Chocolate Banana Bread
on Nov 19, 2018, Updated Aug 06, 2020
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Serve this chocolate banana cake as a deep chocolatey dessert or slice it up and call it a chocolate banana bread.
Is it cake or is it bread? You’ll be too far lost in its deep chocolate flavor to care what it is called.
About this
This chocolate banana bread tastes more like a dessert but maybe a bit lighter and healthier (in your mind at least) than a cake.
Either way, its loaded with chocolate and bananas and is a showstopper dessert bread.
Featured ingredients
- Wheat flour (makes is a bit cakier than bread)
- Cocoa powder
- Bananas
- Sour Cream
- Bittersweet Chocolate
How to make it
Start by turning your oven on at 350° F. and grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
Line the pan with parchment paper and let’s get started with the good stuff.
If you don’t have any whole wheat flour on hand, don’t sweat it.
You can go all-purpose all the way for a less dense and more bread-like finished product.
Why ripe bananas work best
- They are easier to mash and will be more evenly distributed in the batter.
- Ripe bananas are sweeter as their starch content converts to sugar over time.
- They are more aromatic and will enhance the flavor of the banana bread.
Use a stand mixer or hand mixer and cream the butter, brown sugar, and eggs.
Pro baking tips
- Crack your eggs open in a small dish before adding to the main bowl, to prevent ruining the entire batch if you have a bloody egg or lose a bunch of shell with the egg.
- Use eggs that are at room temperature. This will help ensure a more even baking process.
- Only have cold eggs from the refrigerator? Not a problem. Follow this link to learn How to Bring Eggs to Room Temperature.
The chocolate banana bread uses sour cream which is pretty common in many chocolate cake recipes.
Sour cream is used for creamy textures and subtle sour notes that nicely compliment the chocolate.
Feel free to substitute plain Greek nonfat yogurt, instead of sour cream. You’ll still get a great flavor and added creaminess with fewer fat and calories.
After you combine the wet and dry mixtures, you will fold in some chopped bittersweet chocolate for this banana bread.
Use the last banana to crown this loaf of chocolate banana bread.
After you evenly distribute the batter into the prepared loaf pan, slice up the remaining banana, lengthwise, and lay it on top of the batter. Sprinkle some
demerara sugaron top of the whole thing and it’s ready for the oven!
Bake this chocolate banana bread for 65-75 minutes.
This banana bread takes a little over an hour to bake. It’s done when a cake tester is inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow the chocolate loaf to cool completely and then use the overhanging parchment paper to lift it out of the pan and on a serving platter or cutting board.
Chocolate Banana Bread from Platter Talk
Similar recipes
More chocolate recipes
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Chocolate Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1.25 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 5 bananas, large, over-ripe
- 6 tbs unsalted butter
- 1.25 cup brown sugar, light
- 2 eggs, large, room temperature
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 tbsp demerara sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F and lightly grease a 9×5″ loaf pan. Line the bottom of the loaf pan with parchment paper, and leave a good amount of overhang.
- Combine the flours with the cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt, using a medium-sized bowl.
- Use a fork to mash 4 bananas, in a small mixing bowl until smooth. Next, cream the brown sugar and the butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add each egg, one at a time and while mixing. Add the add sour cream, vanilla, and mashed bananas and stir until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ones, taking care to not over-beat. Fold in the chopped chocolate. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and distribute evenly. Be sure to scrape sides and bottom of the mixing bowl as to get every last bit of the batter.
- Slice remaining banana into thirds, lengthwise, and place on top of batter. Sprinkle the top of batter and bananas with the demerara sugar. Place chocolate banana bread in the oven and bake for 65-75 minutes, until a cake tester comes clean when inserted in center of the loaf.
- Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Then, use the overhanging parchment paper to lift the loaf out of the pan and onto serving platter or cutting board.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Your chocolate banana bread looks glorious! Mmm…I look forward to making two of these loaves next week. One for my husband and I, and one for sharing with his office staff.
I have no words to say how much this chocolate banana bread looks impressive! This is such a beautiful dessert for the whole family. Beautiful color and I’m sure that the taste is really incredible. I’m happy to try your recipe.
I’m usually ho hum when it comes to banana bread. I’ve made and eaten so many banana breads throughout the years. BUT!!!! I haven’t had it with chocolate or the gorgeous banana slices added to it. What a wonderful idea. This takes an ordinary recipe and makes it extraordinary.
This is brilliant. My hubby hates chocolate on banana bread but he has to make for me and my daughter or he will be disowned. We will introduce this recipe this year. I love the idea of the banana slices on top of the banana bread.
I’m not the biggest fan of banana bread, but when you add chocolate, I’m sold! This looks absolutely delicious, and perfect served warm
what a great idea to combine chocolate with banana I love this bread it sounds scrumptious!
Love this recipe for chocolate banana bread – it’s perfect to serve during the holidays! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving boys!!
Thanks, Ladies. So nice to read your kind comments and we wish you and your families a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!