This easy chocolate banana bread recipe has a rich, chocolatey flavor and an incredibly soft and moist center. That’s very good, but it never lasts long.
I don’t know whether to call this chocolate banana bread a quick bread or a dessert, but it’s perfect for both. Cocoa powder adds an authentic chocolate flavor, while ripe bananas provide natural sweetness and keep the bread soft.
I based it on a popular banana bread recipe, but since cocoa powder makes the baked goods a little dry, I added an extra egg and a little sour cream (delicious!). This is the secret to why it’s so rich, perfectly chocolatey, and honestly the best chocolate banana bread we’ve ever made in our kitchen.
main ingredients
Bananas: If you’ve read any of my other banana recipes, you probably already know what I’m going to say. Use very ripe bananas with lots of brown spots. The riper the better! This recipe calls for 3 medium bananas. Cocoa powder: Choose natural, unsweetened cocoa powder (like Hershey’s or Ghirardelli). Dutch-process cocoa doesn’t react well with baking soda, so it’s not ideal for this recipe. Flour: All-purpose flour is best. White whole wheat or whole wheat is also suitable (but may result in slightly less moisture in the bread). Baking soda and baking powder: I use both to make tall, evenly risen breads like the one pictured. Butter and oil: Melted butter adds flavor, and adding a little vegetable oil will keep the bread extra moist even after it’s been on the counter for a day or two. I use the same combination for my favorite chocolate cake. Sugar: I mostly use brown sugar, but I like to mix in a little granulated sugar for a little more lift and hydration. Eggs: 3 eggs give this bread structure, help it rise, and keep it moist. Sour Cream: I love baking with sour cream. Because sour cream adds softness, moisture, and a really nice flavor. Use full-fat sour cream. You can also substitute plain Greek yogurt. I also use sour cream when making this banana cake! Salt and vanilla: complements the chocolate and banana.
See the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to make the best chocolate banana bread
Tip 1: Mix hot butter and cocoa powder first. When baking with cocoa powder, I always include a time to add the cocoa back into the recipe. Hot butter is best for this, breaking up any lumps and bringing out the cocoa flavor. I do this for brownies, chocolate cake, and just about any chocolate recipe that uses butter and cocoa.
Mix together the hot butter, sugar, vanilla, and cocoa powder before adding the other ingredients.
Tip 2: Make the dough. Next comes eggs, mashed bananas, and sour cream. Then, once it’s combined, add the dry ingredients. It’s so easy!
Tip 3: Bake bread. This bread rises nicely at 350°F, doesn’t burn too much on the outside, and stays soft and moist in the center. I bake my bread in a 9×5-inch pan with an 8-cup capacity, and I recommend you do the same. If you use a smaller loaf pan, the batter may overflow.
See more banana recipes
easy chocolate banana bread
preparation
20 minutes
cook
65 minutes
total
1 hour 25 minutes
I’m so excited to share this chocolate banana bread with you. It’s moist, rich, and just like chocolate. Actually, I’m not sure whether to call this bread or dessert. It’s really amazing. For best results, use natural cocoa powder (not processed in the Netherlands), full-fat sour cream, and very ripe bananas. For double chocolate banana bread, add chocolate chips (sold separately) to the dough and bake.
1 loaf makes 10 pieces
will be needed
1 3/4 cups (spooned and flattened) all-purpose flour (228g)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, reduce to 1/2 teaspoon if salt sensitive
6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2/3 cup (60g) unsweetened natural cocoa powder, such as Ghirardelli or Hershey’s, spooned and flattened
1 cup (200g) light brown sugar
1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
3 large eggs
3 medium ripe bananas, mashed, about 1 1/2 cups (340g)
1/2 cup (120 g) sour cream or full-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional) (85g)
direction
1Preparation: Heat to 350°F (175°C). Place butter and flour in a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan (8-cup capacity). Place on a baking sheet.
2Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until evenly mixed.
3Melt the butter: Melt the butter and oil in a small saucepan (or use a microwave-safe bowl).
4Make the dough: Whisk the hot melted butter mixture with the cocoa powder, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until well combined and almost smooth. When it’s slightly warm, add the eggs and mix. Next, add the mashed banana and sour cream and mix. Switch to a rubber spatula and mix in the dry ingredients, adding half at a time, mixing until mostly combined, then finish with the remaining half. If using chocolate chips, mix them in.
5Bake: Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth top. Bake in the pan on the baking sheet for 55 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (a few moist crumbs are ok).
6Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Adam and Joan’s Tips
Storage: Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If you want to freeze it, double wrap it with one sheet of plastic wrap and one sheet of aluminum foil and it will keep for 6 months in the freezer. Weighing flour and cocoa: Weigh or use the “spoon and level” method. Fluff the flour and spoon it into a measuring cup, leveling the top with a flat edge. You can see me do this in the video. The nutritional information shown below is an estimate. There were no chocolate chips in it.
Nutritional information per serving
Serving size
1 out of 10 slices
/
calorie
353
/
total fat
14.2g
/
saturated fat
9g
/
cholesterol
76mg
/
sodium
335.3mg
/
carbohydrates
53.6g
/
dietary fiber
3.2g
/
Total sugar content
29.6g
/
protein
6.9g
author:
We’re Adam and Joanne Gallagher, the creators of Inspired Taste. Founded in 2009, Inspired Taste has grown from a childhood dream to one of the internet’s most trusted recipe sites, with hundreds of trusted recipes, step-by-step videos, and expert tips.
