I’m obsessed with banana bread these days, in case you haven’t yet noticed.  So I was again, thinking of a way to spice things up a bit and tweak my banana bread recipes.  I wanted chocolatey, banana-loaded, nutty, yet super easy and quick to make.  And this one surely ticks all the boxes, hence I call it THE BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD recipe ever!

So what makes this recipe so special?

For one, I use a combination of almond meal and wholemeal flour.  Almond meal is simply ground almonds so it makes this bread a bit more moist and less dense.   It also gives it a nuttier taste.  To make this gluten-free, you can use all almond meal and skip the wholemeal flour.

Second, this is very kid-friendly since I substitute the refined sugar with pure maple.  I’ve also tried using pure honey and it’s absolutely as divine-tasting.   Now, you can give this a protein-boost too by adding a scoop or two of your favorite protein powder (preferably vanilla or chocolate flavor), making it perfect for breakfast.  Just make sure you pick high-quality protein powder and one which doesn’t have too much artificial sugar or ingredients in it.

I also topped it with 2 thinly sliced banana strips to make it look prettier and to add more banana flavor into it.  It came out just oh so picture perfect!  It’s the 3rd time I’ve baked this recipe for the last 3 weeks–yes my boys are goin’ bananas over it and it usually just lasts for a couple days!   You can freeze this for about a month, or chill in the fridge for about a week.  Then you may toast before serving again and top with your favorite nut butter or just enjoy it on its own.

For this recipe, I added some blueberries, chocolate chips, chia seeds, and walnuts so it’s got TONS of flavors packed in every bite. Best part is it’s a ONE-BOWL recipe so my little boy had a go in making this banana bread with me.   Hope you enjoy this!

Tag me in instagram @tara_fitfoodiemommy if you make this.  I always enjoy it when my creation comes to life!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about 2-3 medium bananas)

2 eggs

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/3 c pure maple syrup or pure honey

1/3 c greek yogurt or plain yogurt

1 c wholemeal flour /wholemeal pastry flour

1 c almond meal

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 c dark chocolate chips or fresh blueberries or chopped nuts (optional)

1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)

2 banana thin strips (topping, optional)

METHOD

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees.  Line a loaf pan with parchment or baking paper and grease with baking spray.
2. Mix all the wet ingredients together.  Stir with a wooden spoon until combined.  Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and mix until smooth.  But don’t overmix.
3. Fold in the choco chips, nuts, or seeds if using.  Pour the batter into the loaf pan and top with the banana strips.
4. Bake for about 40-50 minutes or until browned and a toothpick comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

xo,

Tara