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 6210 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 6210 votes (4,175 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Debbie Luna
    January 15, 2024

    I have made your banana bread recipe twice in the last two weeks and my family LOVES IT. Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 15, 2024

      You’re very welcome, Debbie! We love this too! So glad you enjoy the recipe.

      Reply

  • Katie
    January 14, 2024

    I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but I’m excited to! I’ve got a bag of bread flour I’m trying to use up. Any ideas on what (if any) modifications I would need to make if I substitute bread flour for AP? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 14, 2024

      Hi Katie, without testing that substitution, it’s difficult to guess how that would turn out.

      Reply

  • Katherine
    January 14, 2024

    The bread turned out delicious. All glory to GOD. Easy recipe. Great tutorial videos as well for making the bread and measuring. Looking forward to trying other recipes. Thank you Natasha for sharing your expertise.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 14, 2024

      You’re very welcome, Katherine! So glad you loved the recipe.

      Reply

  • Jake
    January 13, 2024

    It’s heavily modified at this point but I use your recipe as a base for my own. I use 5 bananas, 1 cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup white flour, and I substitute a quarter of the butter with avocado oil. Additionally I use a half tablespoon of yeast and give it 20 mins of counter time before baking.

    Different. But you’re recipe was the foundation; cheers!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 13, 2024

      Hi Jake! Thanks for sharing that with us.

      Reply

  • Apoorva
    January 13, 2024

    Great recipe. The bread was polished off in an afternoon by friends. Will definitely make again

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 13, 2024

      Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply

  • D DeRosa
    January 12, 2024

    This came out super dry. Followed the recipe exactly- not sure why I got dry results but won’t make this again. Such a bummer.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 13, 2024

      We’ve had amazing results with the recipe as written. A dry cake is a result of too much flour or over-baking. I have a tutorial on How to measure ingredients here.
      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

  • Michelle
    January 12, 2024

    Absolutely perfect. Moist and delicious. I left out the walnuts and raisins and changed the baking temp to 325 with 15 min left.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 13, 2024

      So glad you loved this recipe, Michelle!

      Reply

  • Lindi Burgess
    January 12, 2024

    Hello Natasha,

    This is my first introduction to you and your recipes. I am eager to try this banana bread tonight. I do not, however, have unsalted butter on hand. Could you please tell me if salted butter with work if I omit the added salt?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 12, 2024

      Hi Linda! I like to use unsalted so that I can control the salt level but if that’s all you have on hand, that will work. Just omit the salt. I hope you love this recipe!

      Reply

  • Cybercook
    January 12, 2024

    This is a great recipe!
    I added toasted pecans and dried bing cherries. YUM

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 12, 2024

      Yum! That sounds like a great addition.

      Reply

  • Julie W
    January 10, 2024

    Natasha I had a question what if I don’t have a 9 x 5 loaf pan? Would an 8 x 4 1/2 pan work or should I divide the batter between those pans?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 10, 2024

      Hi Julie! I haven’t tested it in different size pans to know exactly how much batter to use. It would be too much batter for one smaller pan so likely you’ll have to use another pan for the extra batter. Be sure to watch it in the oven do it doesn’t over-bake.

      Reply

      • Julie W
        January 10, 2024

        I’ll give it try a let you know. Thanks for taking the time to respond back.

        Reply

  • Denny G
    January 10, 2024

    I do a lot of cooking for dinner but not much baking. So I made this bread after having three bananas get very ripe. It was delicious and we share it with friends and they all wanted to know where I got the recipe. Then the other day I was making bean soup with a left over ham bone and my wife whip up another loaf of this bread. It doesn’t last long around us. Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 10, 2024

      You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Denny! I’m so glad you both loved it!

      Reply

      • Catherine
        January 11, 2024

        I am 74 and have only ever made my Nanny’s banana bread UNTIL! I follow you on FB and decided to try it…omgoodness, Even she would love this version, not too different but just fabulous, thank you!

        Reply

        • NatashasKitchen.com
          January 11, 2024

          Hi Catherine! That’s amazing. Thank you so much for the wonderful review. I’m so glad you decided to try this recipe.

          Reply

  • Sharla
    January 9, 2024

    Hi! I’m baking this now. Smells wonderful! But it’s nowhere near done in middle. It’s been baking hour and 15 mins and while the edges and top crust are getting dark, the middle is still loose batter. I incresed temp from 350 to 375 for an addl 5 mins to see if that helps. That’ll make an hour and 20 minutes.
    Any tips?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 9, 2024

      Hi Sharla! Did you make any substitutions or use a different size pan? The baking time can vary a bit oven to oven but it shouldn’t be that drastic or a different. This recipe was tested in a conventional oven on regular bake mode. Some tips to help, be sure to fully preheat the oven before starting to bake the loaf. I highly recommend using an In oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to ensure your oven is heating correctly. The type of pan can make a difference in how it bakes as well since different materials distribute heat differently. I hope that helps troubleshoot.

      Reply

  • Craig W
    January 8, 2024

    I made this today, exactly as Natasha instructed. It’s simply wonderful–moist, flavorful and light. I’ve been using an oil-based recipe because I’m too impatient to wait for butter to reach room temperature. 😊Not anymore. This banana bread is worth the wait and will be my new go to recipe. Thank you, Natasha!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 8, 2024

      Hello Craig, thank you for your wonderful review! Patience is the key, glad that you loved it!

      Reply

  • gabby
    January 8, 2024

    great recipe! The bread was fluffy and moist. It also lasts a very long time. 🙂

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 8, 2024

      Hi Gabby! I’m so glad you loved this recipe.

      Reply

  • Andrew
    January 8, 2024

    Made this recipe last night with Bob’s Red Mill GF AP Baking Flour as my daughter is GF. My wife and daughter said we need to make this our go to banana bread recipe. Moist, tasty, not too sweet. Thank you

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 8, 2024

      That’s amazing, Andrew! I’m so glad it was a hit!

      Reply

  • ja
    January 6, 2024

    I haven’t even tried this recipe yet but she actually wrote the measurements in with the step by step instructions so you don’t constantly have to scroll back and forth between instructions and ingredients!!! I have been griping about this for years lol.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 6, 2024

      I’m so glad that is helpful! Thank you so much for sharing that feedback with me.

      Reply

    • Toni Marie Pittsley
      January 13, 2024

      I loved that too! Its so annoying to have to scroll up and down 50x 🤣 I just made it and it’s now cooling 🙂

      Reply

  • A. Cook
    January 6, 2024

    What can I substitute for butter? I’m out and want to make this now. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 6, 2024

      Hi A, I haven’t tried this myself, but I read online you if you really love olive oil, you can use olive oil as a substitute for butter in order to make banana bread. Although you may want to go with a less fragrant oil.

      Reply

      • Chel
        January 19, 2024

        Olive oil works amazingly in baked goods and you wont taste it.

        Reply

        • NatashasKitchen.com
          January 19, 2024

          We often use light olive oil when baking since it’s neutral in taste.

          Reply

  • Jill
    January 6, 2024

    Can I substitute almond extract instead of vanilla? Do you think it would latter the taste too much 🤷‍♀️?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 6, 2024

      Hi Jill. I have not tried almond extract to know how the flavors would taste together.

      Reply

  • Daniela H. Stark
    January 5, 2024

    The best banana bread I ever made. A favorite for the whole family.
    I did a few adjustments to make it easier to make.
    Exact same ingredients, except I add 1 whole banana. I stir butter with sugar, don’t bother with whipping it. I take 3 bananas and mash them roughly with a fork. I add eggs, vanilla and stir it. I add flour with baking powder on top and stir everything together. I add 1 more banana mashed roughly in my hands. I add a little bit of canola oil and some pieces of walnuts. Transfer the batter to the baking pan and I cover the top with walnuts halves, press them gently in and bake. After it’s done, powdered sugar on top

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 5, 2024

      Thank you for sharing, Daniela!

      Reply

    • Linda
      January 12, 2024

      How many bananas total did you use? I am going to make it asap. So excited to try this recipe

      Reply

  • Evee
    January 2, 2024

    My first time ever making banana bread. This recipe is so easy. Delicious and super moist. The whole family loved it!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 3, 2024

      Great to hear that it was a huge hit!

      Reply

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