Chocolate Banana Bread

You will want to bake this moist, tender Chocolate Banana Bread now bursting with semi-sweet chocolate chips, Dutch-processed cocoa, and mashed bananas. This sweet quick bread is so good! It will satisfy your chocolate cravings, plus use up ripe bananas on the countertop.

And this recipe doesn't get any easier because you can thaw frozen bananas from the freezer or use up ripe, dark bananas off the countertop.

Either way, you will end up with a moist on the inside, crispy edges on the outside, irresistible bread with tons of dairy free chocolate chips.

This recipe is wonderful to enjoy for breakfast with loved ones or a crowd. Plus it can be a delicious after-school snack for the kids, or a snack for yourself over breaktime at work with a cup of coffee.

Also add this quick bread to the brunch or baby shower menu for a treat everyone will enjoy.

And we have even prepared this bread ahead of time and enjoyed it in hotels while on vacation and work trips.

Just find a reason... any reason, to bake this Chocolate Banana Bread. You will be glad you did.

You will notice this recipe calls for ingredients you most likely have stocked in your pantry or refrigerator. So grab the ingredients, and get your chocolate fix with this cozy bread.

chocolate banana bread

• gluten free all-purpose flour-- use the spoon and level method {read about that here}. Our safe go-to is Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Baking Mix. We buy it in bulk here to save money. This flour blend contains xanthan gum.
• xanthan gum-- omit if your all-purpose blend contains this or guar gum
• unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch-processed cocoa-- you can use either in this recipe. We prefer the Dutch-processed cocoa for the dark color it gives this loaf and more chocolatey taste. You can read about this brand's allergen statement in this post.
• baking soda-- keep in mind this loses its potency after the container has been opened for 6 months. We suggest labeling the container with the date when it is first opened.
• kosher salt
• dairy free butter-- our go-to is Earth Balance Buttery Sticks
• brown sugar-- packed
• large ripe bananas-- frozen then thawed works too; keep scrolling to read more about this
• large eggs-- room temperature
• dairy free sour cream-- for this recipe we have successfully used Wayfare, the Forager Project, Tofutti, and Kite Hill Sour Cream
• vanilla extract-- here is our go-to
• dairy free semi-sweet chocolate chips-- there are several wonderful brands of safe chocolate chips perfect for this recipe. Our top favorites are Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Allergen Free Chocolate Chips we purchase at Walmart, as well as the Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Mega Chunks and Mini Chips.
• nonstick spray

kitchen utensils and gadgets for this recipe

• large mixing bowls
• spatula
• loaf pan-- 9x5-inch loaf pan works perfect. You can also use a smaller loaf pan and fill up cupcake liners with remaining batter.

frequently asked questions

is it ok to use frozen bananas

Frozen bananas are much easier to mix into a batter than fresh bananas are, and my freezer nearly always has an abundance of them, so it's pretty easy to mix up a fresh loaf whenever we are craving this gluten and dairy free quick bread.

Remove the bananas from the freezer and allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight on a plate or in a Ziploc bag. The bananas will release some juice and that is fine. This won't change the flavor or moisture content of the bread.

can bananas be too ripe for banana bread

No. Let bananas ripen {and overripen} on the counter at room temperature. This could take a few days or up to a week.

The best bananas for banana bread aren't yellow; they're almost black. And again, the darker the better.

There's no such thing as a too-ripe banana when you're making chocolate banana bread, or any banana bread recipe for that matter.

We adapted this recipe from a similar traditional recipe on the Stephanie Sweets website. And using the safe gluten and dairy free substitutions we suggest, you can enjoy this favorite recipe of ours.

more quick bread recipes

• pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting-- moist pumpkin-flavored bread with a thick cream cheese frosting you can even top with chopped walnuts
• apple fritter bread-- you won’t believe how tender these apple cinnamon sugar chunks are in this bread recipe. And a sweet cinnamon sugar topping with sweet drizzle adds extra glam and flavor to this old-fashioned quick bread recipe. 
• chocolate loaf cake-- rich and fudgy, this is the perfect easy cake for special events like birthdays and anniversaries. Top with vanilla buttercream frosting or chocolate ganache.
• pumpkin chocolate chip bread-- thick, rich, and tender bakery-style slices loaded with mouthwatering fall flavor and our favorite semi-sweet chocolate chips
• lemon poppy seed loaf-- tender slices of bread bursting with lemon flavor and poppy seeds galore, topped with a thick lemon icing
• apple spice loaf-- deliciously flavored with apple butter and all the best fall spices, this recipe is incredibly quick and easy to prepare

lastly

Pin this gluten and dairy free Chocolate Banana Bread now before you get busy with something else. Our quick bread recipe is easy to prepare, and its thick bakery-style slices are delicious to enjoy at breakfast or after dinner if you're craving chocolate before bed.

Or maybe you're not a chocolate fan. Then bake a loaf of our cozy Banana Bread recipe without the chocolate.

Plus did you know we have our TSA approved Food List to get you through security hassle-free with a packed cooler full of food? You can even travel with slices of this banana bread. This is must-read if you are flying anytime soon.

Keep up with our latest recipes, new product alerts, and brand giveaways by following along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Be sure to like and comment often so our posts keep showing up in your scroll.

We don't want you to miss the very best of eating gluten and dairy free.

Eat well and feel well,

Jill

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