Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Got ripe bananas ripening on the counter? Here’s a decadent way to use them: this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread! This recipe takes the classic banana bread up a notch by using browned butter, infusing a rich, nutty flavor into the entire loaf. It’s perfectly moist, studded with semi-sweet bits of chocolate and scented with just the right hint of cinnamon. In a word, it’s downright heavenly.

Ingredients in this chocolate chip banana bread recipe

This chocolate chip banana bread are pretty standard, with the exception of the browned butter which we’ll cover below. It includes a bit of whole wheat flour and a little less chocolate chips than the standard: but it tastes just as decadent. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

Very ripe bananas Butter Granulated sugar Eggs Vanilla Baking soda, cinnamon, and salt All-purpose flour Whole wheat flour Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Tips for brown butter

The best part of this chocolate chip banana bread? It’s flavored with brown butter. Brown butter is butter that’s heated until it turns light brown, bringing out a complex, nutty flavor. It takes just a few minutes, and if you have to melt butter for a recipe anyway, why not make brown butter? Here are a few tips:

Slice it into pieces for even melting. This way, the butter is heated at the same rate (vs a entire stick melting gradually). Butter browns quickly, so keep an eye on it. Don’t leave the stove! It can go from browned to burned in an instant. Remove it to a bowl to stop the cooking. This helps to prevent burning. Cool it for a minute before adding to the wets for your batter.

Mix-ins and flavor variations

Chocolate chip banana bread is one thing, but add another flavor or mix-in and you’ll really impress whoever you’re baking for. Here are a few ideas:

Chopped nuts: Add ¼ to ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts Other chips: Use a mix of chocolate and peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips Sea salt: Add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to the top after baking Orange zest: Add ½ teaspoon orange zest to the batter Bourbon: Add 1 tablespoon bourbon for a boozy nuance Sprinkles: Add a dash of sprinkles to the top, because why not?

More ripe banana recipes

There are so many ways to make a great banana bread…and don’t stop there! Make muffins, pancakes, cake, and more! Here are a few top banana bread recipes and ripe banana recipes to try:

Go for Our Best Banana Bread Try fan favorite Healthy Banana Muffins or Banana Oatmeal Muffins Go for classic Easy Banana Muffins, Banana Nut Muffins or Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins Go for a batch of Banana Pancakes, Banana Waffles, Banana Oatmeal Pancakes, or Vegan Banana Pancakes Blend up a Banana Peach Smoothie or Chocolate Banana Smoothie Try easy Sour Cream Banana Bread, Easy Banana Nut Bread, Blueberry Banana Bread, or try Banana Bread French Toast Bake up a pan of Banana Baked Oatmeal Opt for decadent Chocolate Banana Muffins or Easy Chocolate Banana Bread