Moist Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Nuts Recipe
This moist banana bread recipe combines ripe bananas with chocolate chips and optional nuts for a rich, flavorful treat. Perfectly spiced with cinnamon and baked to golden perfection, it offers a tender crumb and delightful sweetness that makes it an ideal snack or breakfast option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (approximately 8 servings) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 Ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup White sugar
- 1/4 cup Brown sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Melted butter
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon (optional)
Mix-ins and Garnish
- 1/2 cup Chocolate chips (optional) or nuts of choice
- 1 Banana, sliced in half lengthwise (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 4×8-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper with butter to prevent sticking, then set the pan aside.
- Mash bananas and mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mash the 3 ripe bananas thoroughly with a fork until smooth. Add both the white and brown sugars and mix until fully combined. Then add the eggs and vanilla extract, stirring until uniform. Finally, pour in the melted butter and mix until well combined.
- Add dry ingredients: Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Gradually add this dry mixture into the wet banana mixture, stirring gently until incorporated. Avoid over mixing to keep the bread tender.
- Incorporate mix-ins: Fold in the chocolate chips or nuts evenly throughout the batter for added flavor and texture.
- Prepare for baking: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly. For an attractive finish, place the banana sliced lengthwise on top of the batter with the cut side facing up.
- Bake the bread: Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the bread: Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes before carefully removing it. Then let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use very ripe bananas for the best flavor and natural sweetness.
- Do not over mix the batter to keep the bread moist and tender.
- Optional cinnamon adds warmth but can be omitted if desired.
- The banana on top adds an attractive presentation and slight caramelized flavor.
- You can substitute nuts with your preference or omit them for a nut-free version.
- Store banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Keywords: banana bread, chocolate chip banana bread, moist banana bread, homemade banana bread, easy banana bread recipe, banana nut bread
