Soft Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe for Sweet Moments
Bananas ripening on the counter can spark a delightful chocolate chip banana bread adventure.
This irresistible homemade treat blends sweet ripe bananas with rich chocolate morsels in a classic comfort recipe.
Every slice promises pure, tender deliciousness that melts in your mouth.
The aroma of freshly baked bread will fill your kitchen with warmth and nostalgia.
Soft, dense, and packed with flavor, this banana bread transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary experience.
Simple ingredients come together effortlessly to create a crowd-pleasing dessert or breakfast companion.
Bake this bread and watch smiles spread across faces as everyone reaches for another slice.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Calories: 230 kcal
Servings: 8
What You’ll Need for Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
For Base Ingredients:
Ripe Bananas: Key to natural sweetness and moisture, choose overripe bananas with dark brown spots for deeper flavor.
Unsalted Butter: Provides rich taste and helps create tender texture, use room temperature for smooth mixing.
Granulated Sugar: Balances banana sweetness and creates golden crust, helps with bread's caramelization.
For Binding Ingredients:
Large Eggs: Bind ingredients together and add structure, ensure they are at room temperature for better incorporation.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity, use pure vanilla for best aromatic results.
For Dry Ingredients:
All-Purpose Flour: Creates bread's basic structure, sift to remove lumps and ensure smooth batter.
Baking Soda: Helps bread rise and creates light texture, ensure it's fresh for maximum leavening power.
Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavors, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
Ground Cinnamon: Adds warm, complementary spice that pairs perfectly with banana, use freshly ground if possible.
For Bonus Ingredient:
Chocolate Chips: Provides delightful bursts of chocolate throughout bread, use semi-sweet for balanced sweetness.
Tools That Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bread a Breeze
Large mixing bowl: Perfect for blending all ingredients smoothly.
Measuring cups and spoons: Precise measurements ensure baking success.
Whisk or wooden spoon: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients together.
Loaf pan (9×5-inch): Essential for shaping and baking the banana bread.
Toothpick or cake tester: Helps check if bread is fully baked.
Wire cooling rack: Allows bread to cool evenly without getting soggy.
Potato masher or fork: Helps mash bananas to a smooth consistency.
Spatula: Useful for folding in chocolate chips and scraping batter.
How to Bake Chocolate Chip Banana Bread That Feels Like Home
Warm Up the Oven Preheat your oven to a cozy 350 degrees, creating the perfect environment for baking.
Prepare the Baking Vessel Grab a loaf pan and give it a quick butter massage or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
Banana Transformation Smash those ripe bananas into a smooth, creamy consistency using a fork or potato masher.
Create the Wet Base Mix in melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until everything is beautifully blended.
Introduce the Dry Ingredients Gently fold in flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, being careful not to overmix the batter.
Chocolate Chip Magic Softly incorporate chocolate chips throughout the mixture, ensuring even distribution.
Fill and Decorate Pour the batter into the prepared pan, then sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top for a delightful crunch.
Bake to Perfection Place in the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick that should come out clean.
Cool and Serve Let the bread rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy Your Creation Slice and savor warm, either plain or with a pat of butter for extra indulgence.
Tweaks for Making This Banana Bread Even More Tempting
Ripeness Matters: Choose overripe bananas with dark brown or black spots for maximum sweetness and deeper banana flavor.
Chocolate Chip Distribution: Toss chocolate chips in a tablespoon of flour before folding into the batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend to make this recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
Storage Hack: Wrap the cooled banana bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container to keep it moist for up to 5 days at room temperature, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutty Twist: Add 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch and a rich, toasted flavor that complements the chocolate and banana perfectly.
Serve Sliced Warm, Toasted, or Just as It Is
Breakfast Bliss: Slice a warm piece alongside your morning coffee or tea for a delightful start to the day.
Dessert Delight: Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for an indulgent after-dinner treat.
Snack Time Companion: Pack a slice in lunchboxes or enjoy with a cold glass of milk for a quick energy boost.
Gift from the Heart: Wrap individual slices in parchment paper and tie with a ribbon for a homemade gift that shows you care.
Store That Banana Bread So It Stays Moist
Smart Storage Solutions: Keep bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil at room temperature for 3-4 days, maintaining soft texture and preventing dryness.
Freezing Magic: Slice bread before freezing, wrap individual portions in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bag. Frozen slices stay fresh up to 3 months, perfect for quick breakfast or snack.
Moisture Management: Store bread in airtight container with paper towel to absorb excess moisture, preventing soggy texture and extending freshness.
Revive & Reheat: Warm refrigerated or frozen slices in microwave for 15-20 seconds or toast lightly in oven, restoring original soft and delicious taste with crispy edges.
Delectable chocolate chip banana bread combines ripe bananas with rich chocolate for an irresistible treat. Homemade comfort emerges from this classic recipe that brings warmth and sweetness to anyone who tries it.
Ingredients
Scale
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 large eggs
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
1 ½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
¾ cup (128 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
Banana Preparation: Pulverize ripe bananas into a smooth, creamy consistency within a spacious mixing bowl.
Wet Ingredient Fusion: Vigorously whisk melted butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until thoroughly integrated and glossy.
Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon over the wet mixture, gently folding until just combined without overmixing.
Chocolate Enhancement: Tenderly fold chocolate chips throughout the batter, ensuring even distribution of delectable morsels.
Pan Preparation and Baking: Grease a loaf pan or line with parchment, pour batter into the vessel, sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top, and slide into a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C).
Baking and Doneness Check: Bake for 50-60 minutes, verifying completion by inserting a wooden skewer into the center – it should emerge clean and dry.
Cooling and Serving: Rest bread in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy, optionally adorned with a luxurious butter spread.
Notes
Mash Bananas Perfectly: Use overripe bananas with dark brown or black spots for maximum sweetness and softer texture, ensuring smooth incorporation into the batter.
Minimize Mixing Technique: Stir dry ingredients into wet mixture just until combined, preventing gluten development and maintaining a tender, delicate bread crumb.
Chocolate Distribution Strategy: Dust chocolate chips lightly with flour before adding to prevent sinking to bottom of bread during baking, ensuring even chocolate spread throughout loaf.
Moisture Preservation Hack: Store bread in airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap to maintain softness, and consume within 3-4 days for optimal freshness and flavor.
Recipe development with a focus on single-dish meals.
Fusion of traditional and modern Australian cuisines.
Food styling and photography for digital platforms.
Education
Box Hill Institute, Melbourne
Degree: Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management
Focus: Specialized in practical food and beverage service, responsible alcohol and hygiene compliance, legal risk management, and hands‑on experience in a simulated restaurant environment.
William Angliss Institute, Melbourne
Program: Certificate IV in Patisserie
Focus: Specialized in pastry and bakery techniques, cookery and specialty food preparation, recipe planning and costing, commercial kitchen operations, sustainable and inclusive work practices, food safety and hygiene compliance, and workplace health and safety.
Jenna is the heart of Picture Perfect Meals, turning simple ingredients into beautiful, easy‑to‑make dishes.
Growing up around family meals in Melbourne, she trained at Box Hill Institute and then perfected her pastry skills at William Angliss Institute. She loves mixing classic Australian flavors with fresh ideas to keep cooking fun and stress‑free.
Jenna Hartley
Founder & Recipe Creator
Expertise
Education
Box Hill Institute, Melbourne
William Angliss Institute, Melbourne
Jenna is the heart of Picture Perfect Meals, turning simple ingredients into beautiful, easy‑to‑make dishes.
Growing up around family meals in Melbourne, she trained at Box Hill Institute and then perfected her pastry skills at William Angliss Institute. She loves mixing classic Australian flavors with fresh ideas to keep cooking fun and stress‑free.