Chocolate Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 125 g margarine
• 100 g light brown sugar
• 50 g dark brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 200 g plain flour
• 50 g cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• pinch salt
• 250 g ripe bananas (mashed)
• 100 g milk chocolate chunks or chips ((save a few to scatter on top))
• 2 tbsp semi-skimmed milk
• 50 g milk chocolate
• 1/4 tsp sunflower oil

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 160ºC (fan assistedd, 180ºC non fan) and line a 2lb loaf tin

2. 2

   Beat the butter and sugar together for at least 5 minutes until pale and fluffy

3. 3

   Add the eggs and mix again

4. 4

   Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt and mix until it is just combined

5. 5

   Mash the bananas roughly with a fork and add them to the mix along with the chocolate chips and milk. Mix until combined

6. 6

   Tip into the lined tin and smooth out. I make a shallow indent down the middle to help even rising. Scatter over the additional chocolate chips if you’re using them

7. 7

   Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 1 hour until a cocktail stick comes out clean

8. 8

   Allow to cool for around 30 minutes before removing from the tin and cooling completely on a wire rack

9. 9

   Once it has cooled completely, add the chocolate to a microwaveable bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in short bursts, stirring in between

10. 10

    Add the oil to the melted chocolate and stir until completely mixed. Drizzle over the banana loaf and leave for 10 minutes for it to set slightly