The Best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe is ultra moist because I use a secret trick! This banana bread can be made with or without the chocolate chips and is guaranteed to be your new go-to recipe!

Make sure to try my Chocolate Banana Bread too! It’s DOUBLE the chocolate!

My BEST Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe Uses A “Secret” Method

Before you start yawning at yet ANOTHER banana bread recipe, please, please give me a chance to explain. I mean I get it, you’re probably wondering why mine is the best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread? You have your Granny’s recipe that is the best. Or you’ve made my Toasted Coconut Banana Bread and don’t think you need to look any further. But I am not one to leave well enough alone…you know that about me by now. I’ve even claimed to make the BEST Banana Muffins…which, btw are totally THE BEST.

But I will tell you I have officially cracked the banana bread code here. This chocolate chip banana bread that I am sharing with you today is EVERYTHING.

Why is This the BEST Banana Bread?

Let me explain why this is the last banana bread recipe you’ll ever need. First off, it’s outrageously moist (sorry). This recipe has butter as well as sour cream, which not only make it unbelievably soft, they also give great flavor, as opposed to a lot of banana bread recipes that are made with oil. Of course I use walnuts in this recipe, that you can omit if you must, but I urge you not to, at least the first time you make this recipe.

BUT the real secret to this recipe on supreme moistness and banana flavor is…wait for it…SLICED BANANAS. You add some mashed and some thinly sliced. Is your mind blown yet?

Adding the sliced bananas into the bread leaves little pockets of banana that you wouldn’t normally have when it’s mashed. Not enough that it is mushy, that wouldn’t be good… just the exact perfect thing your banana bread has been missing all along. I’m telling you, this is legit.

Ingredients:

• Bananas. This recipe calls for 3 “medium”. This isn’t exact, obviously, which is fine. The only problem you could really run into is if you chose large bananas, which would end up making your bread super dense. If you only have large bananas, you could cut back to 2 – 2 1/2, depending on how big. You will be mashing 2 and slicing 1!
• Melted butter. I like to use butter instead of vegetable oil in my recipe because it adds more flavor!
• Granulated sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Sour cream. You can use full fat or lower fat, the difference in the final outcome is minimal.
• Baking soda
• Kosher salt
• All purpose flour
• Mini chocolate chips. You can use full sized if that’s what you have, I just prefer the smaller chips in this! OR you can leave them out too!
• Chopped walnuts. You can also use pecans, or totally omit the nuts!

One Bowl Instructions!

1. Coat a 9×5 loaf pan with nonstick spray. Line the bottom and up the short sides with a strip of parchment paper for easy removal from the pan. Leave a little parchment hanging over the pan so you can easily grab it!
2. Mash 2 of the bananas and slice 1. Set the sliced bananas aside.
3. In a large bowl stir together the butter and sugar. Mix in the eggs and vanilla and stir until smooth. Add the sour cream, mashed bananas, baking soda, and salt, and stir until blended.
4. Add in the flour and mix until incorporated.
5. Fold in any chocolate chips and nuts you are using.
6. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If the bread is browning too quickly you can loosely tent it with foil to stop the browning.
7. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, and then using the parchment paper as handles, carefully lift the banana bread out of the pan to cool on a wire rack.

Do You Have to Add Nuts to Banana Bread?

Nope! If nuts aren’t your thing, you can absolutely omit them. You can even add in a few extra chocolate chips, or even leave the chocolate chips out! My Banana Bread recipe is a great one to adapt. You can even try adding different flavor combinations of chips and nuts!

What kind of Nuts Should You Add?

You could easily sub in pecans in place of the walnuts in this recipe. I would recommend using a softer nut, like a walnut or pecan, just to keep the texture of the bread at its bread. If you would like to experiment with say, pistachios or peanuts in this recipe, just make sure to chop them!

Can You Freeze Banana Bread?

Yes! Freezing banana bread is a great way to save any extras you might have, or double the recipe and save a loaf for later. Just thaw the banana bread at room temperature, and slice and serve!

How to Reheat Banana Bread

1. If you have frozen the bread, then like I said above, let the bread thaw completely first. Next preheat your oven to 350°F, and wrap the loaf in foil. Heat it for 10-15 minutes and it will be as good as new!
2. You can also toast slices of leftover banana bread, which is a great way to have a warm individual slice without reheating the whole loaf!
3. And yes, certainly you can reheat a slice of banana bread in the microwave, although it’s never the recommended method because it doesn’t heat evenly. BUT, in a pinch heat a slice for 10-12 seconds and it will be good to go!

Even Better the Next Day!

This is amazing warm, right out of the oven. And it’s even more indulgent with a spread of butter.

BUT the thing with this chocolate chip banana bread is that it’s out of control delicious when it’s warm…but it is also SO GOOD the next day! The flavors have a chance to blend together and get really soft and friendly.

Looking for more Banana Bread Recipes? Try these:

• Banana Bread Crumb Cake
• Pumpkin Banana Bread
• Brown Sugar Banana Bread

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Helpful tip… Out of sour cream? Here’s a great sour cream substitution!

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