Banana Bread With Chocolate Chips

This moist, versatile Banana Bread With Chocolate Chips is a recipe that you’ll want to enjoy for breakfast OR dessert!

There’s something instantly comforting about a warm slice of banana bread, straight out of the oven. In fact, thinking about the smell in my kitchen while it’s baking is making my mouth water! The downside is that traditional banana bread recipes are usually chock-full of sugar. That always surprised me, since bananas are naturally so sweet. What sets this recipe apart is the healthy modifications. Thanks to whole-wheat flour, coconut sugar and dark chocolate chips, you’re getting some smart swaps in this recipe.

How often do you notice that your bananas have spots on them or just turned completely brown? You may be surprised to learn that those bananas are absolutely perfect for this recipe. In fact, the riper, the better!

Banana bread itself is a classic, but adding dark chocolate chips adds even more depth to the recipe. The chips get deliciously gooey without overpowering the bread and taking over the sweet banana flavor. Before you know it, you’ll be coming back for a second slice!

Is This Banana Bread With Chocolate Chips Healthy?

Using whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour increases the fiber content of the recipe. It’s also a good source of B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. Coconut sugar can also be a healthier alternative thanks to its lower glycemic index score. Finally, the two stars of the dish: bananas and dark chocolate chips. Bananas are high in fiber, potassium, and magnesium. Dark chocolate chips contain minerals like iron, magnesium, zinc and copper.
This recipe does contain sugar, so despite its healthier profile, you’ll still want to consume it in moderation.

If you’re looking for a vegan banana bread, substitute butter for coconut oil, and use flax or chia “eggs” instead of eggs. For each egg, mix one tablespoon of seeds with three tablespoons of water and allow the mixture to stand for ten minutes until it becomes gelatinous. For a gluten-free banana bread, replace whole wheat flour with almond flour.

Delicious Variations

This is a terrific recipe to use as a base for customization. You can create endless varieties to change the flavor. I like to create a banana nut bread by adding chopped walnuts and pecans, swapping out vanilla extract for almond extract, and adding peanut butter chips. Another easy alternative is a cinnamon banana bread. You’d increase the amount of ground cinnamon in the recipe and also top it with cinnamon sugar.

Serving Suggestions

I absolutely love starting my day with a warm slice of banana bread with chocolate chips. Sure, it might not be an entirely well-rounded breakfast, but there are plenty of ways to get some protein on your plate. Pair banana bread with Perfect Sunny Side-Up Eggs and a few slices of Air-Fryer Turkey Bacon to enjoy a salty, savory, and sweet breakfast plate.  

Another way to jazz up this already delicious snack is to top it with Cinnamon Roll Homemade Cashew Butter and Healthy Strawberry Chia Jam. All of these flavors together will remind you of an upscale peanut butter and jelly sandwich. If you are serving it as a dessert, use it to dip in chocolate fondue or serve it warm and top with ice cream. Finally, enjoy a slice alongside a Coffee Smoothie, which will complement the banana flavors.

Recipe