Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Banana bread…when I was growing up, banana bread was something you could COUNT on being at EVERY church dinner, family get-together, and the leftovers (if there were any) were devoured at breakfast the next day.

However, I NEVER enjoyed it. Why? Because I HATED (still do hate) walnuts in sweet bread! So, when my husband signed up to bring a dessert to a meal at work and neglected to give me proper warning, I took inventory of the ingredients I had available in my house and decided that I would simply throw in some mini chocolate chips to a classic banana bread recipe while substituting whole wheat flour for all-purpose flour to make it “healthy”. The result? EVERYONE LOVED IT!! The secretaries even asked for the recipe!

The pictures show overripe bananas in this recipe. I also frequently freeze bananas (in slices) when they’re almost too ripe and have used them in this recipe. A word of caution…be sure to thaw them completely and USE the water that comes out. You will need it or your bread will be dry.

So, here it is!  While this is not a “clean” recipe, using whole wheat flour does increase the fiber content as well as add a delicious flavor to the bread. And no worries…and CLEAN banana bread recipe will be coming soon!

As always, try to NOT go overboard and eat the entire loaf in one sitting (which is easy to do). This recipes freezes (and thaws) well if you find yourself being overcome with temptation.

For other sweet bread recipes, check out my CLEAN pumpkin bread recipe or CLEAN zucchini bread recipe!!

**For tips on SIMPLE meal prep, click here**
**For tips on practical portion control, click here**

Ingredients:
– 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
– 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
– ½ teaspoon salt
– 1 ½ sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
– 1 ½ cups (packed) light brown sugar
– 2 large eggs
– 3 cups ripe bananas (about 7 medium), mashed
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– ½ cup chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9×13 pan or 2-9×5 loaf pans.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, soda, and salt with a wire whisk; set aside.

 

3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer.

 

4. Mash bananas.

5. Add eggs, bananas, and vanilla to large bowl (with butter/sugar mixture) and beat at medium speed until thick. Scrape down sides of bowl.

 

6. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, then blend at low speed just until combined. Do not overmix.

 

7. Add chocolate chips and fold them in.

 

8. Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake on center rack of oven for 60-70 minutes. A toothpick inserted in center should come out clean, and the bread should pull away from the sides.

 

9. Cool in pan until room temperature before slicing and removing bread.

 

10. ENJOY!!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

• Difficulty: easy
• Print

A fun, clean, traditional recipe for Banana Bread made with whole wheat flour and chocolate chips.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups (packed) light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 cups ripe bananas (about 7 medium), mashed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9×13 pan or 2-9×5 loaf pans.
2. In a medium bowl, combine flour, soda, and salt with a wire whisk; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer.
4. Mash bananas.
5. Add eggs, bananas, and vanilla to large bowl (with butter/sugar mixture) and beat at medium speed until thick. Scrape down sides of bowl.
6. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, then blend at low speed just until combined. Do not overmix.
7. Add chocolate chips and fold them in.
8. Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake on center rack of oven for 60-70 minutes. A toothpick inserted in center should come out clean, and the bread should pull away from the sides.
9. Cool in pan until room temperature before slicing and removing bread.
10. ENJOY!!

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