This Double Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe is the best banana bread we’ve ever had! Soft, sweet and packed with delicious chocolate throughout. This easy banana bread is perfect for pot lucks, parties, weekend baking!
If you love banana bread recipes like we do, try our Hawaiian Branana Bread recipe too!
The Best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
My family all agreed that this was the best banana bread recipe we’ve ever had. I know that’s quite the statement, but wow…we couldn’t get enough of it! So excited for you to try my simple yet unforgettable recipe. Enjoy all year round, but it can be extra special for the Holidays. Makes the perfect Valentine’s Day Dessert, great for gifting to neighbors, fun for weekend baking with the kids too! You name it….it’s probably the perfect time to bake my Chocolate Banana Bread recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft and Sweet. This chocolate chip banana bread is ultra soft and chocolate-y sweet!
- Makes a Great Gift. I love gifting my homemade banana bread to family and friends.
- Easy To Make. You can’t get much easier than this fool proof banana bread recipe!
Try my Roasted Banana Bread Recipe With Streusel Topping too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.
What You’ll Need
Let’s take a look at the ingredients needed to make this chocolate banana bread recipe at home. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full details and instructions.
- Salted Butter, softened- I generally use salted butter for my cooking and baking, but unsalted butter works too.
- Dark Brown Sugar– When shopping for brown sugar, you’ll find light brown sugar and dark brown sugar. Either will work, but I like the dark brown for this recipe.
- Granulated Sugar– This brings the sweetness to the banana bread.
- RIPE Bananas– When your bananas get brown spotted, that’s when you know they’re ready for banana bread making.
- Large Eggs– To keep consistency in my baking, I always purchase large eggs.
- Pure Vanilla Extract– Make sure your vanilla is pure vanilla extract for best results.
- All-Purpose Flour– The flour is the main dry ingredient in banana bread. All-purpose works best.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder– Unsweetened cocoa powder gives that rich chocolate flavor and color. I like the Special Dark from Hershey’s if you can find it.
- Baking Soda– Baking soda is part of the dry ingredients that helps in rising the banana bread.
- Kosher Salt– Kosher salt is a course salt. I prefer using it in my cooking and baking.
- Chocolate Chunks– You can find chocolate chunks in the chocolate chips section. If they’re not available, you can chop your own chocolate. Trader Joe’s has an amazing bloc of chocolate. Symphony Bars and Hershey’s XL works great too.
- Mini Peanut Butter Cups– Trader Joe’s or Sprouts sell mini peanut butter cups and Reese’s makes a good peanut butter chip.
- Milk Chocolate– I use the Ghirardelli melts to drizzle on top of the baked banana bread.
What Makes This The BEST Chocolate Banana Bread?
I’ve been making banana bread for even longer than I started Picky Palate back in 2007, so I’ve made some good observations about what it takes for the perfect banana bread. There are a few things that will set your banana bread apart for the others.
- Good Recipe. To start, you need a good recipe. Check one, I’ve tested and experimented with my fair share of banana bread variations. This chocolate chip banana bread is fantastic.
- Ripe Bananas. Bananas are a big part of this recipe, so you need to make sure your banana are nice and ripe.
- Dark Brown Sugar. I used dark brown sugar for my chocolate banana bread today and it was a total game changer. Don’t substitute the dark brown sugar for this recipe.
- Cocoa Powder. You’ll find cocoa powder at your grocery store, if at all possible find the Hershey’s Dark. I find it is just better.
- Good Chocolate. Not all chocolate is created equal 🙂 My recipe uses chocolate chunks that I chop myself. Get a good piece of chocolate to chop yourself. Trader Joe’s has a fantastic block of chocolate that is perfect for my recipe plus I use it in so many of my cookie recipes. Go check it out!
- Mini Peanut Butter Cups. My recipe also uses just a handful of mini peanut butter cups which gives the bread such a great flavor combination without being too peanut buttery. I also get the cute mini peanut butter cups from Trader Joe’s.
How To Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a regular size loaf pan with cooking spray.
Combine Butter and Sugars. Place butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar into a large mixing bowl, mixing until creamed nicely.
Eggs and Bananas. Add eggs and vanilla mixing until well combined. Stir in bananas mixing well.
Dry Ingredients. Slowly add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt mixing until batter is combined. Add chocolate chunks and peanut butter cups, stirring to combine.
Transfer Batter To Loaf Pan. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan spreading evenly.
How Full Do I Fill The Loaf Pan?
I fill my loaf pan 3/4 full with banana bread batter.
Bake for 55-60 minutes, until baked through and toothpick comes out mostly clean from center. Remove and let cool for an hour before transferring bread from pan. When cooled, flip and transfer to serving plate. Drizzle with melted chocolate and serve.
How Long Do You Bake Banana Bread?
While each recipe will be slightly different, my chocolate banana bread bakes for about an hour. Check your banana bread with a toothpick through the middle to make sure toothpick comes mostly clean.
Drizzle Chocolate. After chocolate chop banana bread has cooled, drizzle melted chocolate on top. I used more of the chocolate chunks that were used inside the batter to melt in the microwave. I placed the melted chocolate inside the corner of a ziplock bag, snipped the edge of the baggie and used it as a little piping bag to drizzle over the top of the bread. You can also use a spoon.
Recipe Questions and Answers
What If I Don’t Have Ripe Bananas? Can I Still Make Banana Bread?
Yes you can! Simply bake unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet in a 250°F oven until soft, 15-20 minutes. Let cool, peel, and they’re ready to use in your banana bread recipe!
What If I Don’t Have Chocolate Chunks?
While I don’t recommend substituting the chocolate chunks in my chocolate banana bread, if needed use good chocolate chips as a substitute such as Ghirardelli in its place.
Where Can I Find Mini Peanut Butter Cups?
I get my mini peanut butter cups from Trader Joe’s, however some grocery stores will have them in bins where you scoop your own in a bag. If you still can’t find them, you can always chop up Reese’s peanut butter cups. Works just fine as well.
How To Serve
In all honesty, this sweet chocolate banana bread can stand alone, but I also like to serve it a dollop of whipped cream and or a nice fruit bowl. You can also bake your bread the night before so you can slice the day of serving.
Storing Instructions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container either room temperature or chilled in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezing Instructions
To freeze chocolate banana bread, place cooled bread into an airtight bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before enjoying.
Try More Easy Banana Bread Recipes
Double Chocolate Banana Bread
Equipment
- Oven
- Bowl
- loaf pan
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter salted, softened
- 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 large ripe bananas mashed
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder I like to use Hershey’s dark
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup chocolate chunks
- 1/2 cup mini peanut butter cups I get mine from Trader Joe’s
- 1 cup chocolate chunks melted to drizzle on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a regular size loaf pan with cooking spray.
- Place butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar into a large mixing bowl, mixing until creamed nicely. Add eggs and vanilla mixing until well combined. Stir in bananas mixing well. Slowly add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt mixing until batter is combined. Add chocolate chunks and peanut butter cups, stirring to combine. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan spreading evenly. Bake for 55-60 minutes, until baked through and toothpick comes out mostly clean from center. Remove and let cool for an hour before transferring bread from pan. When cooled, flip and transfer to serving plate. Drizzle with melted chocolate and serve.
Nutrition
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