Chocolate Banana Bread
The ultimate comfort food, Chocolate Banana Bread combines sweet bananas and rich chocolate for a deliciously moist loaf. Perfect for breakfast or as a snack, this easy recipe will satisfy your chocolate cravings any time of the day. Bake it tonight!
Equipment
- Frying Pan
- Blender
- Oven
- Mixing Bowl
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 3 cups very ripe bananas mashed with a fork (about 1 3/4 cups)
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
- 1/3 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder such as Hershey’s
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips divided into 3/4 cup and 1/4 cup
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. This is important to ensure your Chocolate Banana Bread bakes evenly. While the oven heats, prepare your baking pan.
- Grease a 9.25 x 5.25 x 2.75-inch loaf pan and line it with a sheet of parchment paper. The parchment should have at least a two-inch overhang on the sides to help you lift out the loaf after baking. This little trick makes it so much easier to remove the bread without it falling apart!
- In a bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar. Mix until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take around 2 to 3 minutes. This step is crucial for the texture of your bread.
- Add the lightly beaten eggs to the mixture and mix just until combined. Then, add in the mashed bananas and vanilla extract. Mix until everything is well blended. The batter should look smooth and slightly thick.
- In a separate large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sea salt. This step helps to incorporate the dry ingredients evenly, preventing any clumps in your batter.
- Carefully add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed until everything is just combined. Don’t worry if the batter is a little lumpy; that’s perfectly fine! Overmixing can lead to a tough loaf, and we want it soft and moist.
- Use a spatula to fold in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips. This is where the magic happens, as these chocolate morsels melt into the batter while baking, creating pockets of gooey goodness.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan. Make sure to spread it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips over the top, creating a beautiful chocolatey crust.
- Bake in the oven for 55 to 65 minutes. To check if it's done, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, your bread is ready! If it has some batter on it, give it a few more minutes.
- Once baked, let the banana bread rest in the pan for 10 minutes. This allows it to set a bit. Then, gently pull up on the parchment paper to transfer the loaf to a cooling rack. Allow it to cool completely before slicing.
- Enjoy your Chocolate Banana Bread at room temperature or slightly warm. It’s even better with a pat of butter or a drizzle of chocolate sauce!