Eating clean just got a whole lot better thanks to this Double Chocolate Banana Bread! This recipe is made with whole wheat flour, maple syrup, and avocado oil, making it a healthier way to satisfy those sweet cravings. Decadent, moist, and delicious- a must try recipe for all banana bread lovers!
Getting that first slice when the warm loaf comes out of the oven..SO GOOD! It is hard to resist a second slice...
My family loves banana bread, zucchini bread, or rather any type of baked bread. So I keep trying variations such as this Healthy Banana Chocolate Chip Bread or Chocolate Zucchini Bread that I had shared recently.
These breads are easy to make with ingredients you might have at home. Vary the addition to the bread such as mango, raspberry, blueberry, pumpkin, etc.
Healthy Whole Wheat Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe
While I like having both walnuts and chocolate chips in my banana bread, my daughter loves an excess of chocolate chips in hers. This gave me the idea to come up with a recipe for a clean-eating-friendly Banana Bread, with double the chocolate.
It's hard to believe that such a sweet, chocolate filled banana bread could be so healthy! This recipe uses whole wheat flour, maple syrup, and avocado oil, which all add to the nutritional value of this bread. Serve this bread at breakfast, as a snack, or as dessert!
To make this banana bread, it is important that your bananas are ripe and have brown spots all over. The browner they are, the better it is as they will add to the extra flavor of the recipe.
I use white whole wheat flour in this recipe, which works great as a substitute for all-purpose flour in most baking recipes.
How to make Double Chocolate Banana Bread?
All you need is one loaf pan, two bowls and an oven!
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and grease a 4x8 pan. If you'd prefer, you can use parchment paper to line the loaf pan instead.
- In a bowl, mash the banana. The smoother the consistency, the smoother the bread's consistency.
- Add all the wet ingredients into the bowl with bananas - yogurt, oil, maple syrup, eggs and vanilla extract. Mix till everything is well incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, add all the dry ingredients, and mix.
- Fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients with a spatula. Be careful to not over mix here!
- Add in most of the chocolate chips; save some to put on top of the bread after you pour it in the pan.
Pour the batter into your prepared pan, and evenly spread the rest of the chocolate chips on top. It's already looking delicious!
Bake for 40-45 minutes; use a toothpick to test whether the bread is done inside. Then remove from the oven, let it cool, slice, and enjoy the warm, chocolate-y goodness!
Tips to make Moist Chocolate Banana Bread
- Make sure your bananas are ripe when making this recipe because brown bananas are sweeter than the green ones.
- Mash the bananas well if you want a smooth and moist banana bread, or you can leave them a bit chunky too.
- You can use agave syrup in place of maple syrup.
- It is best to have all the ingredients be at room temperature before you start mixing.
- Once you have added the dry ingredients, do not mix too much. Just fold in the flour gently.
- I have used semi-sweet mini chocolate chips for this banana bread recipe, but you can use normal sized chocolate chips as well.
- To keep your banana bread moist, wrap it in a plastic wrap and store it on your kitchen counter or in the refrigerator.
How to store Banana Bread?
If you are going to enjoy the banana bread over 2-3 days, you can keep it in plastic wrap or an airtight container on the counter. This is the most realistic option, since it will probably be devoured as soon as it is ready to eat!
Can you freeze Banana Bread?
Yes! Banana Bread can stay frozen for up to 3 months. Store the whole loaf, or cut it into slices before freezing in a Ziploc bag or freezer wrap. When it's time to enjoy the bread, take it out and let it come to room temperature before eating. You can also pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds to get that oven-fresh taste.
Banana bread is a favorite in my household, so I have come up with quite a few variations! If you enjoy this one, be sure to check out my recipes for Banana Bread Pudding, and classic One-Bowl Banana Bread.
I hope you enjoy this sweet treat! Happy cooking!
Healthy Double Chocolate Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup White Whole Wheat Flour
- 1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 3 Banana
- 1/4 cup Yogurt
- 1/3 cup Avocado oil
- 1/4 cup Maple syrup or agave syrup
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/2 cups Chocolate chips I used semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 350°F (175°C). Also, grease a 4×8 pan or use a parchment paper and cover the pan insides.
- Take a large bowl and add the dry ingredients – whole wheat flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Once you have mixed all the dry ingredients well, set them aside.
- Take another large bowl, add the peeled banana. Mash them well, but if you like them a little bit chunky, then just mash them coarsely.
- Then add yogurt, oil, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix all of them together.
- Then fold the dry ingredients in to the wet ingredients with a spatula. Do not overmix.
- At last, add those chocolate chips for that chocolaty goodness. Save some of the chocolate chips to add on top of the batter once you have poured it into the pan.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread the chocolate chips evenly over the batter.
- Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. Insert a toothpick to check whether the bread is done. If the toothpick comes out clean, take out the pan and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the banana bread from the pan and place it on the wire rack.
- Slice and enjoy this healthy banana bread.
Notes
Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.
Should we use greek yogurt? Or our desi yogurt can be used? Instead of avacado oil can we use olive oil? Instead of maple syrup can honey be used?
Hi Deepti -
You can use regular yogurt, preferably thick yogurt. Greek Yogurt works great too.
I prefer avocado oil for its neutral taste in muffins, but I have tried these with olive oil too and that works well too.
I have not tried this bread with honey, so I cannot say for sure it will work well. I have tried maple syrup and agave syrup, and both work well.
I hope you enjoy the banana bread.
Looks great! Can you mention the substitute for eggs for vegetarians. Thanks
Hi Rucha – Thank you! I have not tried, but a reader sent me these options and these are frequently used by many.
1. Vinegar & baking soda (1 tsp baking soda mixed with 1 tbsp vinegar replaces 1 egg) .
2. Unsweetened applesauce (1/4 cup replaces 1 egg).
Hi Meeta -
Thanks for the recipe! Looks great.
Can we substitute yogurt with milk?
If so can you tell me how much?
Thanks!
Hi Nima - Sorry I have not tried milk in this recipe, so cannot say for sure the quantity of milk that will work well. Sour cream can work well in place of yogurt if you might have that.