Double Chocolate Banana Bread

Okay, you need to put this recipe on your to-make list ASAP. No really, you are going to want to make this immediately. It’s just delicious! I made a loaf of it today and was intending to bring it to my art class friends to enjoy, but well, we ate the entire loaf this evening. So….good thing I have three more super ripe bananas sitting on the counter because I have to make it again tomorrow. 

It is so chocolatey, so moist, so melt-in-your-mouth-you-absolutely-must-have-a-glass-of-cold-milk (or almond milk!) to follow it with. I know you’ll love it, too. It is an absolute banana bread hit. Enjoy! 

PS It’s vegan. 

PPS If you don’t want it to be use real butter and a real egg. Easy swaps. 

Ingredients:

4 Tbl plant butter (I use Country Crock with Avocado Oil or Earth Balance) OR regular butter, melted

4 Tbl canola OR vegetable oil

3 very ripe bananas, smashed well

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 flax egg OR 1 regular egg (flax egg = 1 Tbl ground flax seed + 2 Tbl water, let sit 10 min)

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon  

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup spelt flour OR all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, SIFTED

3/4 cup mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life), divided

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F

Make the flax egg and let it sit for 10 min. 

Prepare a loaf pan by lightly oiling it and then placing a piece of cut parchment paper inside and over the edge (this makes removing the loaf very easy once the bread has cooled). 

Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl for 30 - 40 seconds. Let cool slightly. Add the canola oil, stir. Smash the bananas into the melted butter and oil. Really smash them well. Add the brown sugar then flax egg, stir. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Stir. Add the flour. Sift the unsweetened cocoa powder into the bowl. Please don't skip this step. You do not want little hard clumps of cocoa powder in your banana bread. Finally add 1/2 cup of the mini chocolate chips. 

Pour the batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips on top of the batter. Bake for 52-58 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cooked bread comes out clean. 

Enjoy!