My easy chocolate chip banana bread is one of the many popular ways to dress up the classic banana bread! This one-bowl recipe is super simple, delicious, and a definite crowd pleaser.
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❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You won’t need any special equipment. This recipe uses melted butter instead of softened, so no need to take out your mixer. Simply stir everything in one bowl with a spatula and then bake in a loaf pan.
- It’s versatile. It doesn’t have to be just dark chocolate chips. You can use milk, semi-sweet, or even white chocolate chips. You can also add toasted or chopped nuts like walnuts, almonds, or pecans. Whatever floats your chocolate boat, really!
Looking for more easy banana bread recipes? Try out my walnut banana bread, double chocolate chip banana bread, or matcha banana bread!
Ingredients
To make chocolate chip banana bread from scratch, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- I like to use 3-4 medium to large bananas for each batch!
- Melted unsalted butter makes the banana bread really easy to mix by hand. No need to whip softened butter!
- I like to use a mix of brown sugar and granulated sugar to create the perfect balance of flavor and texture. You can use light or dark brown sugar; dark brown sugar will just give you a deeper butterscotch flavor.
- Buttermilk yields a soft, moist banana bread, with a slight tang!
- I like to sprinkle the loaf pan and the top of the banana bread with turbinado sugar right before baking, which adds satisfying sweet crunch.
- You can use either vanilla extract or vanilla paste (1:1) in this recipe.
- For the chocolate chips, you can use dark, milk, semi-sweet, or even white chocolate chips.
For the full list of ingredients and measurements, see the recipe card below.
💡 Baking Tip
- Weigh your ingredients! One of my favorite kitchen tools is a kitchen scale because it’s more accurate than measuring by volume. If you use cups, spoon the flour in gently, then level it with a knife or spatula.
- Use super ripe bananas for enhanced flavor. Look for banana peel that’s starting to brown, have brown spots, or even bordering to black-brown. Super ripe bananas yield the best flavor and moist texture.
- Use aluminum foil for even browning. If the banana bread isn’t finished baking yet and is getting too dark, lightly cover it with aluminum foil!
How to Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, mix granulated sugar, brown sugar, and melted butter until well combined.
Step 2: Whisk in eggs and vanilla until completely smooth and there are no more eggy streaks.
Step 3: Stir in mashed bananas and buttermilk until combined.
Step 4: Mix in dry ingredients and chocolate chips. Pour into lined and turbinado sugar-coated loaf pan(s). Sprinkle extra sugar and chocolate on top. Bake for 1 hour, or until top is set and a toothpick/cake tester comes out mostly clean with a few crumbs. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then remove from pan. Let cool completely before slicing!
For full instructions, see the recipe card below.
Storage
- Room temperature: Store fully cooled chocolate chip banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing instructions: I personally like to batch make banana bread and freeze them so I can eat them whenever I want!
- Whole loaf: Wrap the entire loaf in aluminum foil, then store in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature, about 4-5 hours.
- Slices: Layer slices in an airtight container with squares of parchment or wax paper in between, so they don’t stick and freeze together. Thaw at room temperature, about 30 minutes. I personally like to reheat the slices in a microwave or toaster oven!
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Thank you so much! -Bianca ❤️
📖 Recipe & Video
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
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Equipment
- 1 9"x5" loaf pan or 2 8"x4" loaf pans
- Wire rack for cooling
Ingredients
Wet ingredients:
- ½ cup (113.5 g) unsalted butter melted (can sub neutral oil like canola or avocado)
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (110 g) brown sugar light or dark
- 2 (100 g) eggs room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (337.5 g) mashed bananas 3-4 medium, ripe
- ½ cup (120 g) buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon (13 g) vanilla extract or paste
Dry ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (312.5 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) baking soda
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) fine sea salt
Mix-ins (optional):
- ¾ cup (135 g) chocolate chips
For the pan and topping (optional):
- ¼ cup (50 g) turbinado sugar divided
- ¼ cup (45 g) chocolate chips
Instructions
Prep work:
- Preheat oven to 350°F/177°C. Grease two 8"x4" metal loaf pans or one 9"x5" metal loaf pan. Line with parchment paper for easier removal.
- Sprinkle turbinado sugar all over the pan, making sure to get the sides. This will create a crunchy outer layer!
Make chocolate chip banana bread batter:
- In a large mixing bowl, mix ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, and ½ cup unsalted butter until well combined.
- Whisk in 2 eggs and 1 tablespoon vanilla until completely smooth and there are no more eggy streaks.
- Stir in 1 ½ cups mashed bananas and ½ cup buttermilk until combined.
- Gently stir in 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, and ¾ cup chocolate chips until there are no dry spots remaining.
Bake:
- Pour chocolate chip banana bread batter into loaf pan(s). Optionally sprinkle on the remaining half of the turbinado sugar and ¼ cup chocolate chips.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until top is golden, set, and a toothpick/cake tester comes out mostly clean with a few crumbs.
- Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then remove from pan. Let cool completely before slicing!
- Enjoy! See notes for storage information.
Notes
- Room temperature: Store fully cooled banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Freezing instructions: I personally like to batch make banana bread and freeze them so I can eat them whenever I want!
- Whole loaf: Wrap the entire loaf in aluminum foil, then store in a freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature, about 4-5 hours.
- Slices: Layer slices in an airtight container with squares of parchment or wax paper in between, so they don’t stick and freeze together. Thaw at room temperature, about 30 minutes. I personally like to reheat the slices in a microwave or toaster oven!
