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.







Can I use pumpkin seeds instead of walnuts?
Sure, that would be fine.
I used three very ripe medium bananas and this recipe came out perfect! I did not add walnuts and raisins, and added around a 1/3-1/2 cup of semisweet chocolate chips.
I made this again today. So very good. My husband showed me the ripe bananas. I can take a hint.
I’m so happy you loved it again, Beverly!
I’ve been making this for YEARS, today I couldn’t find my loaf pan quick enough so I threw it in muffin cups! They’re in the oven right now and not sure if the baking time would be the same?
Hi Alanna, See my Banana Muffin Recipe for bake time instructions
Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda I don’t have that in my pantry that’s why I’m asking
Hi Ala’, It can work with baking powder too, but it’s less potent so you’ll need to use more.
This was Really Easy to make, and it taste OH 😋So Good & Moist😋. All ingredients were in the house only needed to buy Bananas, Thank You 🫠
You’re very welcome, Brenda! So glad you enjoyed it.
My wife asks me to make this almost weekly. Great recipe.
We use about 1/4 cup sugar and 6tbspns of butter.
That’s great to hear! I”m glad that this has become your go-to-recipe for Banaana bread!
So soooo goood and so moist!!! They are so yummy!!!
Hello this recipie is very good. Can you use brown sugar instead of regular sugar
Hi Michele! That would be fine, it will be slightly more dense, moist, and have richer molasses flavor.
If I want to omit the nuts do I need to replace it with something else?
Hi Dana. No changes are needed, you can just leave them out. I hope you love the recipe.
Made the chocolate chip one last night and regular one this morning without the walnuts and raisins (didn’t have any). They are sooo moist and good. I don’t know how this differs from my old recipe, I will have to pull it out and see, but your recipes for banana bread is excellent!! Thank you!
Ah, thanks so much, Barbara! So happy you loved it.
I tried this recipe using honey instead of sugar. It turned out more moist with a slightly crunchy crust. I also substituted dried cranberries instead of raisons, which added a slight bit of tartness to the sweetness of the bread. Instead of walnuts, I used pecans, which I find more tasty. This is a great recipe with many flavorful variations. Thank you, Natasha, for this and all your wonderful recipes.
Thank you for trying my recipe and sharing those adjustments with me, Jim! I’m glad to hear you loved it.
If you use honey, what is the 1:1 ratio compare to sugar?
You can use the same amount, or reduce slightly if your banana are very sweet.
Just got done baking mine and it was delicious!!! I can’t wait to add chocolate chips to my next one.
I’m happy to now that you enjoyed it!
I don’t exactly know how all these simple ingredients come together to create a loaf of deliciousness but they do!
I only had a glass loaf pan so I had to add some time to the recipe to ensure the centre wasn’t gooey! Yummy!
Great to hear that you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious 😋. Can you use brown sugar instead of regular sugar ??
Hi Michele, One of readers shared this comment “Came out deliciously moist. I put a little brown sugar butter on my piece and it was so good. & my daughter loved hers plain. Will definitely add this to our desert faves.” Hope that helps!
I made this yesterday and it’s delicious, especially with raisins & walnuts. Had all the ingredients in my pantry & I’m only a novice baker. Started smelling great about 40 minutes in. I highly recommend this easy recipe, it’s going fast & the whole family loves it.
Thank you so much for sharing that, Ingrid. I’m thrilled it turned out so well.
Baked your banana bread this morning I subbed raisins for carrots it came out perfect. I love your recipes ❤️🥰🙌🏼
Hi Deborah! What a great idea, I bet it was delicious. Thanks for sharing.