Double Decker Chocolate Banana Bread

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Something strange happens to me whenever I want to make banana bread.

See, I’m a banana bread purist.

When it comes to eating banana bread, my favorite is just a classic banana-speckled loaf stuffed with walnuts. That’s it. Simple, good, no fussiness about it.

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But whenever I have ripe bananas that are begging me to bake them up into a dense loaf of quick bread, I can’t ever just make the classic recipe.

I’d say that this is a problem, but it really isn’t. For some reason, thinking of fun new ways to make banana bread makes me really excited.

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And while the classic recipe will always be my very favorite, trying new flavors and combinations makes for some fun experiments in the kitchen with really tasty outcomes.

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I’ve been trying to wean myself off of bananas lately to make room for all the summer fruits coming my way, but last week, I found myself with 2 overly ripe bananas. These babies weren’t fit for eating on their own and they were about 2 hours from just being thrown in the trash.

I knew I had to make banana bread. But not any normal banana bread. And it couldn’t be my nutella-marbled banana bread since I had no nutella, either. I didn’t want peanut butter or dried fruit or nuts.

I wanted chocolate.

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So chocolate it was.

I loved this bread even more than I thought I would. It was so fun to see the layers when I sliced into the warm bread and to smell the richness from the chocolate in the batter. But at it’s core, it was still just a great banana bread.

Simple, good, and not too fussy.

Just how I like it.

 

Double Decker Chocolate Banana Bread

  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 Tbsp neutral oil or melted butter
  • 2 bananas, mashed
  • 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In large bowl, whisk the buttermilk, brown sugar, vanilla, and oil together.

Stir in the mashed bananas.

Mix the flours, baking powder, and baking soda into the buttermilk mixture.

Pour half of the batter into an oiled loaf pan.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave or over a double boiler until smooth and stir the melted chocolate into the second half of the batter.

Pour the chocolate-filled batter over the top of the batter in the pan and smooth out.

Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

31 comments

  1. Looks delicious! I once made a strawberry banana bread that was incredible!

  2. There is definitely something super comforting about a simple banana bread…but there is also definitely something super comforting about chocolate as well! This looks delicious!

  3. I agree–classic banana bread always hits the spot, but it never hurts to kick it up a notch. Looks great!

  4. Yum! Such a pretty bread!

  5. just promise me you’ll lather a slice of this in PB, warm it in the microwave, and eat it in my honor – k?

  6. I am jealous of your ripe bananas! Mine never make it to the stage where they better be used in bread or else. I might have to hide a few somewhere or something just to get the chance to try out this awesome recipe!

    • next time you buy some, just buy a few extra than you need/want. let them ripen, and you’ll be set!

  7. Holy yum – my daughter would be all over this Brandi – thanks for the recipe! :D

  8. Brandi, this bread looks amazingly yummy! Love the chocolate layer on top… I would have never thought to do that! Thanks for sharing and inspiring me with something new. :)

  9. Can I have a slice right now??? Your bread is soooo pretty, and I can almost taste it!!!

  10. You’ve managed to put my favorite flavors in one recipe and my stomach has started to growl. This sound and looks wonderful. I’d really love to have a slice. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary

  11. oh my this bread looks gorgeous!!! yummy x 10000.

  12. Yum!! I haven’t had banaan bread in such a long time but I absolutely loveee it. Even better if made with a big chocolate layer!

  13. My favorite banana bread is a simple banana bread as well, but sometimes it is fun to kick it up a notch! I have to admit that my favorite part of making banana bread is the ‘dough/batter’ part… by far my favorite dough/batter. :)

  14. how fun! i love the layered look!!

  15. How awesome is banana bread? I love a slice warm- its so comforting! I’ve made a chocolate pudding banana bread before and it rocked! So I can only imagine how good this is

  16. this is just plain gorgeous! it turned out perfectly!

  17. That is beautiful and ingenious!!!

  18. This is so awesome! What a great combination!

  19. This looks really good! What a great combination!

  20. that loaf is gorgeous!

  21. Oh my gosh, this looks so good! I just booked marked it to make when I have time ;)

  22. Oh my goooooodness i can’t tell you how good that looks! You did a fantastic job. I’m not a baker at all, but once we get a house and settle I’m trying this!

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