Chocolate Banana Bread - The Recipe Critic (2024)

Chocolate banana bread is a sweet and decadent banana bread made for chocolate lovers! Extra moist from the ripe bananas, and loaded with rich chocolate flavors from the cocoa powder and chocolate chips.

Everyone loves banana bread! And it’s even better when you add chocolate to it! This chocolate banana bread is so incredible. I have so many different variations of banana bread on the blog. Banana pairs well with many other flavors. If you want to try some other banana bread recipes, then start with thisclassic banana bread, thisstrawberry banana bread, or thisblueberry banana bread! I promise you’ll love them all!

Chocolate Banana Bread

Banana bread is already amazing, so why not add chocolate flavors and make chocolate banana bread? Bananas and chocolate are the perfect combination. The addition of cocoa powder and chocolate chips adds richness to the sweet banana flavor. Once you try this chocolate banana bread, your life will be changed forever! The melty chocolate chips are my favorite part because you get a burst of chocolate in every bite.

If you love chocolate, you’re going to LOVE this recipe! My kids love both banana bread and chocolate, so this is the perfect treat. And if you’re looking for more delicious chocolate recipes on the blog, you should try my brownies! Chocolate is also a gateway to many incredible flavor combinations. Like these homemade chocolate peanut butter cups or this moist chocolate zucchini cake. You have to try them all!

Ingredients Needed to Make It

The list of ingredients to make chocolate chip banana bread is pretty simple. Gather them all up and keep them on hand because you’re going to want to make this again! I always make banana bread when I have ripened bananas to use. My kids love it when I have this as an after-school snack. It’s the best treat to come home to. See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

• Bananas: RIPE is always best!
• Baking Soda: Baking soda is used to make the bread light and not chewy or dense.
• Vegetable Oil: I prefer using oil in sweet bread and muffins because it makes the bread so moist.
• Granulated Sugar: The sugar is what makes the bread have a sweet taste.
• Eggs: The eggs bind the batter together.
• Salt: This balances and enhances the flavors in the banana bread.
• All-Purpose Flour: I used all-purpose flour for this bread.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: This gives the bread that rich chocolate flavor!
• Milk Chocolate Chips: Sweet milk chocolate chips are my favorite. It helps balance out the dark chocolate flavors of the bread.

How to Make Chocolate Banana Bread

This chocolate banana bread only takes 10 minutes to whip up, and the rest of the time just requires some patience while it bakes. I love to make banana bread whenever I have ripe bananas ready to go. This recipe is so easy to make and everyone loves it! It’s perfect for breakfast, snacking, and could even be a dessert! See the recipe card below for my step-by-step instructions.

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare the Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9×5 loaf pan with pan spray.
2. Mash the Bananas: Add the bananas to a large bowl and use a fork to mash them very well.
3. Add in the Oil, Eggs, and Dry Ingredients: Add the baking soda, oil, sugar, eggs, salt, flour, and cocoa powder to the bananas. Mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until combined.
4. Fold in the Chocolate Chips: Fold in the chocolate chips and pour the batter into the prepared pan.
5. Bake: Bake for 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the bread. Allow it to cool completely before slicing.