Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread

You can whip this loaf up in 10 minutes. That’s seriously all it takes to mix up the batter… and then you can wait an hour for it to bake. Sucks, I know. So just try to find the patience because I promise it’s worth it.

This is an absolute favourite around here and we can power through this bread pretty quickly. It keeps really well although that never seems to be a problem. Pro-tip: My favourite way to eat it? Warmed up with an unnecessary amount of salted butter. We also like it toasted with peanut butter or even made into banana bread french toast. Try it. Trust.

Bananas – duh. Just make sure they’re super ripe – like, if you look at them and think you wouldn’t eat them if somebody paid you they’re probably perfect. Friends, there is no such thing as too ripe when it comes to baking with bananas. Frozen bananas work well too, just thaw them first or they’re really tough to mash. 😉

Sugar – a combo of regular sugar and brown sugar is my preference. You can sub in coconut sugar if you like.

Eggs – I’m using large, whole eggs.

Butter and oil – the small amount of oil may seem insignificant, but it gives that extra bit of moisture that is key to the texture of this banana bread. Use whatever oil you like – I often use grapeseed or olive oil. If you really want a substitute for the oil you can try using greek yogurt or applesauce.

Chocolate – I’m using dark chocolate chunks, obviously. You want to use something else like chocolate chips? Go for it but maybe don’t call it chocolate chunk banana bread. 😉

Freezing – you can wrap the whole loaf in plastic and freeze for a few months. Or you can slice it up and wrap and freeze individual slices.

Storing – I wrap the bread and store at room temperature for a few days and it never lasts longer than that around here. On the rare occasion that it’s still around after that I move it to the refrigerator.

Cinnamon Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Version – stir 2 tsp cinnamon into the flour mixture and add 1/2 tsp cinnamon to the coarse sugar before sprinkling over the top.

Banana Nut Bread (Pecan or Walnut) Version – add 3/4 cup chopped nuts to the batter along with the chocolate.

Start by mashing up your super ripe bananas until they’re smooth – that’s how I like it so I don’t receive any complaints about banana chunks in the banana bread heaven forbid – you can leave a few chunks if you don’t have such issues in your house.

Stir in the melted butter (which you’ve made sure is cooled, not hot), oil, sugar, and brown sugar, and stir until well combined. The extra oil added in with the butter gives this banana bread it’s lovely texture and keeps it extra moist.

Add in the eggs and and the vanilla and the espresso powder, if you’re feeling it. It gives the banana bread such great flavour and the espresso complements the chocolate and the bananas perfectly.

Whisk together the dry ingredients. We do this to ensure that the baking soda is evenly distributed, so you don’t end up with weird pockets of uneven rise. Fold the dry ingredients and the chocolate chunks into the banana mixture… I don’t know why everyone stirs in the chocolate after the flour… I always add them in at the same time and I’m still ok.

Pour the batter into your loaf pan, and gently smooth out the top. For extra chocolatey goodness and to make it look extra pretty, sprinkle and handful of chocolate chunks over the top. Then, because who doesn’t love a crackly, crunchy top? Sprinkle the batter with a generous layer of coarse sugar. You don’t have to do this but you should.

Bake the bread for 55-65 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the top is golden brown, your kitchen smells insanely good, and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean (a few fudgy streaks of chocolate is ok).

• My perfect Chocolate Chunk Banana Muffins are basically the muffin version of this bread.
• This Banana Bread with Pecans is like the next level version of this chocolate chunk banana bread.
• Are cookies for breakfast your jam? Same. Try my Banana Almond Flour Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle and Banana Crunch and I promise you’ll fall in love.

If you like this Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Recipe let me know what you think in the comments below and please find and follow me on Social Media!