Chocolate Chip Banana Bread: Making a Good Thing Even Better

One year for the holidays, I took on the crazy task of making the big meals all by myself – both Thanksgiving and Christmas. But I needed a little help with dessert.

Luckily, I had amazing family and friends who all offered their best recipes for pies, cookies, and cakes.

The one I loved the most might not be as traditional as pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, or gingerbread cookies for Christmas – but it was my absolute favorite baked good that year.

My friend Kelley’s recipe for banana chocolate chip bread was delicious as breakfast in the morning, as a snack between meals, and as a late-night sweet treat before heading to a warm bed on those chilly winter nights.

Around Thanksgiving, when she knew that I would be making these meals by myself, she wanted to print out all her favorite dessert recipes and send them to me.

She sent me links and documents with recipes to try, one of which was this banana bread. I printed it off and baked the recipe immediately, since I had my family staying for an extended visit. And I knew they would be hungry as soon as they arrived.

It’s a sturdy cake-like bread, easy to slice off and hold in your hand. The sweetness is subtle, not overpowering.

And the chocolate chips?

Well, I was a slow convert with this add-in. I was so used to the classic recipe without any other ingredients! And I’ve made a gluten-free version that’s also similar to the classic.

But this recipe really grew on me. And now? I’m all in. I’ve even adjusted other recipes to include them, like when I make chocolate chip banana cake and banana breakfast cookies!

That Kelley, she’s really something. Thanks for the recipe, friend. I may have doubled the amount of candy you had in there.

I’m past the point of no return.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

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• Author: Shanna Mallon
• Total Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
• Yield: 1 loaf 1x

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Description

You can never have too many quick bread recipes, especially with our chocolate chip banana bread. Learn how to make this cake-like treat now.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 large)
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 3 tablespoons whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a loaf pan with parchment paper. Spray the entire loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar and butter on medium speed until blended together. Add eggs one at a time, and continue to beat the mixture until combined at medium speed.
4. Mix in the bananas, sour cream, milk, and vanilla.
5. Add the flour mixture. Beat at low speed, just until combined.
6. Stir in 1 cup of the chocolate chips without overmixing, reserving the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips for garnish.
7. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes in the pan on a wire rack, then remove loaf and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Quick Breads
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Baked Goods

Keywords: banana bread, chocolate chips, banana, chocolate

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the bottom of a loaf pan with parchment paper. Spray the entire loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray, and set out any other baking tools you’ll need.

In a bowl with a fork, mash together the bananas – leave a few chunks for bites of texture! I like to use overripe bananas for this recipe to get more flavor and sweetness.

Step 2 – Whisk Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3 – Beat Butter and Sugar

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a handheld mixer, beat the granulated sugar and unsalted butter on medium speed until blended together. The mixture will look like semi-wet sand.

Step 4 – Add Eggs

Add eggs one at a time, and continue to beat the mixture until combined at medium speed. Scrape down the bowl with a spatula, if there are areas that are not mixed together.

Step 5 – Add Fruit and Wet Ingredients

Mix in the mashed bananas, sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract.

You can also use the same amount of yogurt, or even plain mayonnaise, in place of the sour cream. Either of these alternative options will give the same creaminess and tanginess as the sour cream.

Step 6 – Add the Dry Mixture

Add the flour mixture into the bowl. Beat at low speed, just until combined. No overmixing here! You don’t want the final product to be tough and chewy.

Step 7 – Add the Chips

Stir in 1 cup of the chips without overmixing, reserving the 1/4 cup for garnish.

Step 8 – Pour in Pan and Add Garnish

Pour the finished batter into the prepared loaf pan. Scatter the remaining 1/4 cup of chips on top for a pretty garnish.

Step 9 – Bake and Cool

Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The top of the loaf will be a deep, golden-brown color.

Cool for 20 minutes in the pan on a wire rack, then remove the loaf and transfer it to the rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

About Shanna Mallon

Shanna Mallon is a freelance writer who holds an MA in writing from DePaul University. Her work has been featured in a variety of media outlets, including The Kitchn, Better Homes & Gardens, Taste of Home, Houzz.com, Foodista, Entrepreneur, and Ragan PR. In 2014, she co-authored The Einkorn Cookbook with her husband, Tim. Today, you can find her digging into food topics and celebrating the everyday grace of eating on her blog, Go Eat Your Bread with Joy. Shanna lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with Tim and their two small kids.

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