Chocolate chip banana bread is a delicious variant on traditional banana bread. Just add some cocoa powder and chocolate chips for an easy breakfast bread!
Banana bread is a staple in our house. We make it at least a few times per month. My boys love it for breakfast and it makes a great evening snack when it’s fresh out of the oven.
For a while, Tyler has been begging me to add chocolate. I kept saying no since we don’t need the extra sugar in the morning. But, one day, I caved. And man, were we missing out!
The chocolate chip banana bread is delicious. I still won’t make it all the time since I want to still limit our sugar. Though it’s a great way to make something a bit different for a change.
I used our regular banana bread recipe and made a few changes. I took out the cinnamon and added cocoa powder in its place. Then, we also added some chocolate chips into the batter.
Why This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Turns Out So Moist
Dry banana bread can be disappointing, especially when you’re expecting a soft loaf full of melty chocolate chips. The key to keeping it tender is balancing the moisture. Try swapping half of the butter with Greek yogurt (or sour cream) for a rich crumb that stays moist even the next day. Using melted butter instead of softened also helps coat the flour evenly and gives the bread a smoother texture. For a dairy-free loaf, use melted coconut oil or olive oil instead—both work beautifully with chocolate chips while adding a subtle new flavor.
How to Ripen Bananas Quickly for Baking
Chocolate chip banana bread shines when made with extra-ripe bananas that are deeply speckled or nearly black. If yours aren’t quite there yet, here are some quick fixes:
- Paper Bag Method: Place bananas in a brown paper bag overnight to trap ethylene gas and speed ripening.
- Oven Method: Bake unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet at 300°F for 15–20 minutes until blackened, then cool before using.
- Frozen Hack: Keep ripe bananas in the freezer. When ready to bake, thaw them for 30–60 minutes. They’ll be soft, sweet, and perfect for mashing into your chocolate chip batter.
Variations and Substitutions for Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Want to change up your loaf? Here are some easy swaps and add-ins:
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for a loaf that’s just as soft and packed with chocolatey goodness.
- Lower Sugar: Cut the sugar by ¼ or swap for coconut sugar—ripe bananas and chocolate chips bring plenty of sweetness on their own.
- Dairy-Free: Substitute coconut oil for butter and dairy-free yogurt for Greek yogurt. Pair with dairy-free chocolate chips for a fully dairy-free version.
- Egg-Free: Replace each egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water, rested for 5 minutes).
- Add-Ins: Stir in chopped walnuts, pecans, or swap some chocolate chips for white chocolate, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch morsels for extra flavor.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Troubleshooting Guide
Here’s how to fix common banana bread problems so your chocolate chip loaf bakes up perfectly every time:
- Loaf sinks in the middle – Usually from overmixing or using the wrong pan size. Mix gently and bake in a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- Dry or crumbly bread – Caused by too much flour or overbaking. Spoon and level flour accurately and check doneness a few minutes early.
- Dense texture – Often from too many bananas or extra liquid. Stick with 3 medium bananas for balance.
- Chocolate chips sinking – Toss chips in 1 tablespoon of flour before folding them into the batter to keep them evenly distributed.
- Too sweet – Overripe bananas plus sugar and chocolate can overwhelm. Reduce the added sugar slightly or balance with a pinch of salt.
Delicious Ways to Serve Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
This bread is already a treat, but here are a few ways to make it extra special:
- Serve warm with butter so the chocolate chips melt even more.
- Drizzle with caramel sauce and add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
- Turn thick slices into chocolate chip banana bread French toast.
- Toast slices and spread with Nutella, peanut butter, or cream cheese.
- Pair with a cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or chai for a cozy treat.
A Little Nutrition Bonus
Bananas add natural sweetness, fiber, and potassium, while the chocolate chips bring just the right amount of indulgence. You can make your loaf heartier by swapping half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat pastry flour or stirring in oats for added texture. For a flavor boost, add a teaspoon of cinnamon or a touch of espresso powder—both pair beautifully with chocolate and bananas.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Step by Step
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup butter (melted)
- 2 eggs
- 3 bananas (overripe, smashed)
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350F and grease a loaf pan.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer.
Stir in the eggs until they are well blended.
Add the bananas and water and beat for at least 30 seconds.
Stir in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa powder.
Carefully fold the chocoalte chips into the batter.
Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan. Bake for about 70 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Leftovers
Storage: When we make banana bread, it’s often in the evening, and we have it for breakfast the following morning. After it’s done and cooled, cover with a beeswax wrap or aluminum foil. We then put it in the microwave so our cat doesn’t decide to find it on the counter, but that isn’t necessary.
Recipe
Originally Published On: July 31, 2020
Last Updated On: August 22, 2025
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup butter (melted)
- 2 eggs
- 3 bananas (overripe, smashed)
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- Grease a loaf pan
- Mix the sugar and butter in a bowl
- Stir in the eggs until well blended
- Add the bananas and water, then beat for at elast 30 seconds
- Stir in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa powder
- Gently fold in the chocolate chips
- Pour into loaf pan
- Bake about 70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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I do a super similar recipe! I love making different variations of banana bread. Anything with chocolate chips is a huge favorite in this house.
We all love chocolate here, too! It makes everything better 🙂
This looks amazing! It has been so long since I’ve made banana bread! I will have to try out this recipe soon.
We end up making banana bread at least once a month. Sometimes more! It’s great to switch up the flavor sometimes.
This is definitely a recipe I wanna try with my daughter. She absolutely loves banana bread and add in chocolate she would go crazy.
That’s how my boys are! They can’t wait until the bananas are too ripe to eat and ready for bread.
I’m not a fan of banana but maybe adding in loads of chocolate chips would help me to like it haha x
You could also lower it to only 2 bananas. I’ve made it that way when we didn’t have 3.
Banana bread really is our favourite thing to make. We make it often. If I have choc chips we add them in. So super yummy.
My boys love when we add that bit of chocolate, too.
That sounds lovely. We make plain banana bread and with white chocolate. Not tried it with cocoa powder yet.
Oh, I’ve never tried white chocolate with banana bread. I’ll have to give it a try next time we make some.
Never tried adding chocolate chips into banana cake before but this recipe does look delicious! Will be making this soon
My boys love when we add some chocolate to it! I don’t do it all the time since we don’t need the extra sugar, but it’s great for a treat now and then.
This chocolate chip banana bread is a twist from what I am accustomed to. Hope you enjoyed it.
Yes, we like adding a twist to recipes sometimes to make them different from normal.
My oldest son’s family is very careful with their sugar intake too, but they do make an exception for banana bread WITH chocolate chips. I like mine without, and I like it warm. Banana bread is the best.
Yes, banana bread is so good fresh from the oven!
Love a good banana bread – not had one with chocolate chips in it before! I’ma give this recipe a go.
It’s different but so yummy!
Wow it looks so yummy to eat. I will love to try this recipe sometime soon.
We love banana bread, and especially with chocolate chips.
Banana bread yessss!!! I love Banana bread, it is delicious! I can’t wait to bake your recipe, can’t wait!
We eat a lot of banana bread here, too. That’s why I had to mix it up and try something new with it!