BEST Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

5 from 16 votes
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Homemade, moist banana bread, with just the right amount of chocolate chips is just about the best breakfast or afternoon snack that you can possibly imagine. It’s SO easy to make too!

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I have a separate stomach for banana bread consumption. This time of year especially, when it’s chilly outside, I crave it more! If a warm slice of super moist banana bread – loaded with walnuts (and maybe some chocolate chips too) – doesn’t make your stomach happy, I envy you.

Given my obsession with this bread, you can imagine I’ve gotten the recipe down to a science. I have one recommendation for you: make one loaf per person. Wink.

Want the muffin form? Try these Banana Bread Muffins!

Why This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe is the Best

  • Easy, easy, easy
  • No need for extra brown bananas…speckled work just fine.
  • Walnuts, chocolate chips or other additions…add in whatever you crave!
  • Moist as can be!
  • Make ahead perfection

How to Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This banana nut bread is moist and delicious, made in just a few easy steps!

  1. Prepare.

    Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×5” loaf pan.

  2. Wet ingredients.

    In a large bowl, use a potato masher to mash peeled bananas into a smooth puree. Add beaten egg, melted and cooled butter, and vanilla. Stir until combined.

  3. Dry ingredients.

    In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, and baking soda until combined.

  4. Combine.

    Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts if desired.

  5. Bake.

    Fill pan with batter, evening out with a spatula. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Place a piece of foil loosely over the loaf after 40 minutes.

  6. Cool.

    Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes before turning onto a wire rack – or enjoying warm!

Ingredients in Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

  • Bananas – use bananas that are at least speckled. You can use bananas that are overripe as well. Very ripe bananas are easier to mash, sweeter, and more flavorful.
  • All-purpose flour – all-purpose flour is the base for our muffins.
  • Light brown sugar – light brown sugar adds moisture, flavor, and sweetness.
  • Butter – butter adds rich flavor and texture.
  • Egg – an egg binds everything together.
  • Pure vanilla extract – vanilla adds flavor.
  • Baking soda – baking soda helps our banana bread muffins rise.
  • Salt – salt adds flavor.
  • Chocolate chips (optional) – chocolate chips are an optional mix-in. I like bittersweet chocolate chips.
  • Chopped walnuts (optional) – walnuts are an optional mix-in. I use chopped walnuts.

How to Store Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Store banana bread at room temperature in an airtight container. It’ll keep well for 5-7 days!

What Nuts Go In Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

While I prefer classic walnuts in my banana bread, try these other nuts for something different:

  • Walnuts (classic)
  • Pecans
  • Almonds
  • Peanuts
  • Pistachios
  • Hazelnuts
  • Macadamia nuts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you freeze banana nut bread?

Yes! Freeze loaf for up to 3 months, thawing at room temperature, and then heating in the oven or microwave if desired.

How ripe should bananas be for banana bread?

Banana should be at least speckled to be ripe enough for banana bread. They don’t need to be all brown or overripe unless you have them on hand.

More Banana Recipes You’ll Love!

5 from 16 votes

BEST Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Homemade, moist banana bread, with just the right amount of chocolate chips is just about the best breakfast or afternoon snack that you can possibly imagine. It’s so easy to make too!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 55 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
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Equipment

  • 9×5" loaf pan

Ingredients 

  • 4 medium bananas, overripe (or at least speckled)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
  • cup butter, melted
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • ½ tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup chocolate chips, optional
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts, optional

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×5” loaf pan.
  • In a large bowl, use a potato masher to mash peeled bananas into a smooth puree. Add beaten egg, melted and cooled butter, and vanilla. Stir until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, and baking soda until combined.
  • Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts if desired.
  • Fill pan with batter, evening out with a spatula. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Place a piece of foil loosely over the loaf after 40 minutes.
  • Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes before turning onto a wire rack – or enjoying warm!

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • I recommend using bananas that are at least speckled for banana bread. You can use bananas that are overripe as well. Very ripe bananas are easier to mash, sweeter, and more flavorful.
  • Measure your dry ingredients carefully!
  • I recommend using no more than 1 cup of mix-ins (chocolate chips, walnuts or both).

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 244IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Bread, Breakfast
Cuisine: American, New England
Calories: 296
Keyword: winter
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

About Grace Vallo

Hi, I’m Grace Vallo! Welcome to my kitchen! Here you’ll find kitchen-tested recipes and step-by-step tutorials with videos, giving home cooks the knowledge and confidence to cook and bake the most flavorful recipes for every season. Featured on the Food Network, Food & Wine, Taste of Home and more.

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6 Comments

  1. This recipe knocked it out the dang park. Jesus.
    Here’s some additions to take it even more ridiculously over the edge:

    – Use mix of bittersweet and milk chocolate chunks/shards
    – Top with cinnamon sugar mixture, then shards of butter before baking. (creates a streusel-type deal)
    – Bake in 9×9 for ~40 mins, cut into squares
    – Top with flaky sea salt, like Maldon
    – Don’t eat your fingers. Jesus.

    1. WOW, I want to try your streusel topping this weekend!! Love it. Thanks for the comment, and glad you enjoyed!

      Grace

  2. My new go to!!! Wow!! Grace you hit this out of the park! I made this bread for my clients today and they LOVED it!!!
    This bread is everything you said it would be and that I hoped for. The flavor was fantastic, it was very moist, and it turned out exactly how yours did on the video. I liked this so much that I saved it in my favorites, and that is saying a lot. I am a baker, so very few recipes that I try make it to the favorites, I usually create my own. Most recipes need adjustments to meet MY requirements, yes…I’m a baking snob, but this is straight up OUTSTANDING!!

    1. Hi Kathi,

      Your comment has made my day (and week!!). Thank you so much for commenting and sharing your experience. I’m so happy you love the recipe!! Please let me know if you try any other recipes!

      Grace