Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe
This Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread is a deliciously moist and tender treat made with ripe bananas, rich cocoa powder, and a hint of sweetness from a granular sweetener like monk fruit or brown sugar. Packed with wholesome ingredients like oat flour and nut butter, this recipe offers a nutritious twist on a classic favorite, perfect for breakfast or a guilt-free dessert.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 10 slices) 1x
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 medium ripe bananas (about 12 oz/360 g total)
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup (60 g) nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew, or sunflower seed butter)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (70 g) granular sweetener (monk fruit or brown sugar)
- ⅙ tsp sea salt
- 1 ½ cup (150 g) oat flour (or preferred flour)
- ½ cup (50 g) cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup (50 g) protein powder (optional, as replacement for ½ cup (50 g) flour)
- ¼ cup (40 g) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and prepare a 20 cm (7.9 inches) loaf pan by lining with parchment paper or greasing it with oil to prevent sticking.
- Mash Bananas: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas thoroughly with a fork until they form a smooth puree.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Stir the nut butter and eggs into the mashed bananas until well incorporated.
- Add Sweetener and Flavors: Add the granular sweetener, vanilla extract, and sea salt to the wet mixture. Whisk or stir vigorously for about two minutes to combine everything evenly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, combine oat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and protein powder if using. Gradually stir these dry ingredients into the wet mixture until fully combined.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips to distribute them evenly throughout the batter.
- Pour Batter and Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and, if desired, sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the Bread: Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Protein powder can be used to replace half of the oat flour for added protein content; choose unflavored or chocolate-flavored for best results.
- Ensure bananas are very ripe for maximum sweetness and moisture.
- Sweetener choice can be adjusted according to dietary preferences, such as monk fruit for a low-calorie option or brown sugar for a more traditional taste.
- Loaf pan size: using a 20 cm (7.9 inches) pan ensures even baking and proper texture.
- Do not overmix the batter once dry ingredients are added to keep the bread tender.
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