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This easy chocolate banana bread is rich, tender, and perfectly fudgy, with plenty of chocolate in every bite. It’s a double chocolate twist on my classic moist banana bread recipe.
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Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe
If you’ve got a few overripe bananas sitting on the counter, this is one of my favorite ways to use them. I make this when I’m craving chocolate cake but want a smaller commitment. It comes together with simple pantry ingredients, no mixer needed, and bakes into a rich, fudgy loaf that makes your whole house smell like a chocolate factory.
What You'll Need
- Butter – Adds richness and moisture. I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level. If using salted butter, reduce the salt by ¼ teaspoon.
- Brown sugar – Adds sweetness and a deeper flavor than white sugar, which pairs really well with banana and chocolate.
- Very ripe bananas – The spottier the better. They bring natural sweetness and moisture to the bread. Mash until mostly smooth with a few small lumps.
- Eggs – Help bind everything together while adding structure and moisture so the loaf isn’t dense.
- Vanilla extract – Rounds out the flavors and enhances both the banana and chocolate.
- All-purpose flour – Provides structure to the bread. I use unbleached flour, but either works.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Adds the chocolate base flavor. Use regular unsweetened (natural) cocoa powder, not Dutch-process.
- Baking soda – Helps the bread rise and keeps the texture soft. Make sure it’s fresh for best results.
- Salt – Balances the sweetness and brings out the chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate chips – Add pockets of melted chocolate throughout the loaf. Use semisweet, milk, or dark chocolate chips, or chop a chocolate bar for larger pieces.
How To Make Chocolate Banana Bread
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Stir together the melted and cooled butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until well combined.
Next, add bananas and mash them to your liking – creamy or lumpy, either way will work. Add eggs and vanilla, and stir to combine.
Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips. Gently mix until combined and do not over-mix.
Transfer the batter to a prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. Top with extra chocolate chips or walnuts, if desired. Bake for 65 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean or the center reaches 200°F. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Turn the bread out of the pan and rest on a cooling rack until it's completely cool.
To serve, slice it to your liking. Cool completely, then store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or 5 days in the refrigerator.
Notes From My Test Kitchen
- Use very ripe bananas – The darker and spottier the bananas, the more sweetness and moisture they add.
- Use regular unsweetened cocoa powder – This recipe is written for regular unsweetened cocoa powder, not Dutch-process. Baking soda needs the acidity in natural cocoa powder to help the bread rise properly.
- Chocolate chips can vary – Full-size chips create bigger pockets of melted chocolate, while mini chips blend more evenly into the batter.
- Walnuts are optional – Add ½ cup chopped walnuts with the dry ingredients for extra crunch.
- Batter yield – This recipe makes about 4 cups of batter, which is the right amount for a standard 9 x 5 loaf pan.
- Check your oven temperature – An oven thermometer helps ensure the bread bakes evenly at 350°F.
- Toothpick vs. thermometer – A toothpick should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs, but melted chocolate can make that tricky. For the most accurate check, look for 200°F in the center.
Just look at how moist and chocolatey this is! When a slice bends like this without breaking, you know you nailed it.
More Easy Baked Treats
If you’re in the mood to keep baking, here are a few more reader favorites to try next:
📖 Recipe
Double Chocolate Banana Bread (Easy & Fudgy)
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Video
Note about scaling
When scaling, the light gray ingredient notes after the comma don’t change. Adjust as needed.
Ingredients
- 1 stick Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
- ½ cup Brown Sugar, packed
- 3 Ripe Bananas, about 1 cup mashed
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour, spooned and leveled
- ¼ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, sifted
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda, sifted
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips, or any variety
Optional add-in
- Walnuts, about ½ cup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Position the oven rack in the center and coat a 9 x 5 loaf pan with cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, stir the melted and cooled BUTTER and BROWN SUGAR together until combined.
- Add the BANANAS and mash them directly into the mixture until mostly smooth.
- Add the EGGS and VANILLA. Stir until thoroughly combined.
- Add the FLOUR, COCOA POWDER, BAKING SODA, SALT, CHOCOLATE CHIPS, and WALNUTS (if using). Stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread evenly. If desired, sprinkle extra CHOCOLATE CHIPS and chopped WALNUTS over the top, if using.
- Bake for 65 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.Note: For a more accurate check, use an instant-read thermometer. The center should reach 200°F. If needed, continue baking in 5-minute increments until done.
- Cool the banana bread in the pan on a cooling rack for 15 minutes.
- Run a thin spatula along the edges to loosen the loaf, then carefully remove it from the pan and transfer it to the cooling rack.
- Cool completely before slicing for the best texture.
- To store, cool the banana bread completely, then keep it in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- silicone spatula or electric hand mixer
- vegetable masher or fork
- cooking spray
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on brands, ingredients, and portions.
Heidi says
I am a huge fan of banana bread... but your trick for adding both cocoa powder and chocolate chips creates a double chocolate sensation that literally makes me weak in the knees with delight! Even better, I almost always have all of these ingredients on hand. Thank you for feeding my chocolate obsession so magnificently!
Traci says
Haha your kind words are such a compliment, Heidi 🙂 Thank you and I'm so happy you're enjoying my recipe. Thank you for sharing this!
Cindy says
Can you make muffins with this recipe?
Traci says
You sure can! Actually, you can use my banana bread muffin recipe steps with this chocolate version. Thanks and enjoy!!
CindyR says
I have made this bread several times now, I have added 1/2 C walnuts and it’s a hit!
Bananas will never go in the trash in my house 🥰 I make ahead and freeze also
Traci says
Love hearing that! I'm all for saving those ripe bananas—especially when it means chocolate banana bread is waiting in the freezer. Walnuts sound like the perfect touch. Thank you for making my recipe and sharing your experience. xoxo
Laurel says
This is so yummy & delicious! I used flax eggs and added roasted walnuts to it. Other than that. I followed the recipe. It came out perfectly! I highly recommend this recipe! I will make it again. It made 3 mini loaves.
Traci says
That sounds amazing! Love the addition of roasted walnuts, and I’m so glad your substitute worked well. Thanks for sharing your tweaks and for the kind words!
Cindyr says
Delicious and moist, I did add 1 cup of walnuts
Traci says
Yay! It's super versatile like that. So glad you enjoyed and thanks for the feedback. xoxo
Shad says
I followed the instructions and baked it to perfection! I’m giving it four stars ⭐️ Because I haven’t tasted it yet. It smells like heaven and this review is just filling time while the bread cools. I can’t wait any longer…
Traci says
Awesome!! I'm so glad you went for it! Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!!
JB says
Best chocolate banana bread ever!! Love how easy it is to make and the ingredients couldn’t be simpler. Thanks for the tips and tricks. Will be making this on repeat.
Traci says
Yayy! I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipe and what a compliment! Thanks for sharing your feedback. Enjoy!!
Shweta says
Wow the chocolate banana bread was decadent and it turned out delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Traci says
You're so welcome! I'm glad you went for it. Thanks for sharing your experience. Enjoy!!
Sara Welch says
This was such a sweet and fluffy bread that does not disappoint! Nothing like the combination between bananas and chocolate; exactly what I needed to cure my sweet tooth, indeed!
Traci says
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Dina and Bruce says
Just perfect! Love the flavor! So tasty! Made for my son!
Traci says
Awesome! Your son is lucky! Thanks for giving it a go!
Karlie says
My banana bread usually comes out burnt on the outside and gooey in the middle. I was glad to see this recipe baked super evenly!
Traci says
Oh yeah!! This chocolate banana bread has been through all of the testing, so we're good. Thanks for the feedback and glad you're enjoying it!
Kushigalu says
This chocolate banana bread looks so moist and delicious. Thanks for sharing
Traci says
You're so welcome. Enjoy!
Michelle says
This was such a delicious twist on banana bread with the addition of the chocolate chips! My kids loved it.
The Kitchen Girl says
So glad you loved it like we do 🙂 Thanks so much!
Pat says
Looks very good!!
Has anyone tried making this with gluten free flour?
Would love to try it, but cant eat the wheat flour products.
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Pat, I have not, but perhaps someone else will weigh in with their experience. Thanks for asking and hope you find your answer.
Jeffrey says
Whoah KG! This chocolate banana bread really IS for chocolate lovers. I couldn't keep my hands off until there was none left. Insane how easy and delicious this is...especially toasted. Another winner!
The Kitchen Girl says
I couldn't agree more and I'm glad you love it as much as I do 🙂 Warmed is my favorite!
Biana says
Double chocolate banana bread looks amazing! I usually make it with just chocolate chips, but will be adding chocolate to the batter next time.
The Kitchen Girl says
Perfect! Enjoy! Thanks 🙂
Laura says
I definitely need to try this chocolate banana bread. Looks so easy to do and very chocolaty
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks! It's crazy chocolatey and so moist 🙂
Shanna says
This looks so amazing and I can not wait to try it. I have some bananas that are ready to be used.
The Kitchen Girl says
Wonderful! You'll love it 🙂
Beth says
Oh wow! Looks so yummy and scrumptious! My hubby and daughter are going to love this recipe! So excited!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome! Glad you can enjoy this one 🙂