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Try this chocolate chip banana bread recipe: the best way to use the ripe fruit! It’s moist and sweet, flavored with brown butter.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
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Got ripe bananas ripening on the counter? Here’s a decadent way to use them: this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread! This recipe takes the classic banana bread up a notch by using browned butter, infusing a rich, nutty flavor into the entire loaf. It’s perfectly moist, studded with semi-sweet bits of chocolate and scented with just the right hint of cinnamon. In a word, it’s downright heavenly.

Ingredients in this chocolate chip banana bread recipe

This chocolate chip banana bread are pretty standard, with the exception of the browned butter which we’ll cover below. It includes a bit of whole wheat flour and a little less chocolate chips than the standard: but it tastes just as decadent. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

  • Very ripe bananas
  • Butter
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs
  • Vanilla
  • Baking soda, cinnamon, and salt
  • All-purpose flour
  • Whole wheat flour
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Banana chocolate chip bread

Tips for brown butter

The best part of this chocolate chip banana bread? It’s flavored with brown butter. Brown butter is butter that’s heated until it turns light brown, bringing out a complex, nutty flavor. It takes just a few minutes, and if you have to melt butter for a recipe anyway, why not make brown butter? Here are a few tips:

  • Slice it into pieces for even melting. This way, the butter is heated at the same rate (vs a entire stick melting gradually).
  • Butter browns quickly, so keep an eye on it. Don’t leave the stove! It can go from browned to burned in an instant.
  • Remove it to a bowl to stop the cooking. This helps to prevent burning. Cool it for a minute before adding to the wets for your batter.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

Mix-ins and flavor variations

Chocolate chip banana bread is one thing, but add another flavor or mix-in and you’ll really impress whoever you’re baking for. Here are a few ideas:

  • Chopped nuts: Add ¼ to ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
  • Other chips: Use a mix of chocolate and peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips
  • Sea salt: Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to the top after baking
  • Orange zest: Add ½ teaspoon orange zest to the batter
  • Bourbon: Add 1 tablespoon bourbon for a boozy nuance
  • Sprinkles: Add a dash of sprinkles to the top, because why not?
Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

More ripe banana recipes

There are so many ways to make a great banana bread…and don’t stop there! Make muffins, pancakes, cake, and more! Here are a few top banana bread recipes and ripe banana recipes to try:

This chocolate chip banana bread recipe is…

Vegetarian.

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Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread


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5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12 slices 1x
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Description

Try this chocolate chip banana bread recipe: the best way to use the ripe fruit! It’s moist and sweet, flavored with brown butter.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ¼ cups mashed very ripe bananas (3 medium bananas)
  • ½ cup butter
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs (or flax eggs for vegan)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • ¾ cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter an 8 or 9-inch loaf pan.
  2. Brown the butter: Place the butter (sliced into pieces) in a skillet over medium heat. Heat for a few minutes until it melts, turns foamy, and then starts to become golden brown in color and smells nutty. Immediately remove from the heat and transfer to a bowl to cool for a minute before adding to the batter.
  3. Make the batter: Mash the bananas in the bottom of a large bowl, enough for 1 ¼ cup. Whisk in the sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Add the browned butter once it’s ready.
  4. Add the baking soda, cinnamon, kosher salt, all-purpose flour, and whole wheat flour to another bowl and mix. Add to the bowl with the wet ingredients and stir together with a spoon. Gently fold in ½ cup chocolate chips.
  5. Bake: Pour the batter into the loaf pan and top with the remaining ¼ cup chocolate chips. Bake 55 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean (or the internal temperature is 200 degrees): the exact timing will depend on the size of the pan. Optional: add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt when you remove the bread from the oven.
  6. Cool: Cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then run a knife around the edge and invert the loaf onto a cooling rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Storage info: The bread lasts 4 to 5 days at room temperature wrapped in aluminum foil, refrigerated for 10 days, or frozen for 3 months (slice it into pieces and wrap it in plastic wrap then a freezer-safe bag or container).
  • Category: Quick bread
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Baked
  • Diet: Vegetarian

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

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3 Comments

  1. Cadence Culp says:

    I and my daughter made this recipe! Absolutely delicious!






  2. Colette says:

    Absolutely delicious! The whole family really enjoyed it.






  3. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!