Chocolate Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3-4 ripe bananas (mashed)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 2 large eggs (at room temperature)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips (semisweet)
• 1/2 cup walnuts (or pecans, chopped)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat Oven and Prep Pan:: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Dry Ingredients:: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. 3

   Mash Bananas:: In a separate bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth.

4. 4

   Wet Ingredients:: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Mix until well combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.

5. 5

   Combine Mixtures:: Fold the mashed bananas into the wet mixture. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts if using.

6. 6

   Pour and Bake:: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, leveling the top with a spatula. Bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean.

7. 7

   Cool and Slice:: Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

8. 8

   Serve and Enjoy:: Serve your Chocolate Banana Bread warm or at room temperature, optionally with a dollop of cream or a scoop of ice cream!