Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is super easy to make. It is soft, moist, and filled with chopped chocolate chunks and topped with a chocolate streusel. This will be your new favourite twist on a classic homemade banana bread recipe!

Hi hi! Just popping in to share this recipe for chocolate chip banana bread. I love making banana recipes as I often have old bananas hanging around that need using up. I love the texture and sweetness that they add. I will often make a batch of my vegan banana muffins as they are so quick and easy, but I often also turn to my super easy, moist banana bread recipe too, which is, in my opinion, the best banana bread recipe.

I decided that it was time for a wee twist on the classic - enter this easy chocolate chip banana bread recipe! This recipe is pretty similar to my classic banana bread recipe, with a few tweaks to help accomodate a hefty dose of chocolate, and a super delicious chocolate streusel topping. So if you are after something a wee bit different, a banana bread with chocolate chips - I got you!

How to make the best chocolate chip banana bread

Chocolate chip banana bread is super easy to make and comes together in the time that it takes to preheat your oven. I added a simple chocolate streusel to mine, which you don't need to do if you don't want to, although I do highly recommend as it adds an amazing crunch factor.

1. Make your chocolate streusel. This can be done in advance if you like and stored in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
2. Mash your bananas with the greek yogurt. I prefer to do this with my hand mixer - it makes it super easy and mess free, and washing the masher sucks, so you avoid that step too.
3. Cream together the butter and sugar. Make sure, if you can, that your butter is nice and room temperature, which helps to beat a lot of air into the mix, giving you a fluffy but still moist banana bread.
4. Add the banana and yogurt mixture. I then often give the bowl the bananas were in a quick wipe out and use it for my dry ingredients.
5. Add the eggs and mix well to combine.
6. Mix together the dry ingredients - flour, baking soda, and salt, and add to the bowl. Mix to incorporate but do not fully mix. Then add in the chocolate chips or chocolate chunks and fold to combine. I love using chopped chocolate but feel free to use your favourite chocolate chips here too.
7. Transfer to the pan - I used a pullman pan, but a regular loaf pan will work too, then add the streusel.
8. Bake until a skewer inserted comes out clean, and the banana bread is nicely risen. For me this takes 60-70 minutes.

Banana Bread with Streusel Topping

I topped my chocolate chip banana bread with a quick chocolate streusel topping, which is super easy to make. You basically add all the ingredients to a bowl - flour, raw sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, and a wee bit of salt, then add melted butter and stir until clumpy.

The streusel adds an amazing chocolate topping to the banana bread which really compliments the chocolate chips. It may look like it is a lot when you add it to the pan - that's because it kind of is a lot, but the thick streusel layer is just so, so good. Trust me on this one.

Tricks for a super moist banana bread recipe

Here are a few tips and tricks for super moist banana chocolate chip bread:

• Don't over mix your batter. This won't directly impact the moisture as such, but it means the crumb will be a little tight from the formation of the gluten, so affects the texture.
• Yogurt banana bread recipe - adding greek yogurt to baking recipes helps with the moisture without making the batter too loose. I lean on this trick quite often. You can also use sour cream if you do not have any greek yogurt.
• Use super ripe bananas - ideally, the best bananas for banana bread should be almost black. Spotty ones are fine in a pinch, but that really rich banana flavour and moist texture is helped along by nice ripe bananas (and a high ratio of banana : ingredients in this recipe)
• Don't over bake. Over baked banana bread can mean that it is a little dry, so try to avoid this if you can. If the streusel is looking like it is getting dark before the bread is done, you can pop some foil over the top to stop it from burning. Use a skewer or a toothpick inserted into the bread to check for doneness - it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached.

Frequently Asked Questions

What tools and equipment do you use?
You can find a full list of the tools and equipment I use on my products page

How do you store banana bread?
You can either store banana bread wrapped in plastic wrap, or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

How to ripen bananas
The quickest way to properly ripen bananas is to place them into a paper bag with other fruit such as an apple - the ethylene gas produced helps to ripen them (bananas produce a lot too so they work great for ripening avocados etc). In a pinch, you can also microwave bananas, which doesn't technically ripen them, but it will get them soft enough for baking. Often I just go for the banged up ones at the grocery store if I am in a pinch though! If you notice your bananas are going too ripe before you need to use them, you can store them in the refrigerator until you are ready to use.

How to use frozen bananas
If you want to make banana bread with frozen bananas, defrost them at room temperature, then discard the liquid, and use the weight of banana called for in the recipe.

Can you freeze banana bread?
I freeze my easy banana bread recipe by cutting it into thick slices and wrapping before placing into the freezer. It should work the same for this chocolate chip banana bread, the streusel may come a little loose when defrosting!

For more easy banana recipes, check out:

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