Best Two Banana Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

Why You Should Give This Recipe a Try

No matter what I do, I always seem to have a few overripe bananas at the end of the week. It could be my aversion to eating brown bananas (too icky) or just the fact that they are generally all very green when I purchase them. Fast forward a few days and there is at least one mushy banana in my lunch bag and another one on the counter. This generally prompts my husband to ask, “Are you going to make something with those?” I sure am going to make something with those, this Best Two Banana Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe.

This banana bread started out as a simple, classic banana bread using the original recipe that I had on the blog, but I got tired of that over time and wanted to take it up a notch. First, I included semi-sweet chocolate chips. Definitely delicious. Then I started spreading those chocolate chips on top of the bread before baking. A delicious improvement. Finally, I added a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar on top. Incredible! As far as I’m concerned this is the only banana bread recipe I will be using!

Some of the best features of this recipe:

     Melty chocolate chips inside and on top of the banana bread.

     A super moist banana bread without vegetable oil! The bananas provide all the moisture.

     A crunchy cinnamon sugar topping. The contrast in textures is really satisfying.

As always, this is a great recipe that requires no particular cooking experience, does not use any special techniques, and contains simple ingredients most people have in their pantry. 

Recipe Ingredients

Banana Bread:

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2-3 very ripe bananas

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs, room temperature 

1 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus a few more to sprinkle on top

Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

1/3 cup granulated sugar (white sugar)

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Helpful Tools

Electric mixer (stand mixer or hand mixer)

Potato masher

Fine mesh sieve

Whisk

​Rubber spatula

Wooden spoon

Loaf pan (standard pan size of 8 1/2 inches works well)

Ingredient Notes

Two large bananas are enough bananas for this recipe. Three medium bananas also work well and you will have an even more flavorful banana bread, but you should stop there or you will change the texture of the finished product.

While my version calls for semi-sweet chocolate chips, feel free to use dark chocolate chips if that’s your thing. The bananas add a lot of sweetness and dark chocolate can offset that a bit.

Don’t have any overripe bananas available? Check out the Tips & Tricks for how you can create very ripe bananas quickly.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Spray the inside of the loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. You can also grease the inside with butter and lightly flour it.

3. Using a potato masher or a fork, mash bananas in a large bowl. Set aside.

4. Sift the flour into a large bowl. 

5. Add the baking soda and cinnamon to the flour and whisk to combine. Set aside.

6. Cut the butter into tablespoon size pieces and place in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave the butter until melted (about 40 seconds). Let cool for a few minutes before using.

7. Add the melted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed until combined. If you don’t have a stand mixer, add the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and combine using a hand mixer. 

8. Add the eggs and vanilla to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until combined.

9. Place the mashed bananas into the mixing bowl and incorporate them into the batter on low speed.

10. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

11. Mix on low speed until just combined. Make sure that you scrape down the sides of the bowl and up from the bottom so that all of the ingredients are incorporated. Do not over mix.

12. Add in the chocolate chips. You can do this by hand using a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula.

13. Prepare the cinnamon sugar topping by stirring the sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. 

14. Pour the banana bread batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle a few extra chocolate chips over the top.

15. Evenly sprinkle a handful of cinnamon sugar over the top of the batter. You can determine how much you would like. You will definitely have some left over. 

16. Bake for 50 – 60 minutes until a wooden skewer or knife inserted into the center of the banana bread comes out clean. It is normal to have a bit of melted chocolate on the skewer, but not any batter.

17. Let the banana bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then run a knife around the edges and flip the bread onto a wire rack to cool completely. 

Check out the printable recipe card for Easy Two Banana Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe below!

Storage

Store your chocolate chip banana bread wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, or in a plastic container. It should last 3-4 days.

Tips & Tricks

If you don’t have any overripe bananas, you can make your own. Heat the oven to 300 degrees F and place the unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet lines with parchment paper. Bake for 15 – 30 minutes until the bananas are soft and the skins uniformly dark brown. NOTE: make sure you take the stickers off of the bananas before placing them in the oven.

While you can use unsifted flour in this recipe, it may result in little pockets of unmixed flour. Sifting is very quick and easy, so I highly recommend it. You can simply place the flour in a fine mesh sieve while holding it over your mixing bowl. Gently tap the side of the sieve letting the flour fall into the bowl.

The best way to slice banana bread is with a serrated bread knife. This will help keep the slices from falling apart. 

FAQs

Can I freeze this banana bread?

You can! Wrap the bread in two layers of aluminum foil and then place it in a freezer bag. Push out as much air as possible before sealing the bag.

Can I use a 9-inch loaf pan?

You can use a 9-inch loaf pan but the cake will not rise up as much on the top.

Did you enjoy this Best Two Banana Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe? Me too! Next up try Easy Banana Whoopie Pies with Nutella Filling!