Chocolate Banana Nut Bread | Gluten-free

Who doesn’t like banana bread? Especially one with nuts and chocolate?? For the longest time I’ve been trying to make a banana bread that wasn’t too dry, too dense, and too NOT what banana bread should taste like. Even though this is a chocolate version of banana bread, it’s still a step forward in the right direction. Chocolate always saves a recipe, and this time around I didn’t want to end up with a failed banana bread while I was desperately wanting something sweet with nothing in the fridge but healthy fruit. I didn’t wanna end up eating an underripe pear so I added chocolate to my banana bread. Sue me.

One day I will bake a classic banana bread with no chocolate. I just wish I could pour the banana nut muffin batter into a loaf pan and voilà! But no. I am actually really proud with how this banana bread came out.

Butter. Butter is your friend. The more, the better. In any situation really but especially for banana bread.

Mlik. If you don’t add enough, your banana bread will dry out.

And finally, dark brown sugar will help with caramelization. In previous banana bread recipes, I used only white sugar but I found that this would dry out the bread. I don’t think this is applicable for regular gluten-filled banana bread but it’s definitely something you don’t want to leave out of a gluten-free banana bread.

The best part about this recipe is that it’s pretty simple to make. I made this while I was running on little sleep from the night before, had a slight headache, and not motivation to do anything outside of sleeping. So if I could do it, you can do it.

Ingredients:

• 3 large overripe bananas, mashed

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1 large egg

• 1/4 cup milk, regular or non-dairy

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1 cup gluten-free self-raising flour

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar

• 1/4 cup white sugar

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• Chopped walnuts and chocolate chips to sprinkle on top (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF. Line a 9x5in loaf pan with baking paper.

2. Add egg, mashed banana, and butter to a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer to incorporate well. Add in sugars and vanilla extract and mix well.

3. Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to medium bowl and mix. Mix dry and wet mixtures together, adding only small portions of the flour mixture in at a time. Add milk and continue mixing.

4. Add chopped walnuts and mix using a large spoon.

5. Pour mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top (optional).