CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD

This chocolate banana bread is adapted from the wonderful Two Peas & Their Pod. It is easy to make, super moist and strikes the perfect balance between the banana and chocolate flavors. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup cocoa

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

• 2 ripe bananas

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 egg, at room temperature

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 175°C. Grease a loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sea salt. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork or a food processor. Add the melted butter and oil and stir until combined.

4. Add the brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract and stir until smooth.

5. Fold in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, but do not over-mix. Stir in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips.

6. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips over the top and bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out mostly clean, you might have some melted chocolate chips on the toothpick and that is fine. Oven times vary, so check at 30 minutes to see if it needs more time. 

7. Remove the pan from the oven and set on a wire cooling rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the bread and carefully remove from the pan. Let the bread cool on the wire cooling rack until slightly warm, then cut into slices and serve.