Description

This moist and flavorful Chocolate Banana Bread combines ripe bananas and rich cocoa powder for a delightful twist on traditional banana bread. Enhanced with chocolate chips and a hint of vanilla, it’s perfect for breakfast, a snack, or a comforting dessert. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it’s easy to prepare and bakes into a tender, chocolatey loaf that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt

Optional

1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan to prevent sticking.
Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
Add eggs and flavorings: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract, mashed ripe bananas, and sour cream or Greek yogurt until just combined.
Incorporate dry ingredients: Gently fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients using a spatula, mixing until just combined to avoid overmixing which can make the bread dense.
Add chocolate chips: If using, carefully fold in the chocolate chips evenly throughout the batter.
Pour and smooth batter: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top evenly with a spatula.
Bake: Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs attached.
Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove it from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use overripe bananas for the best natural sweetness and enhanced banana flavor.
For a richer chocolate taste, opt for dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate.
Try swirling in peanut butter before baking for a delicious chocolate-peanut butter twist.