Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Walnuts

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Walnuts tastes like a warm hug feels. The melted chocolate chips and mashed banana make for a moist, sweet bread, while the chopped walnuts add just the right amount of texture and nuttiness. When life gives you brown bananas, make banana bread!

Jump to:

• Breakfast and then Some
• Old Bananas? Yes, Please!
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is Easy
• Banana Bread Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Top Tip
• Similar Recipes
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Walnuts
• Storage
• Top Tip
• Food safety

Breakfast and then Some

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread can be enjoyed as a breakfast treat or enjoyed with a scoop of ice cream for dessert. It’s the perfect breakfast for those who are always on the go and don’t have time to sit down and enjoy breakfast. In fact, we often used to enjoy a slice of banana bread with a Yeti full of hot tea on our morning commute. What makes driving down Market Street more enjoyable than dessert for breakfast?

Old Bananas? Yes, Please!

We came up with this banana bread recipe as a means to use up all the bananas we thought we would eat during the week prior. Instead of throwing overly ripened bananas in the compost, we used them up the tastiest way possible and ended up making our favorite banana bread recipe. As always, chocolate chips are involved and we don’t need to explain why. Hint: have you ever taken a trip to Costco and bought a dozen banana nut muffins and thought, “hmm, these are delicious, but they could really use some chocolate”? There you have it.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is Easy

We often hear people say they’re cooks, but not bakers. Guess what? You can be both! Like stovetop recipes, baked goods recipes range from super simple to complex. Yes, baking is a science, but you don’t need to be a chemist to nail this recipe. In fact, if you’re dipping your toe in the water for the first time, we recommend you start with baking banana bread. You will impress yourself, your tastebuds, and the friends you share this loaf with. Plus, you get to use those brown bananas you had planned to throw away. Also, once you've made banana bread, it will open the door to other baked goods!

Banana Bread Ingredients

• Over Ripened Bananas - use over-ripened bananas where the peels are nearly dark brown. This is typically one week after the bananas are ripe.
• Ripened banana - provides a rich blast of banana flavor and sweetness.
• Vanilla extract - adds complexity and sweetness to the bread. For a stronger vanilla flavor, use vanilla bean paste.
• Butter - Butter adds flavor, a higher rise, and a crisper crust.
• Egg - binds the ingredients together. Use a room temperature egg so it spreads evenly in the bread dough.
• Ground cinnamon - provides the distinct sweet taste to both the bread and cinnamon crust.
• Kosher salt - balances the sweetness from the sugar for both the bread and crust topping.
• Brown Sugar - adds moistness and sweetness to both the bread and cinnamon crust.
• Granulated sugar - adds sweetness to both the bread and the crust.
• All-purpose flour - the foundation for the bread.
• Baking soda - helps the banana bread dough spread.
• Baking powder - helps make the bread soft and tender.
• Chocolate chips - we recommend semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips because they are the perfect combination of sweet and rich.
• Walnuts - adds a crunchy and rich texture to the bread

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the Oven - Heat the oven at 350°F.
2. Mash the ripened bananas then add wet ingredients - First, in a large mixing bowl, mash the over-ripened bananas.  Then, using a spatula, fold in the melted butter, vanilla, sugar, and cinnamon.  Add in the egg and mix until homogeneous.
3. Mix dry ingredients then add to wet ingredients - In separate mixing bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well-mixed.  Fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just mixed. Then, fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
4. Make the Cinnamon Sugar Mixture - In a small mixing bowl, mix ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ tablespoon granulated sugar, and ½ tablespoon brown sugar until well-mixed. Set aside.
5. Pour the batter into baking pan - After, pour batter into a greased loaf pan and smooth with a spatula. Press the sliced bananas flat side up into the batter.  Dust the top of the batter and bananas with the cinnamon sugar.
6. Bake then allow to cool before serving - Place in the oven and bake for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 10-15 minutes.  Using a butter knife, cut around the perimeter of the loaf to separate the bread from the pan. Turn the pan upside down onto a plate.  Turn the loaf right-side up and slice.

Hint: Make sure the baking pan is greased but not too greasy before pouring the batter. To ensure we find the right balance, we place a little olive oil on a paper towel then thoroughly rub the pan with the paper towel to spread the grease.

Substitutions

• Gluten free - use gluten free all-purpose flour to make this gluten free. We recommend this gluten free flour for the best results.
• Vanilla bean paste - use vanilla bean paste instead of vanilla extract for a richer vanilla flavor.
• Dark chocolate Chips - if you prefer the intensely flavored and lightly bitter taste of dark chocolate, use dark chocolate chips or chunks instead of semi-sweet.

Variations

• Extra chocolatey - If you want to make the loaf even more chocolatey, add another half cup of chocolate chips or chunks to the dough.
• Mini Chocolate Chips - You can use mini chocolate chips if you prefer the texture to larger chocolate chips or chunks.
• No nuts - If you are allergic to walnuts or simply don't like the taste, you can omit them.
• Less banana flavor - Omit the sliced banana on top of the loaf for a more subtle banana flavor.

Equipment

This chocolate chip bread recipes requires common kitchen essentials. You will need a strainer or whisk to sift the flour, knife, cutting board, mixing bowl, electric handheld mixer or stand mixer, baking pan, and cooling rack.

Storage

Store the banana chocolate chip bread in an air-tight container or place banana bread back in loaf pan with foil over the top. Keep in a cool, dry place for up to 5-7 days.

Top Tip

If you are unsure whether the banana bread is completely baked, pierce the loaf with a knife then take out the knife. If the knife has any batter or ingredients stuck to it, the bread needs to continue baking.

Similar Recipes

If you love this chocolate banana bread, we recommend checking out:

• Pumpkin Scones with Miso Glaze
• Chocolate Chip Brioche Bread Pudding
• Matcha Cookies
• Crispy Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Food safety

• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.