Description
This healthy chocolate banana bread recipe is a nutritious twist on the classic favorite, made with ripe bananas, almond flour, and unsweetened cocoa powder, sweetened naturally with pure maple syrup. It’s moist, decadent, and packed with wholesome ingredients, perfect for a guilt-free breakfast or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 3 very ripe medium bananas (ones with LOTS of brown spots), mashed (1 ¼ cups mashed banana)
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup (78g) pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups (280g) packed fine blanched almond flour
- ½ cup (40g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Add-ins and Toppings
- ½ cup (90g) dark chocolate chips (dairy free if desired), plus 2 tablespoons extra chocolate chips for sprinkling on top
- Fancy sea salt, for sprinkling on top
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, eggs, pure maple syrup, and vanilla extract until well combined to create a smooth base.
- Add dry ingredients: Add the almond flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to the wet mixture. Use a wooden spoon to combine everything thoroughly.
- Fold in chocolate chips: Gently fold in ½ cup of the dark chocolate chips, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
- Pour batter and add toppings: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips on top along with a pinch of fancy sea salt for an extra touch of flavor.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 65 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out almost clean.
- Cool and slice: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing into 12 pieces.
- Serve: The bread is best enjoyed the next day. Top with your favorite nut butter or butter and an extra sprinkle of sea salt if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can add ⅓ cup of chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for extra healthy fats and crunch.
- Store the bread well-covered at room temperature for up to 3 days. After that, refrigerate or freeze it to maintain freshness.
- This bread freezes very well; wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and place in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Individual slices can also be frozen for convenient on-the-go snacks.
Keywords: healthy chocolate banana bread, gluten free banana bread, almond flour banana bread, dairy free chocolate chips, maple syrup banana bread, low sugar banana bread