Chocolate Banana Bread

I was invited to participate in an online cookie/holiday treat exchange by Patience Brewster. If
you’re not familiar with Patience, she is an artist that is on a personal mission to bring you joy through the unexpected in her handmade gifts, holiday ornaments and home decor.

I am very excited to participate and share this fun, tasty, and healthy treat with you that is perfect for gifting.  I’m also supposed to tag friends to participate, so Anna Costa, show us what you’ve got!

Everyone gets a ton of cookies, fudge, and homemade candies around Christmas.  Try doing something a little different – give a dessert bread that is rich but still healthy.  Your friends and neighbors will appreciate the variety and your consideration of their waistlines!

Chocolate Banana Bread (Makes 1 large loaf or 2-3 mini loaves, depending on pan size)

4 very ripe bananas
¼ cup melted butter
½ cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup white whole wheat flour
½ cup cocoa powder
⅓ cup chopped walnuts, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly coat loaf pan(s) with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, mash bananas. Whisk in butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla.

3. Combine baking soda, salt, flour, and cocoa powder in another bowl. Sift or whisk to remove any lumps. Add to wet mixture. Stir until just combined with a spoon. Gently stir in chopped nuts, if using.

4. Pour into prepared pans. Bake for 55-65 minutes (large loaf) or 35-45 minutes (smaller loaves) or until a tester comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10-15 minutes. Then loosen from pan with knife and remove to a cooling rack. Cool to room temperature before wrapping.

Nutritional Information (Amount per serving with 10 slices per large loaf)

Calories: 209
Protein: 5 g
Fat: 9 g
Saturated Fat: 3.7 g
Cholesterol: 21 mg
Carbohydrates: 33 g
Fiber: 4 g
Sodium: 196 mg

Recipe Notes: If you are eating this yourself, it is really delicious when it is still a bit warm from the oven.

Source: slightly adapted from Smitten Kitchen