One of my favorite combinations is banana and chocolate. More so than chocolate and peanut butter. (Gasp!) And, as it seems like I have a thing for baked banana items, chocolate banana bread is one of those things that have been on my to-bake/cook list for a while. And, as usual, I had the perfect amount of over-ripe bananas sitting around for just this occasion.
Won. Der. Ful. And, that would be an understatement. We actually made two loaves. Binks was devouring piece after piece of the first loaf when we received some news from a neighbor, which deserved (at the very least) a loaf to be gifted. That was probably the saddest my husband has ever gotten about banana bread in his life.
This bread is really a denser cake that is full of deep, rich chocolate flavor, without losing the banana foundation. The chocolate chips in the bread add so much that it really moves this up from a ‘bread’ to a ‘dessert’. I can promise you on my loaf pans and the pathetic look on Binks’ face when I moved one loaf away from him that this is absolutely addictive.
Chocolate Banana Bread
slightly adapted from Savory Sweet Life
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temp.
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 large ripened bananas mashed ( or 2.5 small bananas)
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup + 1 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 3 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup of sour cream
- 1 cup chocolate chips (mini chocolate chips work great here)
- Preheat over to 350F.
- Lightly grease a 9×5 loaf pan with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, cream butter, salt, and sugar together.
- Stir in egg, mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla until well blended.
- Mix in baking soda, cocoa, and flour.
- Mix everything until well incorporated, about 3 minutes in an electric mixer.
- Add chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes – 55 minutes, until a toothpick entered in the center of the loaf comes out clean.
- Remove from heat and allow bread to rest in the loaf pan for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, invert the loaf onto the cooling rack.