Banana Nut Bread Recipe with Chocolate Chips
This banana nut bread recipe with chocolate chips is soft, moist, and filled with ripe bananas, crunchy pecans, and pockets of melted chocolate. It’s an easy quick bread recipe perfect for weekend baking, brunch spreads, or wrapping up as a thoughtful homemade gift.
Everyone needs a go-to banana quick bread recipe! This version is an adaptation of a recipe used in our family for generations, originally found in my great-grandmother, Mary’s Woman’s Home Companion Cook Book published in 1947. I’ve reinvented it to suit my common pantry staples, preferences, and the way my family eats. I encourage you to do the same! I’ve swapped pecans for the traditional walnuts, brown sugar in place of white, and avocado oil instead of shortening. Simple shifts yielding delicious results.
Banana bread recipes are a dime a dozen, but this one is special and oh-so-easy to make. The chocolate chips and pecans are the perfect combination of flavor and texture to balance the deep banana flavor. The recipe yields two eleven-inch loaves, perfect for enjoying and sharing with a neighbor or friend.
What is Banana Nut Bread with Chocolate Chips?
This is a quick bread, or simple leavened bread that has the texture and sweetness of a cake, more so than a traditional yeast bread. It’s made in a loaf pan (although can easily be modified for muffins!) and is usually enjoyed as a dessert, with afternoon tea, or even as an indulgent breakfast treat.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- The soft, tender crumb
- The rich banana flavor, balanced with chocolate bits and crunch, nutty pecans
- It is simple to make with minimal equipment required
- Make this recipe ahead for easy hosting and gifting
INGREDIENTS
- All purpose flour – the foundation of the banana bread’s structure and texture
- Baking powder – leavening agent for extra rise
- Baking soda – leavening, reacts to the acidity of the banana and helps with the golden brown color
- Kosher salt – brings out the flavor in the bread, balances sweetness
- Avocado oil – healthy fat for moisture, texture, and shelf life
- Brown sugar – adds mild sweetness, depth of flavor
- Eggs – binding and leavening
- Bananas – moisture and distinct banana flavor
- Vanilla – depth of flavor, balance sweetness of bananas
- Pecans – crunch, rich and nutty flavor
- Chocolate chips – creamy texture and complimentary bittersweet cocoa flavor
Note from the Host: The avocado oil adds a healthy fat and decadent moisture to this recipe.
HOW TO MAKE BANANA NUT BREAD WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS
Step 1 – Preheat oven to 350℉ and place oven racks in the top half of oven. Line two, 11-inch loaf pans with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 2 – In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
Step 3 – In a separate, larger mixing bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Add mashed bananas.
Step 4 – Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until everything is combined evenly. There will be lumps from the mashed banana, and that’s okay.
Step 5 – Roughly chop the pecans and chocolate chips or discs to your preferred size. The small bits of chocolate will melt into the batter while the larger will create pools of chocolate throughout the bread once baked. Reserve about ½ cup of each to top the loaves.
Step 6 – Add the chopped chocolate and pecans into the banana bread batter and gently fold them in until evenly distributed.
Step 7 – Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pans. Scatter the reserved chocolate chips and pecans over the top.
Step 8 – Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. The loaves should have a rounded dome on top.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
A few practical tips from my cozy kitchen to yours:
- Roughly chopping the chocolate chips or discs creates small bits of chocolate that will melt into the batter while the larger chunks will create pools of chocolate throughout the bread once baked. So good!
- Avoid over-filling the loaf pans or adjusting the baking temperature. This can result in an overcooked outer loaf and raw interior or a sunken middle where the dome of the banana bread actually caves in shortly after removing it from the oven.
- The vanilla extract, chocolate discs, and pecans add a lot of enhancement to the banana bread. It’s a nice balance of bittersweetness and texture you and your guests will devour.
HOSTING NOTES
- As with most quick bread recipes, it’s a versatile recipe perfect for brunch, after-dinner dessert, or for an afternoon gathering.
- Serve in thick slices with a pat of butter or dusted with a mix of powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
- Pairs nicely with a cup of black tea or strong coffee.
- Make up to two days ahead for stress-free hosting.
VARIATIONS
- Make it gluten-free by substituting the all purpose flour for Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 GF Flour.
- Try using chopped hazelnuts in place of the pecans for a classic chocolate + hazelnut flavor combination.
- Make muffins instead of loaves: Adjust baking time to 12 minutes, or until the tops are raised into domes and a toothpick comes out clean.
STORAGE & FREEZING
- These will store at room temperature in an airtight container for about 3 days
- Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container
- From the freezer, allow to thaw on the countertop for 2-3 hours
- Reheat in the microwave for about 25 seconds or in the oven at 300℉ for 8 minutes from room temperature
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Yes! Make 2-3 days in advance and keep in an airtight container until ready to serve.
Be sure not to skimp on the mashed banana or oil as these play a huge role in the moisture level of the bake. Also, try baking for a bit less time in case your oven runs slightly hotter than mine.
Of course! I love to use whatever I have on hand instead of running to the market for just one ingredient. I used pecans here because our family prefers them and I rarely have walnuts on hand, but you should use what you prefer.
Banana Nut Bread Recipe with Chocolate Chips
Equipment
- 2 Loaf pans
- Parchment paper
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Medium mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board or butcher block
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup avocado oil
- 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 eggs slightly beaten
- 3-4 mashed bananas or about 2 cups
- 1 cup pecans roughly chopped
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or discs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉ and place oven racks in the top half of oven. Line two, 11-inch loaf pans with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
- In a separate, larger mixing bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Add mashed bananas.
- Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until everything is combined evenly. There will be lumps from the mashed banana, and that’s okay.
- Roughly chop the pecans and chocolate chips or discs to your preferred size. The small bits of chocolate will melt into the batter while the larger will create pools of chocolate throughout the bread once baked. Reserve about ½ cup of each to top the loaves.
- Add the chopped chocolate and pecans into the banana bread batter and gently fold them in until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pans. Scatter the reserved chocolate chips and pecans over the top.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. The loaves should have a rounded dome on top.
Nutrition
MORE QUICK BREAD RECIPES
If you’re looking for additional quick bread recipes, we have a few here at The Host Notes!
For another delicious way to use those ripe bananas, try my Carrot and Banana Muffin recipe – perfect for spring gatherings, picnics, and celebrations.
If you’re on the hunt for a spiced loaf, look no further than my Brown Sugar Pumpkin Bread (with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting!). It’s a favorite around here and one your friends and family will ask for on repeat.
