Looking for an excuse to eat a banana split for breakfast? Look no further! We’re downright bonkers for this Banana Split Banana Bread flecked with strawberries, pecans, and chocolate chips.
Let’s put the veggies on hold for an afternoon and celebrate with a sweet treat, shall we? I know, I know… totally a twist-your-arm sort of ordeal isn’t it?
Yes I baked. Pick your jaw up off the floor, will ya?
This one goes out to all the brown bananas on countertops everywhere. Once firm and green, you’ve really let yourselves go, haven’t you? Now spotted with age, freckled with sweetness, let’s face it – you’ve gone soft on us. There’s really no other way around it… you’re destined for banana bread. Ain’t life sweet like that?
I’m actually one of those weirdos who likes slightly green bananas, even more so when they’re chilled first. I grew up eating them that way and no matter how many looks of horror my friends may shoot me, I’m never stopping. There’s a moment of utter disappointment that washes over me when I trot into the kitchen for my morning banana, only to realize they’ve transformed. Now as freckled as my own skin, I can no longer eat them. Even the chickpea turns her nose at a spotted nana. There’s nothing more we can do besides put on our aprons and throw our hands up in the air.
IT’S BANANA BREAD TIME!!!!!!!!
BANANA SPLIT banana bread, to be exact.
Are you squealing? No?
I TOTALLY AM!!!
Thanks to my banana hoarding problem, this happens a lot around here. I usually default to my delightful little Apple Cinnamon Banana Nut Muffins, but apples aren’t in season right now. Strawberries are, however, and when Amber of Slim Pickin’s Kitchen mentioned I should make my monthly banana bread into a banana split, I squealed. Strawberries! Bananas! Pecans! Chocolate! IN EVERY BITE!!! Yes!!!
I tend to use exclamation points with great fervor around here. They’re the foodie equivalent of jazz hands.
Excited to try something new I flung myself into the kitchen and go to work. Magic ensued.
Chances are, if you’re reading this the week I wrote it, strawberries are gloriously at season’s peak or the season JUST ended, so grab the ripest berries you can get your hands on and meet me in the kitchen!
Banana Split Banana Bread
This dreamy banana bread takes the soft, buttery deliciousness of banana bread and combines it with fresh strawberries and a super-sweet chocolate pecan topping. Snag a slice for breakfast and another for dessert!
Banana Split Banana Bread
Looking for an excuse to eat a banana split for breakfast? Look no further! We're downright bonkers for this Banana Split Banana Bread flecked with strawberries, pecans, and chocolate chips.
Ingredients
- 1 + 3/4 cup whole grain flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 large extra-ripe bananas
- 8 TBSP unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 oz fresh strawberries (approx. 3/4 cup chopped)
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 2 TBSP mini or regular chocolate chips
KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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Spritz a 9x5 loaf pan with oil or rub with butter, set aside.
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Place bananas in a microwave safe bowl, covered and heat for 5 minutes on high.
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Transfer to a wire mesh strainer set over a medium saucepan and allow to drain, approx. 10-15 minutes, mashing/stirring occasionally. You should have between 1/2 and 3/4 cup of liquid.
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While you wait on your "banana juice" whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl and measure/prep the remainder of your ingredients.
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Once the liquid has been separated from the bananas, turn burner to medium-high heat and reduce to about 1/4 cup, about 5-7 minutes.
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Add reduced liquid to the bowl of bananas and mash until mostly smooth.
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Next whisk in your butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
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Pour banana mixture into the flour mixture and stir with a fork until just combined.
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Gently fold in strawberries and pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
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Smooth the top with your spatula and sprinkle with chopped pecans and chocolate chips.
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Bake on center rack for 35 minutes, rotate pan, then bake for an additional 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean from the center of the loaf. Bake times may vary a smidge based on oven conditions so my rule of thumb is to always check baked goods a few minutes early and re-test as needed.
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Allow bread to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then gently remove and place onto a wire cooling rack to continue cooling. Enjoy warm or at room temperature, it's great both ways! Store tightly wrapped on the counter for up to 4 days.
Recipe Notes
adapted from America's Test Kitchen
No whole grain flour handy? This recipe will still work marvelously with regular all-purpose flour!
If using an 8.5 x 4.5 loaf pan, bake an extra 5-8 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!
Here’s where things get a little crazy…
Feeling fancy? Top the bread off with a drizzle with your favorite caramel sauce or raw honey. Take things even further on the wild side with a scoop of ice cream and/or whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and a fresh strawberry for good measure. This is dessert bread at it’s finest!
The chickpea and I split one jazzed up, over-the-top slice, then devoured the rest of the loaf straight up without a single thing added. It’s SO flipping good! I had originally intended to bring it next door as a movie night snack when things went terribly wrong.
We only had one slice left to bring!
I don’t know how it vanished so fast but between my husband, toddler, and myself, we devoured nearly an entire loaf in a single afternoon. File this one under “MAKE AGAIN IMMEDIATELY!” or more accurately, “MAKE AGAIN BEFORE MY FRIENDS REVOLT!“
I hope you love this banana split banana bread as much as we do!
Ivory
I love banana bread, and yours looks amazing. Will be making this very soon. Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth Yackowsky
This is such a great idea! I have a pair of lovely brown speckled bananas on my counter right now and I know exactly where they are going to end up tomorrow. Thank you for a great recipe and fantastic photos ;)!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
Forgive me for ever insulting this idea…
Chelsea @ lil miss fitness freak
This is actually beautiful and so creative! I’m kind of a weirdo with my nanners too. I always eat them in my oats but rather then being like a normal person and liking them all brown so they melt, I like them firm so I get hot chunks in my oats. hahah.
Another decadent idea for your beauty of a loaf…french toast. I used to love making y homemade banana bread into french toast or baked french toast.
Jenn
Ohmygosh yes – they need to be firm in oats AND cereal for me! A total must! And then oh so mushy in my bread =) Thanks Chelsea!
masala girl
that happens every time i make pumpkin bread. mom asks me what i want for dinner, ….”um,… i just ate 3/4 of a loaf of pumpkin bread i made. it was suposed to be for breakfast all week.” oops. at least it’s somewhat healthy? haha
Jenn
haha it’s practically a fruit/vegetable after all 😉
Cody @ onehungryrunner
Wow that looks sooo delicious!! Thank you for sharing!
Sabrina @ Nutritiously Sweet
Holy moly! This looks delicious 🙂
Jenn
Thanks Sabrina!
Kalee @ The Crowded Table
This looks delicious!!!! I would have never thought to add strawberries and chocolate, but it sounds (and looks) AMAZING!
Crissie
Wow this bread looks amazing- I would finish the lot in 1 sitting! Definitely on my to make list, and the toppings look so lush!!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
Pure genius! The jazzed up slice just looks out of this world, totally drooling.
Karen
This looks wonderful….BUT….I have to say, I have never seen a recipe without green in it from you. This one took me by surprise.
I can’t wait to give this one a try for myself. Thank You
Amber @ Slim Pickin's Kitchen
OMG. This turned out so beautiful and amazing! I can’t wait to try it!!! PS. Green bananas are spawns of Satan 😉
Jenn
Take it back! DOROTHY MANTOOTH IS A SAINT! A SAINT! 🙂
[email protected]
Bananas, strawberries and chocolate. What’s not to like?!
amanda @ fake ginger
Eww @ green bananas. The smell alone makes me gag. I’ll forgive you though.
I’ve got 2 bunches of spotted bananas on my counter right now. I need to freeze them until I get strawberries so I can make this!
Jenn
You secretly love them, admit it! Ohmygosh YES! Save them for this recipe stat!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
OMG…I’m drooling!
Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola
Looks amazing! I can’t make something like this because I would eat the whole thing in 1 day 🙂
Niki @ Life With Niki
Drooling at the simple sight of this! The picture with the whipped cream and chocolate drizzle looks as if it is straight up out of a famous foodie magazine! Love the chocolateyness, this is amazing!
Rachel
Wow! Just WOW! This looks heavenly!!!
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