The Best Moist Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (One-Bowl Recipe)

Forget dry and crumbly loaves. Learn how to make the ultimate chocolate chip banana bread with a moist, gooey texture and a perfect bakery-style crumb. This is an easy, one-bowl recipe that makes a sweet breakfast treat or quick dessert.

My kids love banana bread with chocolate chips. Being that I love all things banana and chocolate, including my favorite banana Nutella muffins, it’s no problem for me to add all that melted chocolaty goodness to our favorite banana bread recipe.

This one-bowl chocolate chip banana bread is deliciously moist, light and fluffy with unbeatable overripe banana flavor. My family loves it, and we simply can’t get enough of it! This is a super quick and easy recipe that you can whip up in 15 minutes or less (plus an hour or so baking time).

The Science Behind This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

This is a quick and easy, one bowl banana bread recipe. You can whip it up in 15 minutes or less, plus about an hour of baking time in the oven. I’ve learned a few things about banana bread over the years, and I’ll share a few reasons why I think this is the best banana bread.

• This recipe uses all-purpose flour for the perfect structure and texture. Semi-sweet chocolate chips are heavy, so a good all-purpose flour is essential to keep them from sinking to the bottom.
• We use canola oil instead of butter, because oil is 100% fat and remains liquid at room temperature, ensuring the bread stays moist for days longer than butter-based loaves.
• The best chocolate chip banana bread is made with overripe bananas, because they provide natural sugars and pectin, both of which act as a binder. This will contribute to a dense, fudgey texture rather than a dry and crumbly one.

Ingredients & Substitutions Notes

• Mashed Bananas – It is best to use mashed overripe bananas for any banana bread recipe. The overripe bananas will also give off a better flavor and softer texture. I usually just mash mine up in a small bowl with a fork.
• Eggs – Whole eggs give a better rise, a more tender tender texture and an improved flavor.
• All-Purpose Flour – The key to making moist chocolate chip banana bread with a bakery-style crumb is to use a high quality all-purpose flour. The extra protein in all-purpose flour provides structure and loft to the loaf, but it’s not so high that it becomes chewy.
• Canola Oil – I recommend using canola oil. If that’s not available for whatever reason, you can substitute 1:1 using vegetable oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, or even unsweetened applesauce. Butter will also make a delicious loaf if preferred, but it won’t be quite as moist, nor will it keep as long.
• Chocolate Chips – I use semi-sweet chocolate chips. Most chocolate chips will work, so use your favorite.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Before getting started, prepare your loaf pan by spraying it well with non-stick cooking spray. This will keep your banana bread with chocolate chips from sticking to the sides. Let’s get started…

Mixing Up the Batter

1. In a large mixing bowl, mash up the bananas, and then cream (or mix) with the sugar. I use my mixer to mash them, but you can also smash the bananas with a fork.
2. Add the egg to the banana/sugar mixture.
3. Mix the dry ingredients and canola oil into the sugar mixture.
4. Gently fold the chocolate chips into the mixture.

How to Bake Banana Bread With Chocolate Chips

Then just pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan, and then sprinkle the top with the extra chocolate chips. Bake at 350ºF for about an hour, or until the top is a deep golden-brown and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

After baking, I usually let it cool in the pan for a good 10 to 15 minutes. Then you can run a knife around the edge, and plop it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

How to Serve Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Banana bread is absolutely delicious served hot out of the oven with gooey chocolate chips. I have always found that it is much easier to slice up after it has cooled on a wire rack for at least an hour. Either way, it’ll be equally as moist, rich and chocolaty.

I just love a good slice of chocolate chip banana bread lathered with butter, and served with a piping hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk. You can also top it off with a dollop of homemade whipped cream!

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

What Else Can I Add to Chocolate Chip Banana Bread?

There are a few things you can do to switch up this recipe and maybe even make it more flavorful…

• Add chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, or sliced almonds.
• Add dried cranberries or dried cherries.
• Make the bread in mini loaf pans instead of one big loaf pan.
• Make chocolate chip banana muffins instead of bread. To do so, just pour the batter into a muffin tin instead of a loaf pan.
• Spread a simple cookie icing on top of the bread while it’s still warm, letting it soak in for even more flavor!

More Breakfast Sweet Treat Recipes

• Homemade Glazed Donuts
• Cinnamon French Toast Sticks
• Strawberry Waffles
• Homemade Pancake Mix
• Blueberry Coffee Cake With Streusel Topping
• Overnight French Toast Casserole

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