one bowl chocolate chip banana bread

This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe is made in one bowl with simple ingredients! It’s perfectly soft and moist, with a crisp top and melty chocolate chips in every bite. This is the perfect quick baking project for a weeknight, or to make with your kids!

This recipe was originally published in April of 2020, but I’ve just updated it to make the recipe easier and more delicious, and to give new photos. A few folks have reached out asking for the old version of this recipe, which used sweetened condensed milk – I’ve included the old version of the recipe below the recipe card at the very bottom of this post.

If this is your first time making banana bread, never fear – this easy recipe has been a staple in our home for years and I’ll walk you through each simple step.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• Plush Banana Bread – This moist chocolate chip banana bread has a super plush texture!
• Chocolate Chips – We’re adding lots of chocolate chips to make this loaf of banana bread extra rich and delicious.
• Easy Quick Bread – This quick bread comes together quickly, in one bowl! It’s the best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread – points for flavor, points for ease!

Ingredient Overview

• Bananas – Use bananas that are very ripe – if they’re brown on the outside, they’re perfect! This is one of our favorite ways to use up overripe bananas (smoothies or these healthy banana muffins are great too!)
• All-purpose flour – Spoon & level your flour for best results, or use a scale. Scooping the measuring cup directly in will lead to too much flour.
• Granulated sugar – Granulated sugar adds a bit of sweetness and helps keep the bread moist.
• Eggs – Use large eggs.
• Cinnamon – Cinnamon adds depth of flavor, but if you aren’t a fan of cinnamon you can omit it.
• Chocolate Chips -Semi-sweet chocolate chips are the perfect addition to banana bread. Use semi- sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips – milk may be a bit too sweet here.

Ingredient Substitutions:

• Dairy-free – Use dairy-free butter and chocolate chips to make this recipe dairy-free.
• Gluten-free – I have not tested a gluten-free version of this recipe but I would start with gluten-free all-purpose flour if you want to try it.
• Chocolate Chips – Feel free to use mini chocolate chips, or swap half the regular size for mini chips.

How to Make this Recipe Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Mash your Bananas. Peel and mash bananas on a cutting board with a fork. Set aside.

Step 2: Mix up the Banana Bread Batter. Start with your wet ingredients. Cream the butter in a large bowl (or medium bowl) with an electric mixer. Mix in the sugar, then mix in the eggs, vanilla, mashed bananas, and water.

Mix in the dry ingredients until just combined, then stir in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

Step 3: Bake the Banana Bread. Spread batter into a standard loaf pan and add extra chocolate chips on top! The hardest part of this recipe is waiting for it to bake! Your kitchen will start to smell SO amazing as this bakes in the oven. Bake the banana bread as directed in the recipe card below.

Once it’s a deep golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into the center of the banana bread comes out with just a bit of moist crumb, it’s done! Let the whole loaf cool for as long as you can possibly bear, on a wire rack, before digging in and cutting a big slice. But, let’s be honest – eating banana bread warm is the only way!

Just imagine digging in to those melty puddles of chocolate, that crisp golden brown lid, and that soft, springy bread. Perfection! Be sure to slather some butter on top of your warm slice! I’ve even been known to spread nutella on mine for a mid-day snack.

Expert Success Tips:

• Don’t Over Bake – Follow the doneness indicators given in the recipe card below to ensure the perfect bake on this chocolate banana bread.

FAQS:

• What if my bananas aren’t brown? If they’re not fully brown, they’ll still work! You can use bananas at varying stages of ripeness, from very ripe to overripe.
• How can I quickly get brown bananas? Pop your bananas on a foil-lined baking sheet, with the peels on, and bake at 300 degrees F for about 20 minutes. This will ripen the bananas up quickly. Peel them, drain some of the excess liquid off, and mash them up for use in this recipe.
• Can I double this recipe? Yes! You’ll need two loaf pans if you make a double batch, as it will make two loaves.
• Can I halve this recipe? Yes. I’d recommend baking it in a 6-inch cake pan if you have it, otherwise stick to the standard loaf pan – you’ll just have a loaf that’s half the height. Be sure to start with 20-25 minutes on the bake time, adding more time gradually until done.

Recipe Variations:

• Nuts – Feel free to add 1/2 cup chopped nuts in place of some of the chocolate chips, or in addition to! Try walnuts or pecans. You can also swap all the chocolate for nuts if you prefer that.

Serving + Storing this Recipe:

Let banana bread cool just until you can handle it, before slicing and enjoying. Or, let it cool completely if you don’t like warm banana bread (is that even a thing?!). Store the cooled loaf in an airtight container or covered with aluminum foil at room temperature for 3-4 days.

Special Tools:

• Loaf Pan – Use a metal loaf pan for this recipe, as it conducts heat better than glass.
• Cordless Mixer – I love using my cordless mixer!

More Quick Bread Recipes to Love:

• Skillet Irish Soda Bread
• Zucchini Bread with Honey Butter
• One-Bowl Raspberry Lemon Bread
• Best Pumpkin Bread
• Classic Beer Bread with Salted Honey Butter

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Did you make this recipe? Snap a photo and leave a comment! 

Be sure to follow bluebowlrecipes on instagram and tag #bluebowlrecipes with your photo! You can also post a photo of your recipe to the bluebowlrecipes Facebook page. I’d love to see what you make!

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A few folks have reached out saying that they really enjoyed the old version of this recipe, which was slightly different and used sweetened condensed milk. Here’s the old version for those that wanted it – enjoy!

• 3 medium bananas
• 2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips, plus more for topping

Follow the directions as given above, but start by adding the mashed banana, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and sugar to the bowl. Whisk to combine, then fold in the dry ingredients, then the vegetable oil, then the chocolate chips. Bake at 350 F for 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes. Follow the same doneness cues as given above.