This Dreamy Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is packed with bananas, oats, and chocolate. Hellooooo match made in heaven! This easy peasy recipe is sure to leave you wanting more.
My daughter always does a little dance whenever bananas on the counter turn spotty since she knows a big loaf of banana bread is sure to follow.
Dreamy Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Feel free to make a second loaf to freeze for later – the best part of banana bread (aside from how delicious it is) is how easy it is to freeze, thaw, and faceplant whenever the craving strikes!
I also adore it lightly toasted the next day and slathered with peanut butter or drizzled with honey. YES PLEASE!
Dreamy Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
This Dreamy Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is packed with bananas, oats, and chocolate. Hellooooo match made in heaven! This easy peasy recipe is sure to leave you wanting more.
Ingredients
- 1 flax egg (or 1 large egg)
- 5 TBSP unsalted butter
- 1 cup super ripe banana (2 medium bananas)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup honey or pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp coconut oil
- 1 TBSP lemon juice
- 1 cup unbleached white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup ground oat flour [see notes]
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2-3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup dark Choc 60% caco chips
Instructions
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Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees F and whip up your flax egg, if using one.
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To make a flax egg, simply combine 1 tablespoon of ground flax with 3 tablespoons of water, whisk, and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes. No need to time it, just pop it in the fridge until you’re ready to add it to the mix.
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Next grab 5 tablespoons from a stick of butter and slice. Slicing is optional, but will help the butter melt faster and more evenly. Add the butter to a small saucepan on medium-low heat and whisk occasionally, keeping an eye on the pot to prevent burning. A few minutes later, once the butter fully melts, it will start to froth and bubble at the top. Keep whisking repeatedly at this point, as the butter takes on a caramel brown-sugar smell. You’ll start to notice tiny brown flecks at the bottom of your pan. Whisking those little specks will give the butter a golden-brown hue and signal when it’s time to remove the butter from heat. Pour into clean bowl to prevent further cooking and set aside to cool to room temperature.
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In the same pot you browned your butter in, add the banana, honey and coconut oil and applesauce, scraping up any leftover golden flakes of deliciousness into the banana for added flavor. Leave the burner on medium-low heat, sauteing the banana to further develops the sweetness and flavor. A few minutes is all you’ll need. Once you’re ready, pull from heat and add to a large mixing bowl to cool.
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Next, in a medium bowl, mix dry ingredients and whisk to distribute evenly.
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Add approximately half of your browned butter, lemon juice, and flax egg to the banana mixture and stir.
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Sift in your dry ingredients [sometimes the oats try to hang out in the sifter, just pour them in slowly if that happens] while stirring the two together with a fork until just moistened. Add your dark chocolate chips, fold into the batter, and pour into a 9×5 loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
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That remaining brown butter? Pour/swirl it into the top of the loaf using a toothpick, then bake at 325 F for 45-55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
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Mine is typically done around 50 minutes but ovens are testy little appliances and times may vary just a tad.
Recipe Notes
You can purchase oats pre-ground into flour, but it’s ridiculously easy to make your own by pulsing plain rolled oats in a food processor until they’re fluffy and powdery. They’re delicious sprinkled into baked goods and veggie burgers too!
Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!
tools to on hand
A 9×5-inch or 8×4-inch loaf pan and parchment paper. This gives the bread a wonderful golden crust — I highly suggest it!
special diets and swaps
An egg will easily work in place of flax egg, if needed.
Whole grain flour can sub for all-purpose and for those of you babystepping your way from white flour to whole grains, unbleached white wheat is a soft alternative to help you transition!
Looking for a GF banana bread? Simply use your favorite gluten-free all purpose blend!
No honey? Â You can substitute pure maple syrup, agave nectar, or 1/4 cup of sugar. Those of you rocking a mondo sweet tooth can add a little extra, I’ll look the other way! You can also sneak in some walnuts or pecans in addition to the chocolate chips for a nutty boost of protein.
As for the oats, you can purchase oats pre-ground into flour, but it’s ridiculously easy to make your own by pulsing plain rolled oats in a food processor until they’re fluffy and powdery. They’re delicious sprinkled into baked goods and veggie burgers too!
I’ve made this bread with a zillion and one little add-ins and swaps and it’s so good any which way. You can even go nuts and spread peanut butter or nutella on a slice and satisfy a mondo sweet tooth!
so… how was it?
This chocolate chip banana bread is dah-reamy! Bananas, oats, and chocolate are really quite perfect for each other. I’m not sure who the third wheel would be in this scenario but they’d make one baller tricycle.
Pretend that made sense. I’m super sleepy and a bit famished after writing this up so… someone make this bread and bring me a slice or three?
Gratzi!
If you get a chance to try this Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Kristin
Ok awesome! Thank you so much! :))
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons
The applesauce reduces the need for extra butter so, I’d say use butter as a subsitute? Canned pumpkin may also do the trick in place of the sauce! <3
Kristin
what is a substitute for applesauce? 🙂
[email protected]
Mmm, the trifecta is right.
I love that you were able to replace the sugar with honey and maple syrup. Not that I’m anti-sugar with the right kind and in the right place, but I’ve tried to do this type of swap in my baking to no avail. Further proof you’re a genius. Not that further proof was needed, mind you, and there’s no truth to the rumor that genius and insanity go hand in hand. 😉
Char
You can shove this into my face ANY time 😉
Heather
Jenn, this looks SO delicious and tempting!!
Christine
This looks delicious! I love banana bread and this recipe looks amazing! I think I just found what I will be doing with my Tuesday night.
Sarah Pie
You’ve gotta stop posting so many delicious looking banana bread recipes my bananas aren’t going bad fast enough (okay that’s a lie I just tend to eat them all…)
I’d beg you to share but you’ve got chickpea to think of and I’m sure she needs the chocolate 🙂
Emily
I would do just about anything to have a slice of this in front me now. Lovely!
Mike
How ironic, Noel, as I just replied to your comment on my post about cyber tasting. And I clicked over to your post and see this amazing treat!! It looks so yummy 🙂
purplestarr
Oooh banana bread is my weakness. There is a neat little cheese shop/bakery near me (ok there are a LOT near me, I live in WI) that has little loaves of banana bread but I never thought about making it myself… until seeing this recipe…
Christina @ This Woman Cooks!
Delicious! I started adding dark chocolate to all my baking now and it makes such a difference. If only Costco would start selling giant bags of it! Yum yum this banana bread looks scrumptious!
Itz Linz
GET IN MY MOUTH!! (the bread, not you) seriously this looks AMAZING! i love how dense it looks… and moist (gross word, i know, sorry). mmm baby drooling over here!
Jan Sproutsnsquats
That looks so delicious!! 🙂
Outsource-safety
Wow its looks delicious. I have a interesting for try it. I think it can make difference.
ChickadeeSays
This sounds amazing! I’m definitely going to try it (pinned!) especially because flax eggs are involved- they are so much fun to make!
xx Kait
Maggie @ Sunnyside Up Smile
I can’t even begin to explain my love for banana bread. I could eat it anytime, anywhere. This looks divine….and healthy! Loving it 🙂 I can’t wait to make it.
Danica @ It's Progression Not Perfection
Well this just looks absolutely amazing. I love the ingredient list, too!
Can’t wait to try it!
Julianna
this looks amazing!!!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table
Super ripe – I love it! That’s the technical term, right? 🙂
Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often
You hit it out of the park with this one! I want to totally face plant into this one! Yum!
Sarah
That looks unbelievable!
anythingbetween
Falon
Dark chocolate should really just be in EVERYTHING! Oh nom nom
fitforgloryfoundbygrace
ah, that look so amazing. The only thing I like about fall is that it kind of inspires me to bake more. So yeah, I’ll definitely be making these. Great activity to get away from school work 🙂
Jolynn @ Lift Pray Love
With a thick smear of peanut butter.. yummm!!!!
Happy Valley Chow
Mmm I love banana bread, definitely need to try this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries
Ummm yeah, you did it again. Droooool.
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, and Beers
Mmmmm, love choc chip banana bread. So decadent, so rich, but still not all that sinful… unless you’re like me and eat three slices at a go. 😉
Steph
No intro needed at ALL…just looking at those huge chocolate chips hooked me
Nikki @ The Road to Less Cake
I think I need some of this in my face right now. Yummmy!
Ksenija @ Health Ninja
Holly molly that’s some serious food porn! I feel like this banana bread should be the next on my to-bake list, right behind the cinnamon roll scones I stumbled over this morning.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
Oh hello delicious!! This sounds heavenly!
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