chance? It could be the type of material your pan is made of, different materials distribute heat differently. Check the placement of your oven rack to ensure it’s not too close to the heating element and I highly encourage the use of an Internal oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to ensure your oven is heating correctly. I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • Adrianna
    November 10, 2023

    I made this banana bread with chocolate chips and it is delicious! The batter is a lot more runny than I’m used to, so I was a little worried, but it turned out beautifully.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      November 10, 2023

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Adrianna!

      Reply

  • Sandi Bramdl
    November 9, 2023

    This banana bread was so delicious and moist I don’t care for raisins but I happened to have chopped dates I used really tasty thank you as always for sharing your favorite recipes, still looking for a white birthday cake recipe God Bless 🙌

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 9, 2023

      That’s wonderful, Sandi! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Rachel
    November 9, 2023

    I made a gluten free version of this cake and it came out amazing!
    Flour substitution:
    For 1-1/2 C flour, I substituted 1C buckwheat flour and a 1/2 cup tapioca starch (sometimes it’s called tapioca flour).

    I use these flours a lot to substite for regular flour. And buckwheat is very nutritious.

    Thank you Natasha for creating these excellent recipes!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 9, 2023

      That’s great, Rachel! Thank you so much for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • Ava
    November 7, 2023

    I want to use this recipe but put it in a muffin tin instead, how long do you suggest I bake for?

    Reply

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