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.
Love it with chocolate chips and walnuts!!
Absolutely divine. Used whole wheat flour, doubled the raisins (no nuts), no sugar but about 2 tsp honey. My oven took only 45 minutes. Will definitely make again.
I have made lots of banana bread recipes but this is the one I am keeping. Substituted the white sugar with brown sugar and substituted 1.5 all purpose flour with 1 all purpose flour and 1/2 self raising flour (love fluffy cakes)…ohhh my goodness. So so good. Thank you so very much!!!
What a great recipe! This is the best banana bread I have ever made. I used honey instead of sugar, using half the amount since the bananas were very ripe and sweet. I roasted the walnuts as per the recipe and omitted the raisins. It baked in 40 minutes I in a convection oven. The texture was perfect! The flavour was outstanding!
I have made this recipe now six times. It turns out excellent every single time. I took the recipe to a friend’s and forgot my loaf pan so I made jumbo muffins instead and I will tell you they are the best! I just cut my cooking time to 30 minutes and every single person that has tasted this recipe Raves about it. This is my go-to from now on. Thank you
Hi Elaine! I’m so glad it’s become your go-to recipe! Thank you for the review.
Made this once before and turned out very good. Can I add blueberries with the chopped walnuts? If so should I change anything else or will it turn out fine?
Hi Daniel! Some of my viewers reported good results adding blueberries. Just be careful not to overwhelm the batter with too many.
Hi Natasha. The first time I made this bread it was wonderful. The next 3 times I have made this recipe, it burns on the top. I did not use raisins the first time but used them the last 3 times. I am wondering If this is the case. Can you help me out? I love your website and have had much success with all the other recipes I have tried. Thank you.
Hi Jeff, if you have any raisins on the surface, its possible the “sugar” from the raisins is causing it to burn. Also, if your bread is too close to the heating element or if your oven is running hot and needs to be calibrated could be the culprit. I have not had it burn using these steps of course.
I just made it and I was shocked how delicious this was!! Kid loved it too! Highly recommend! To me, it tastes like the banana bread from Starbucks or from the grocery store. I didn’t use raisins and kept the walnut amount the same. I made muffins instead and baked until golden brown, same temp, for 33 minutes. Perfection.
I just made this with choco chips
Amazing
I have tried many recipes and this one is by far the best banana bread I have had. So moist and delicious!!!
Sooo yummy, moist and easy to make. Definitely gonna make again!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Mary!
Thank you Natasha for sharing 🥰super moist and delicious!
This is a fantastic recipe, and my go to for banana bread. I don’t use as much sugar as is called for, as I found that 2/3 of a cup is enough. I also add a teaspoon of maple sugar. Additional I add on package of 4oz of Diamond brand Sweet Maple Walnuts, which I found at Dollar General, and a small bag of chopped pecans (2oz). I am not a big fan of bananas. But I love making this banana bread. Recently served it at a church function and it was all gobbled up. Folks were picking crumbs off the plate. On a side note. If I double the recipe I bake it in a 9″ cake pan (spring form) or a large bunt pan. (Add a dusting of powdered sugar for decoration.) Also, coat the pan with plain bread crumbs instead of flour. It tastes better, and looks better when unfolded.
Thanks for sharing that with us, Caroline!
Made this this evening and it is so very delicious and moist! I substituted organic date Sugar for the white sugar and use just a little bit less and substituted the raisins for semi-sweet chocolate chips. Because I had cinnamon to most things that I do I added some to this and a little bit of cardamon I mixed in with the smashed bananas and it’s fragrances are so beautiful. Thank you for this great recipe I’m sure I’ll keep making it for my family.
5-star Banana Bread Recipe
Amazing! Easy to follow and turned out delicious! I altered slightly- added an extra banana, eliminated raisins, added the walnuts & about 1/2 C mini chocolate chips. Family raved about it. Thank you for a great recipe.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Karen!
Very delicious! Not much of a baker but it was easy and tasty. It did turn out very sweet so if you want a milder sweetness, use less sugar. I didn’t have baking soda so I used a heaping teaspoon of baking powder and it turned out awesome.
This is my second time that I have used your recipe. I just used less sugar, only 1/2 of a cup.
I love it!!
I’m glad you’re loving the recipe, Martha!
Every time I make this for family/friends it doesn’t last more an 2 days! I add a bit of cinnamon and ground cloves as well
I just made this without the walnuts and raisins and pulled it out of the oven half an hour ago. I ate 2 slices while it is still warm with some butter! Highly recommend!
Wow! Just made this today and my entire house smells so good! So easy, my son and I made this together❤️. Natasha, I love your energy! Thank you for sharing and looking forward to making more of your recipes!
Thank you, Emily! I hope you find many more recipes to enjoy here!