Chocolate Banana Bread

Jul 5, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Quick breads Vanilla: Paste Easy

A loaf of chocolate banana bread on a wooden board, two thick slices cut to show the moist crumb

Moist banana bread enriched with rich cocoa and melted semi-sweet chocolate, flavored with pure vanilla bean paste for a deep, rounded taste. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack.

Prep 20 min

Cook 55 min

Cooling 5 min

Total 1 hr 20 min

Yield 10 slices

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

slices

2.0 cups (240.0 g)all-purpose flour
½ cup (50.0 g)unsweetened cocoa powder
1.0 tsp (5.0 g)baking soda
½ tsp (2.0 g)baking powder
½ tsp (2.0 g)fine sea salt
½ cup (113.0 g)unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup (150.0 g)light brown sugar, packed
2.0 large (100.0 g)eggs
1 ½ cups (360.0 g)mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium bananas)
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)vanilla bean paste
½ cup (90.0 g)semi-sweet chocolate chips

Make it at home

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together with a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla bean paste.
Mix in the mashed bananas until combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula just until no streaks of flour remain. Do not overmix to keep the bread tender.
Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs but not wet batter.
Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Use the parchment overhang to lift the bread out of the pan and transfer to the rack to cool completely before slicing.
Allow bread to rest at least 5 minutes before cutting to maintain moist texture.

Tips

Use ripe bananas with brown spots for the best natural sweetness and flavor.
Vanilla bean paste adds visible flecks and a richer vanilla taste compared to extract.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make chocolate banana bread?

Plan on 20 minutes of prep and 55 minutes of cooking, plus 5 minutes to rest. The recipe makes 1 9x5-inch loaf (about 10 slices).

How should I store chocolate banana bread?

Store banana bread wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for up to 1 week. Reheat slices briefly in a toaster or microwave before serving.

Can I make chocolate banana bread ahead?

Banana bread can be baked ahead and stored, wrapped tightly, for up to 3 days at room temperature or frozen for up to 3 months.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Moist banana bread enriched with rich cocoa and melted semi-sweet chocolate, flavored with pure vanilla bean paste for a deep, rounded taste. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 10 servings this recipe makes.

288 Calories / serving

11.2g Fat

45.5g Carbs

5.2g Protein

20.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (10 servings): ~2880 cal · 112g fat · 455g carbs · 52g protein · 204g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 288 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 54 min·3.2 mi·~6300 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 39 min·2.0 mi·~3900 steps
Moderate cycling 29 min·5.8 mi
Swimming laps 40 min
Jogging 28 min·2.3 mi·~4500 steps
Stair climbing 27 min·~2450 steps
Dancing 47 min
Bodyweight circuit training 29 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 67 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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