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.
I love this recipe so much!! My family loves when i make it 🙂
What cooking temp and time would you recommend if i made this same recipe with a muffin tin?
Hi Laura! I’m so glad the recipe was enjoyed. Please reference my Banana muffins recipe for instructions.
Just made it today and added some avocado oil for extra moistness, and a extra half of a banana. No nuts just raisin and it’s soo moist and smells real good. I really do love your recipes.
Hi ! I would like to make this for my toddler but a bit hesitant on the sugar . Can’t give her honey yet since she is under 2 . What can I substitute white sugar with ? Apple sauce ?
I’m sorry, I haven’t tested any other substitutions to advise.
Absolutely WONDERFUL recipe. Always my go-to when I notice I have some bananas starting to turn brown.
Any suggestions for replacing/substituting the eggs? We have kids with egg allergies.
Hi Lee, while I haven’t tried it, yes there are substitutes that may work according to my research. You can increase the number of mashed bananas, use applesauce, yogurt/buttermilk will also work. I hope that helps.
I tried your recipe and it came out really nice. I added cinnamon instead of vanilla extract and little honey.
Thanks for sharing your recipe
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Taiwo!
I made this with a few tweaks. I omitted the raisins and topped the bread with a walnut, brown sugar streusel. It came out great.
I am getting ready to make these as we are craving for moist banana bread sooooo badly. I’m sure I missed reading it somewhere but if using honey, do I use the same exact measurement stated in the recipe for sugar? Thanks so much. Love alllllll your recipes❤️
Hi Sakeena! Yes, you would use the same amount!
Mixing the butter and sugar first seemed to really make a difference. Great recipe! Thank you for sharing.
Banana nut bread is my favorite . My family loves it . My husband eat his with a cuppa coffee. I love the moistness. I’ve been looking for a great recipe and I have found it. Thank you so much for giving us the recipe. I also like to put cranberries instead of raisins.
Glad to hear that and you’re so welcome, Patty!
My wife loves this recipe. She wanted cupcakes instead of bread so I obliged her and these were gone in no time. The cupcakes took about half the time to bake and they are super moist and delicious. I just made another batch and they came out perfect again. These are simply THE BEST!
Hi Nazz! I’m so glad it was enjoyed! We love this banana bread.
I made mini loaves, used honey instead of sugar and added Lilly’s chocolate chips. I used 4.5 tbs butter instead of 8 and than added 3.5 oz applesauce. Best banana bread I’ve ever made. Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you for sharing that with us.
That sounds yummy! I am going to try it. How long and what temperature did you bake at for mini loaves?
Love this recipe! It is our family go to recipe for delicious and moist banana bread!
I’m so glad to hear that!
Followed almost exactly, except I used a square cake pan and cut bake time in half. I was planning to split the bread, so the square cake gave me too shorter loaves that were just as delicious!
Sounds good, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I made it and turned out great. Easy and inexpensive. I willl use this recipe every time.
I’m so glad to hear that, Audrey! Thank you for sharing.
Hi, I would like to know can I use almond flour instead of all purpose flour?
Hi Carol. I’m sorry, I haven’t tested that substitution to advise. Please let us know if you experiment.
I’ve made this a few times in the last month! So good and so easy. I diced up apples, very small and threw them in because my overwrite bananas seemed too puny.
Hi Debra. Thank you for sharing that with us. I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Never made banana bread before but tried this and it was delicious! I did ripen my bananas in the oven and used pecans instead. Also, I didn’t have the mold that the recipe calls for so I used a casserole dish and added 10 more minutes of baking time. Turned out great!
That’s so great to hear, Leslie! Thanks for trying the recipe.
I have mashed bananas and want to freeze. What is the amt in cups that 3 banana equal?
is it 1 cup or ??
Hi MaryAnn, for a single batch it is about 1 3/4 cups of mashed bananas.
I want to try this recipe but hate raisins! Can I use dried cranberries instead of raisins?
Hi Kim! Yes, you can use dried cranberries or omit the raisins all together.