on Apr 24, 2017, Updated Jul 21, 2023 54 Comments If you love banana bread, then I urge you to give this Chocolate Banana Bread recipe a try soon! So rich and delicious, the flavor combination of banana and chocolate is perfect together! I’ve included an ingredient that enhances the chocolate even more! As much as my family loves our traditional banana bread recipe, this chocolate version is one that is often requested by the chocolate lovers in the family.
How to Make the Chocolate Banana Bread
Once I started baking banana bread more and more often, I finally understood why my grandmother had a special bunch of bananas always on hold. She had plenty for snacking, but the special ones beside her bread box were reserved for banana bread or amazing Southern Banana Pudding. I’ll admit that I started doing the same. One bunch goes into the fruit bowl, and another goes to the side for recipes. Banana bread makes a great thing to bake for a simple breakfast, dessert, or snack, to take to work to share with coworkers or to deliver to a friend that needs a little extra care. And I think it is one of the best ways to introduce yourself to a new neighbor. Here’s how I make it:
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
Bananas – ripe bananas with dark spots that are ripe enough to mash Dark brown sugar – gives the recipe a deep, rich molasses flavor Butter (salted) – softened to room temperature Eggs – room temperature to combine best into the batter All-purpose flour – give your flour a quick whisk to remove any lumps if required Cocoa powder – use unsweetened cocoa powder, not Dutch process. They are not interchangeable. Espresso powder – this little extra ingredient brings even more richness to the chocolate Baking soda – works for leavening the bread to help it rise Salt – I use kosher salt Vanilla extract – I use my homemade vanilla extract, but you can also use quality store-bought vanilla.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Mix the ingredients. You can mix by hand or use an electric mixer based on your preference. Mix together the softened butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Remove the bananas from their peelings, mash them with a fork, and mix until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg to make sure well blended into the batter. In another mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and espresso powder until blended. Then add the flour/cocoa mixture to the banana mixture and combine them until smooth. Add the baking soda, salt, and vanilla extract and stir until well combined. Pour into the prepared loaf pan. Bake. Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, turn the baked chocolate banana bread out onto a wire rack to cool until it is still slightly warm before serving. Allow it to cool completely before covering it.
Storage Tips
To store. Allow the baked bread to cool completely. Store it under a cake dome, wrapped well, or in an airtight container on the countertop for 3-4 days. To freeze. Wrap well with wrap, place in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw, reheat, and serve. Thaw completely overnight. Reheat in the oven or microwave and slice to serve.
Other Favorite Bread and Muffin Recipes
Zucchini Bread Softened butter to room temperature – not warm or melted butter – incorporates better when creaming with the sugar. It gives the bread a moist, tender texture. Blueberry Muffins Banana Muffins Cornbread Cinnamon Apple Muffins Here’s my Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe. I hope you love it as much as we do! Enjoy!Robyn xo From the Add a Pinch recipe archives. Originally published 2015.
