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

  • Gerry
    January 23, 2024

    Made this today in Cuenca, Ecuador (elevation 8,300 ft). It turned out well without any changes for high altitude baking. I took it out of the oven when the internal temperature was 190°F (202° adjusted to sea level). Good recipe!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 23, 2024

      Thank you for sharing that with us, Gerry!

      Reply

  • Jennifer
    January 23, 2024

    This was was very moist and delicious. I made it following the recipe and will continue to make this for many years to come. I used Golden raisins and feel these are a little juicier than the regular raisins. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 23, 2024

      You’re welcome! Thank you for your great comments and feedback, we appreciate it.

      Reply

  • Kaylin
    January 23, 2024

    And recommendations for time when using mini loaf pans? My daughter got some mini loaf pans and really wants to make tiny banana breads.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 23, 2024

      The baking instructions are for a larger loaf pan, not mini muffins. They will get done significantly faster if you’re using a mini muffin pan so you’ll have to watch them in the oven so they don’t overbake/burn. Please reference my Banana muffins recipe which uses a standard cupcake/muffin pan.

      Reply

  • Cristina N
    January 23, 2024

    Best banana bread recipe! I substituted the sugar for honey and it was delicious. My kitchen smells sooo good!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 23, 2024

      Thank you for your excellent feedback!

      Reply

  • Crystal
    January 22, 2024

    Absolutely phenomenal! I omitted the walnuts and raisins since I didn’t have any. I also did all of the healthy substitutions and only did 1/2 cup of honey. It is so yummy 🤤
    Do I need to put it in the fridge or can it sit on the counter?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 22, 2024

      Hi Crystal! I’m so glad you loved it. I’ve kept it out for a day or so, but refrigerating it will help keep it longer.

      Reply

  • Michelle Schmaldienst
    January 22, 2024

    hey there!
    would it work to double this recipe to make two loaves?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 22, 2024

      Hi Michelle, yes, that will work, Doubling banana bread is fairly common. Ensure you maintain proper ratios and the recipe will work! I hope you love it!

      Reply

  • Jackie T
    January 22, 2024

    Very good recipe. I halved the recipe and made muffins. Baked 350 for 13 min. Next time I will add a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon and a couple of dashes of nutmeg. This would be great with chocolate chips as well. Thank u so much for sharing.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 22, 2024

      Thank you for sharing, Jackie!

      Reply

  • Annie
    January 21, 2024

    I’ve made this recipe 3 times this week because it goes so quick, and everyone absolutely loves it!

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 21, 2024

      I’m glad to hear that everyone loves this reipe. Thank you for sharing, Annie!

      Reply

  • Brent
    January 21, 2024

    I wanted to make this recipe but your website has so many pop ups and other irritating things that move the page around so much I gave up.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 21, 2024

      Hi Brent! I’m sorry for the frustration. You can click on “jump to recipe” at the top of the page and it will take you directly to the recipe card. You can also click on the print option and print out the recipe or view it in the print screen without ad interruptions.

      Reply

  • Annemarie Navarro
    January 20, 2024

    So, what I ended up with was out of necessity..had small bananas first so used 4..only had salted butter..so omitted salt and used 1/2 tps baking powder..and decided to use 1/4 cp brown sugar & 1/2cp reg sugar..then put into 18 muffin tins…25 mins baking time@350…OMG PERFECT!…for what I wanted ..these were very light in texture compared to what I usually expect from banana breads…anyway..hope this is useful😁

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 21, 2024

      Hi Annemarie! Thank you for sharing your experience.

      Reply

  • Susan De Stefano
    January 20, 2024

    Hi Natasha! I made this recipe yesterday (perfect for a snowy day) and it came out perfect! I used very overripe frozen bananas, which I thawed. I made 2 breads, one with walnuts and raisins and the other with pecans and mini chocolate chips! I sprinkled sugar on both tops which gave it a crispy, crunchy bite! This recipe is wonderful and easy to make!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 20, 2024

      Hi Susan! I’m so glad you loved the recipe! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Rhonda
    January 20, 2024

    This is literally the best banana bread I’ve ever eaten! I’ve made it twice now. I add an extra T of coconut oil.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 20, 2024

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

      Reply

  • Samasi
    January 20, 2024

    Hi
    Every thing was perfect but I just couldn’t get the right temperature. But taste was perfect 😋 thank you for the best ratios,،🥰

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 20, 2024

      Hi Samasi! I’m glad you loved the recipe. I like to use an In oven thermometer (Amazon affiliate link) to ensure my oven is fully heated.

      Reply

  • Darla Carroll
    January 19, 2024

    This banana bread was SIMPLE and delicious. I did the swap of honey for the sugar and added pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, and chia seeds. It was DELICIOUS!!! Prep and cook times were on point!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 19, 2024

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Darla!

      Reply

  • Linda Brondige
    January 19, 2024

    Hi Natasha. I just made this, doubled the recipe and they turned out great! Thank you! I am wondering if you can give a cup amount on the bananas. 3 bananas can yield a range of actual amount. I went with three cups for two loaves. Also, do you have a suggestion for keeping the loaf from getting so brown while baking? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 19, 2024

      Hi Hi Linda, for a single batch it is about 1 3/4 cups of mashed bananas

      Reply

  • Lauren
    January 18, 2024

    I’ve tried a LOT of banana bread recipes. This one is by far the best – especially texture wise! I slightly reduced the sugar and added some chocolate chips, and a few days later, after being warmed up in the microwave it tastes just as yummy as it did out of the oven.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 18, 2024

      Hi Lauren! That’s great to hear. It’s our favorite banana bread recipe!

      Reply

  • Sandra D.
    January 18, 2024

    Hi Natasha,
    Have made this Banana Bread several times, we love it! I leave out the raisins but other than that I follow the recipe. Delicious!! Thanks for all your great recipes.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 18, 2024

      You’re very welcome, Sandra!

      Reply

  • Kenneth McClain
    January 17, 2024

    Is it safe to double the measurements for two loaves or do adjustments need to be made. I’m new to baking and I just don’t want to waste ingredients doing it incorrectly.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 17, 2024

      Hi Kenneth! You can double the ingredients. You’ll need to ensure you have enough pans or a large pan to fit the batter (without over-filling) so that they can be baked together at the same time. Keep an eye on it in the oven. The baking time will change if you are using a different size pan.

      Reply

  • Irene Kielty
    January 17, 2024

    Made 3 banana breads on the weekend. Plain, chocolate chip and with walnuts and raisins. Were very tasty and recipes are keepers.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 17, 2024

      We love this recipe! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

  • Ally
    January 16, 2024

    I don’t know what happened! This made a very dry loaf. I wouldn’t try making this recipe again, but it seemed to work for others.

    Reply

    • Natasha's Kitchen
      January 16, 2024

      This recipe has been tested and proved time after time with hundreds of 5-star reviews. Did you make any substitutions? My thought would be that either your ingredients were not measured correctly or it was over baked and dried out. Be sure to watch my tutorial on How to measure ingredients . Using too much flour would cause this to be dry. I hope that helps in your baking endeavor

      Reply

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