Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is one of my favorite ways to use ripened bananas. It’s such a versatile recipe that you can switch up by adding walnuts, blueberries, dried fruit or whatever you’ve got going on in your pantry that needs to be used up. Chocolate chip banana bread is definitely a favorite though!

When we want a classic banana bread with just a touch of chocolatey goodness, I make this easy chocolate chip walnut banana bread. It really doesn’t get easier than a quick banana bread when it comes to baking in my opinion. You’ve got your wet ingredients and the dry ingredients, and then they come together easily with just a wooden spoon. The result? A moist, puffed up, golden quick banana nut bread recipe with melted cute little chocolate chips. Perfect for a morning coffee or those lazy afternoon snack breaks!

Table of Contents

1. Recipe at a glance
2. Ingredients to make this chocolate chip banana bread recipe
3. How to make chocolate chip banana bread
4. Tips for making the best chocolate chip banana bread
5. Popular substitutions & additions
6. How to store this chocolate chip banana bread recipe
7. Frequently asked questions
8. More quick bread recipes:
9. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

Recipe at a glance

Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Oven
Dietary Info: Vegetarian, No Refined Sugars
Key Flavor: Slightly Sweet, Chocolatey
Skill Level: Easy

Summary

• Simple Ingredients: Everything you need is most likely already in your pantry, making this an anytime treat.
• Sweet But Healthy-ish: With maple syrup and Greek yogurt, you’re getting a healthy chocolate chip banana bread treat that’s both tasty and better for you than most store-bought banana breads.
• Incredibly Moist: The combo of Greek yogurt and ripe bananas makes for an extra moist bread with the perfect crumb every time.

Ingredients to make this chocolate chip banana bread recipe

• All-purpose flour: This is the base for our chocolate chip banana nut bread. You can also try whole wheat flour for a nuttier taste.
• Baking soda: Helps the bread rise and get that perfect fluffy texture.
• Cinnamon: What’s banana bread without the warm and cozy flavor of cinnamon?
• Salt: To balance out the sweetness.
• Coconut oil: Melted down to make mixing easier. If you’re out, you can use regular melted butter or even vegetable oil.
• Eggs: They bind everything together. If you’re vegan or allergic, you could use a flax egg or some applesauce.
• Maple syrup: To add a touch of natural sweetness.
• Greek yogurt: This is my secret to super moist bread!
• Vanilla extract: For that classic baked-good flavor.
• Bananas: The riper, the better – they add natural sweetness and moisture. Plus, if they’re very ripe, mashing them up will be easier.
• Walnuts: I love some crunch in my banana bread. Pecans or almonds are a great addition too.
• Chocolate chips: Because chocolate makes everything better. Dark, milk, or even white chocolate – you pick. 

How to make chocolate chip banana bread

1. In one bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together: flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: melted coconut oil, eggs, maple syrup and Greek yogurt.
3. Now combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients along with the mashed bananas and add-ins, like walnuts or chocolate chips.
4. Mix it together until you don’t see any more flour streaks, being careful not to over mix the batter. Then it’s ready for the oven.

And this is what the chocolate chip banana bread will look like when it comes out: puffed up, golden color with melted cute little chocolate chips. Now, there’s that moment when you’re trying to decide how soon is too soon to cut into this beautiful loaf so you can enjoy it warm and gooey without burning your fingers. And that moment is about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven.

Tips for making the best chocolate chip banana bread

1. Use very ripe bananas. This is also an important tip when making banana bread because the ripe banana will lend a sweetness to the quick bread without having to add much sweetener. In fact, I only use ⅓ cup of maple syrup and you can even decrease it to ¼ cup.
2. Level the flour. When measuring your flour, use a knife or a straight edge to level it off in the measuring cup. This ensures you don’t add too much and end up with a dense loaf
3. Measure out the banana. You want to use 1 cup mashed bananas, which could be 2 or 3 bananas depending on their size. If you use too much bananas, the bread will turn out heavy and damp in the center, which can really make it unappealing. Make sure to freeze any extra mashed bananas for later use in banana bread or smoothies.
4. Tent the loaf pan with foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking if necessary. Sometimes at around 40 minutes the top of the bread will be golden brown but the center won’t be cooked through yet. The tenting tip helps to prevent the top from burning while baking the bread through.
5. Don’t overmix the batter. After adding the dry ingredients to the wet, mix until just combined. There should be a few lumps in the batter. Stirring too much can make your chocolate chip banana nut bread tough

Popular substitutions & additions

• Add almond extract. In case you don’t use vanilla extract, a few drops of almond extract can also elevate the entire bread’s aroma and taste.
• Swap the Greek yogurt for sour cream. If you don’t have Greek yogurt on hand, sour cream can add moisture to the bread. However, keep in mind that it is tangier than yogurt.
• Try different mix-ins. Besides cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg or allspice are also a good addition if you want even warmer and cozier flavors in your loaf.
• Add more spices. While this banana bread recipe with chocolate chips focuses more on the chocolatey flavor, you can replace half of the chips with raisins or dried cranberries. Dried fruit is always a win in any banana bread.
• Make them into muffins. The recipe works well for muffins instead of a banana bread. Just reduce the time to 20-22 minutes.

How to store this chocolate chip banana bread recipe

You can store your chocolate chip banana nut bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days.

How long will this chocolate chip banana bread recipe last in the fridge?

This chocolate chip banana bread can be stored in the fridge for up to a week inside an airtight container. This is a great option if you want to keep it fresh for a couple more days.

Can I freeze this banana bread recipe with chocolate chips?

Yes, you can freeze it. Just wrap the loaf tightly in foil and place in a freezer bag. It will stay frozen for about 3 months. Once ready to eat, thaw the bread inside the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave in 10 seconds intervals until fully heated through.

Frequently asked questions

This is one of the best chocolate chip banana bread recipes I’ve made. It comes out so moist, fluffy and delicious without being overly sweet. I love that I can make it without any butter or refined sugar with amazing results. The whole family will love this!

More quick bread recipes:

• Cinnamon Apple Bread
• Lemon Zucchini Bread
• Strawberry Bread Recipe
• Lemon Blueberry Bread
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread
• Chocolate Banana Bread
• Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
• Cranberry Orange Bread
• Chocolate Cinnamon Banana Bread
• Lemon Bread

If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!

This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe was originally published on August 8, 2017. I’m updating the recipe today slightly and re-sharing it today with more step-by-step photos. Here’s the original photo!