Moist Chocolate Banana Bread (Printable)
A moist, rich banana loaf with chocolate chips, ideal for breakfast or a delicious snack.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
05 - 3 ripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1 1/4 cups)
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
07 - 2/3 cup granulated sugar
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Add-ins
10 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
11 - Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and well blended.
04 - Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, avoiding overmixing to maintain tenderness.
05 - Fold in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts if using.
06 - Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top evenly.
07 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
08 - Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely prior to slicing.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The cocoa powder turns ordinary banana bread into something that tastes like a dessert without tasting fake or overly sweet.
- It comes together in one bowl rhythm that feels more like assembly than actual baking.
- Those chocolate chips melt just enough to create little pockets of richness throughout.
02 -
- Don't pull the bread out when it looks perfectly set—those moist crumbs on the toothpick mean it will stay tender as it cools, and it will firm up enough to slice cleanly.
- Overmixing the batter is the most common mistake, and it's the thing that turns this into a dense brick instead of a soft loaf.
03 -
- Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top before baking for a professional-looking finish and extra chocolate in every bite.
- Substitute half the granulated sugar with brown sugar for a deeper, richer flavor profile that pairs beautifully with the cocoa.