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.
Pre-heat your oven to 325 degrees F and whip up your flax egg, if using one.
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.
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.
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.
Next, in a medium bowl, mix dry ingredients and whisk to distribute evenly.
Add approximately half of your browned butter, lemon juice, and flax egg to the banana mixture and stir.
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 9x5 loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
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.
Mine is typically done around 50 minutes but ovens are testy little appliances and times may vary just a tad.
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!