Chocolate Banana Bread

Chocolate banana bread is as simple as classic banana bread with added cocoa powder and chocolate chips to give it a fudgy, chocolate flavor!

If you loved my Classic Banana Bread and you love chocolate, you’re going to love chocolate banana bread. It’s the last recipe for banana month and it’s just as easy as classic banana bread.

It looks like chocolate bread with a banana flavor and the chocolate chips give it a slightly more fudgy texture but it’s not gummy. It’s the perfect chocolate banana treat to have with your morning coffee. 

How to make Chocolate Banana Bread 

There are a few changes to the ingredients to make it chocolate flavored but the steps are essentially the same as classic banana bread. In a large bowl you mix the wet ingredients, add in the mashed bananas, and fold in the dry ingredients. Then you fold in the chocolate chips and pour it into the bread pan to bake.  

Ingredients: 

• Bananas: Bananas should be measured in either grams or cups because they are not all created equal in size. You will need 400 grams or about 1 ¾ cup of mashed banana. To get this you can use:
  • 3 large ripe bananas
  • 4 medium sized bananas
  • If I’m a little short of 400g, I add a little water to make up the difference. I recommend using a digital scale when baking to make measuring easier. 
• Eggs: It’s best to use room temperature eggs. If you forget to take them out ahead of time, warm them in hot water for 5-10 minutes.
• Sugar: I upped my sugar a little bit because the cocoa powder makes it a little more bitter. If you want it less sweet, you can cut out 1/4 cup of the sugar and switch to dark chocolate chips.
• Fat: I use vegetable oil or canola oil but you can use any neutral oil or even avocado or olive oil in this recipe.
• Liquid: I used Greek yogurt to justify eating half the loaf for breakfast, lol. If you don’t have any, you can use sour cream too.
• Flour: I used all-purpose flour in my banana bread because it’s what most people have at home. I replaced some of the flour with cocoa powder to make extra fudgy.
  • I highly recommend using a digital scale anytime when measuring flour because over and under measuring is the most common baking mistake. 
• Cocoa Powder: I use unsweetened dutch process cocoa powder for a dark color and richer taste but you can also use unsweetened natural cocoa powder.
• Baking Powder: Some people have told me they can’t find baking soda in the grocery store anymore so I try to develop all my recipe with baking powder. You can use baking soda in this recipe (especially if you use natural cocoa powder as it will be even more acidic). I would do 3/4 tsp baking soda in place of the baking powder.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

How ripe should my bananas be? 

Your bananas should at least have brown spots. The riper they are, the sweeter and softer they are. The best is when the peel is fully brown but the inside is still yellow and soft. 

Can I use natural cocoa powder instead of dutch-process? 

Yes! If you don’t have dutch-process, there is no need to make an extra trip to the grocery store. If you use natural cocoa powder, it would be a good idea to use some baking soda to cut some of the acidity. You could do 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp baking powder OR just 3/4 tsp baking soda, instead of the 1 Tbsp of baking powder. 

How to store Chocolate Banana Bread 

You can store the chocolate banana bread on the counter at room temperature for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it by slicing it, wrapping each slice individually with plastic wrap and then placing them in a freezer bag. It can freeze for 2-3 months. To serve, thaw your bread at room temperature or microwave it on low power (defrost setting) for 30 seconds.

Thanks so much for reading today’s post! If you have any questions just comment down below, I’m happy to answer! If you make this chocolate banana bread I would love to see it. Make sure to tag me @baranbakery on instagram.

As always, have a blessed day and happy baking!

Love, B

Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

Bernice Baran

Chocolate banana bread is as simple as classic banana bread with added cocoa powder and chocolate chips to give it a fudgy, chocolate flavor!

4.78 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Additional Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Breads

Cuisine American

Servings 10 -12 servings

Calories 445 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3 (400g) large ripe bananas mashed
• 3 large eggs room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (118mL) vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup (56g) greek yogurt or sour cream
• 1 1/2 (180g) cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
• 3/4 cup (60g) unsweetened cocoa powder spooned and leveled
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup (6oz) milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Mini chocolate chips for the top

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350F/177C convection (325F/163C conventional + a few more minute of bake time). Grease and line a 9”x5” loaf pan.
• In a small bowl, mash bananas until there are no more large chunks.
  3 (400g) large ripe bananas
• In a large bowl combine the eggs, sugar, oil and greek yogurt, whisking for 2-3 minutes, until they’re completely smooth.
  3 large eggs, 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar, 1/2 cup (118mL) vegetable oil, 1/4 cup (56g) greek yogurt
• Add in the mashed bananas and whisk until it’s combined.
• Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt and fold in the dry ingredients until there’s just a few streaks of flour left.
  1 1/2 (180g) cups all-purpose flour, 3/4 cup (60g) unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt
• Fold in the chocolate chips, just until they’re evenly distributed.
  1 cup (6oz) milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and sprinkle with a few more chocolate chips.
• Bake for 75 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle a few extra mini chocolate chips. Let it cool in the pan for at least an hour. `
  Mini chocolate chips for the top

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 445kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 6gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 242mgFiber: 4gSugar: 45g

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