Chocolate Banana Bread

Made with cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate chips in the batter and topped with a decadent glaze, this Triple Chocolate Banana Bread is bursting with chocolate flavor. This quick bread requires just a few simple ingredients and just a few minutes of prep. It freezes well too!

The Best Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

Overripe bananas on the counter? Craving chocolate? This Triple Chocolate Banana Bread is the answer!

This quick bread recipe takes your basic banana bread and turns it into a chocolate lover’s dream with cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate in the batter and a decadent semi-sweet chocolate glaze over the top.

The end result is an easy banana bread that’s moist and perfectly sweet, oozing with chocolate flavor. If you enjoy the chocolate banana flavor combination, you’re going to LOVE this recipe!

Love chocolate + banana? Check out my chocolate chip banana bread too!

Why You’ll Love This Banana Chocolate Bread

Here are a few reasons you’ll love this banana bread recipe.

• Rich chocolate flavor. Between the cocoa baking and the chocolate chips, every bite of this chocolate banana bread is filled with incredible chocolate flavor.
• Quick and easy. This recipe takes just a few minutes to prepare and about an hour in the oven. Give it a little bit of time to cool and then dive in!
• Made with pantry staples. You likely have all of the ingredients needed to make this bread is likely already in your cupboard.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Here’s what you’ll need to make the chocolate banana bread (the exact measurements and full recipe instructions are below in the printable recipe card):

• All-purpose flour
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – Be sure to use unsweetened to avoid making this bread overly sweet.
• Baking soda & baking powder – Both leavening agents allow the bread to rise in the oven.
• Butter – Helps keep the bread nice and moist.
• Sugar – Both brown sugar and granulated sugar are used.
• Eggs – Helps hold all of the ingredients together.
• Bananas – Be sure to use ripe bananas. Brown spots are perfect. The riper the banana, the sweeter the bread will be.
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips – See below for notes on substituting with other chocolate.
• Half & half – Added to the chocolate glaze so it’s easy to spread.
• Vanilla extract

Can I Use Milk Chocolate Chips?

Milk chocolate is not recommended in this banana bread recipe. Since it bakes for close to an hour, the milk chocolate can burn and cause a burnt flavor and texture in the bread. Instead, I recommend sticking with semi-sweet chocolate chips or even dark chocolate chips or chunks.

How Do You Ripen Bananas Fast?

If you’re craving this bread and don’t happen to have ripe bananas on the counter, you have a few options.

• Place them in a brown paper bag. Close the bag and set it on the counter and your bananas should ripen in a day or so. If you add a ripe banana or apple to the bag, they’ll ripen even faster.
• Bake them. Place unripened bananas on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake at 300F for 15 to 20 minutes. They’ll be soft but not as sweet as the other methods.

How to Make Chocolate Banana Bread

Like all quick bread, this recipe is super simple to pull together.

• Make the batter. Whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate large bowl, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and bananas. Add this banana mixture to the dry mixture. Stir to combine. Fold in the chocolate chips.

• Bake. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes and then let cool on a wire rack.
• Make the chocolate glaze. Heat the brown sugar and half and half over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips, until fully melted. Transfer to a small bowl and allow to cool.
• Add the glaze and serve. Drizzle the glaze over the banana bread then slice and serve.

Tips for Success

Ready to make the best banana chocolate bread possible? Here are a few tips!

• Use ripe bananas. Whenever you make banana bread, you want to use ripe or overripe bananas. They will not only mash easier but add more moisture to the bread. They are also sweeter too!
• Do not overmix. Once you add the wet ingredients to the dry, mix just until combined. Overmixing can make the bread dense and chewy.
• How to tell when the bread is ready? Banana bread is ready when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out without any moist crumbs.
• Take care not to burn the glaze. When melting the sugar and half and half, be sure to stir constantly to avoid burning the brown sugar. Remove the pan from the heat before adding the chocolate to avoid burning that as well.

Can I Make Mini Chocolate Banana Bread Loaves?

Yes, you can turn this recipe into cute little mini loaves or even muffins! Simply follow the recipe instructions as usual, then divide the batter into mini loaf pans. You will also need to adjust the baking time.

The baking time will depend on the size of your mini loaf pans, but the baking time should fall somewhere between 25 and 45 minutes. The best bet is to start checking the loaves for doneness at 25 minutes and keep checking every 5-10 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the loaves comes out clean. Keep track of how long it took for your mini loaves to bake so you’ll know for sure in the future.

Serving Suggestions

This banana chocolate bread is best served at room temperature. With the chocolate glaze and moist texture, it’s perfect as is and can pass as breakfast or dessert.

Or, if you want to turn it into a decadent dessert, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some whipped cream. We love to spread the slices with peanut butter – it’s heavenly!

How to Store & Freeze

• How to store. Once cooled, the chocolate banana bread will last for 3 days at room temperature or in the fridge. Wrap tightly in plastic or place in an airtight container.
• How to freeze. You can freeze the unglazed chocolate banana bread for up to 3 months. Cover tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil. I also like to place it inside a ziploc bag. When ready to use, take out of the freezer and thaw on the counter or fridge.

More Quick Bread Recipes

• Zucchini Bread
• Chocolate Mocha Banana Bread
• Strawberry Bread
• Chocolate Chip Banana Bread