This easy chocolate chip banana bread is soft, moist, and filled with sweet banana flavor and melty chocolate chips. It is a delicious homemade treat that works perfectly for breakfast, afternoon snacks, dessert, or sharing with family and friends.
Ripe bananas add natural sweetness and moisture to the loaf, while chocolate chips make every slice extra delicious. This simple recipe uses everyday baking ingredients and is easy enough for beginner home bakers.
Serve this warm chocolate chip banana bread with a cup of coffee, a glass of milk, or enjoy a slice as a sweet afternoon snack.
Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Soft and moist texture
- Sweet banana flavor
- Loaded with chocolate chips
- Easy to make
- Made with simple pantry ingredients
- Perfect for breakfast or dessert
- Family-friendly
- Great for meal prep
- Freezer-friendly
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Optional:
- Extra chocolate chips for the top
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Ingredient Notes
Ripe Bananas
Use very ripe bananas with plenty of brown spots.
The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your banana bread will be.
Chocolate Chips
Semi-sweet chocolate chips work especially well in this recipe.
You can also use:
- Milk chocolate chips
- Dark chocolate chips
- Mini chocolate chips
Melted Butter
Melted butter adds moisture and a rich homemade flavor.
Allow the butter to cool slightly before adding it to the egg mixture.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Grease a standard 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Mash the Bananas
Place the ripe bananas in a large mixing bowl.
Mash them with a fork until mostly smooth.
A few small banana pieces are completely fine.
3. Mix the Wet Ingredients
Add:
- Granulated sugar
- Melted butter
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
Whisk everything together until well combined.
4. Combine the Dry Ingredients
In another bowl, whisk together:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Cinnamon
- Salt
Mix until evenly combined.
5. Make the Batter
Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture.
Gently stir until just combined.
Do not overmix the batter.
6. Add the Chocolate Chips
Fold 3/4 cup chocolate chips gently into the batter.
Reserve a small handful of chocolate chips if you want to sprinkle them on top.
7. Fill the Loaf Pan
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Spread the top evenly with a spatula.
Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top if desired.
8. Bake
Bake for approximately 50–60 minutes.
Start checking the bread around the 50-minute mark.
Insert a toothpick into the center.
The bread is ready when the toothpick comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs. Try to avoid testing directly through melted chocolate chips.
9. Cool
Allow the banana bread to cool in the pan for approximately 10–15 minutes.
Carefully transfer it to a wire rack.
Allow it to cool before slicing.
10. Serve
Slice the chocolate chip banana bread and serve.
It is delicious:
- Warm
- At room temperature
- With butter
- With peanut butter
- With coffee
- With a glass of milk
Tips for the Best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Use Very Ripe Bananas
Very ripe bananas create the best sweetness and moisture.
Look for bananas with plenty of brown spots.
Don’t Overmix the Batter
Mix only until the flour is incorporated.
Overmixing can create dense banana bread.
Reserve Chocolate Chips for the Top
Sprinkling a few chocolate chips on top before baking gives the loaf a beautiful bakery-style appearance.
Measure the Flour Carefully
Too much flour can make banana bread dry.
Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off.
Check for Doneness Carefully
Chocolate chips can melt and stick to the toothpick.
Test a few areas near the center of the loaf for the most accurate result.
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Variations
Double Chocolate Banana Bread
Add 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder to the dry ingredients.
You can also add extra chocolate chips.
Chocolate Chip Walnut Banana Bread
Fold 1/2 cup chopped walnuts into the batter with the chocolate chips.
The walnuts add a delicious crunchy texture.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Add 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter to the wet ingredients.
The combination of banana, peanut butter, and chocolate is delicious.
Dark Chocolate Banana Bread
Use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
This creates a richer chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
Use the same batter to make muffins.
Divide the batter between a 12-cup muffin pan and bake at 350°F for approximately 18–22 minutes.
How to Keep Banana Bread Moist
The key to moist banana bread is using ripe bananas and measuring the ingredients carefully.
Avoid:
- Using too much flour
- Overmixing the batter
- Overbaking the loaf
Allow the bread to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container.
How to Store Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Allow the banana bread to cool completely.
Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Can You Freeze Chocolate Chip Banana Bread?
Yes.
Allow the bread to cool completely.
You can freeze:
- The entire loaf
- Half of the loaf
- Individual slices
Wrap tightly and place in a freezer-safe container or bag.
Freeze for up to 2 months for the best quality.
Thaw at room temperature before serving.
What to Serve with Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
This banana bread is delicious with:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Cold milk
- Fresh berries
- Greek yogurt
- Peanut butter
- A scoop of vanilla ice cream
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Frozen Bananas?
Yes.
Allow frozen bananas to thaw completely before using them.
Mash the bananas and include some of the natural liquid if the mixture seems dry.
Can I Use Brown Sugar?
Yes.
Brown sugar can add extra moisture and a deeper caramel-like flavor.
You can replace the granulated sugar with brown sugar.
Why Is My Banana Bread Dry?
Banana bread can become dry if too much flour is used or if the loaf is overbaked.
Measure carefully and check the bread before the maximum baking time.
Can I Make This Without Chocolate Chips?
Yes.
Simply leave out the chocolate chips for a classic banana bread variation.
Can I Add Nuts?
Yes.
Walnuts and pecans both work very well with banana and chocolate.
Recipe Card
Easy Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50–60 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Grease or line a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- Mash the ripe bananas in a large bowl.
- Add the sugar, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract.
- Mix until well combined.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture.
- Stir gently until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top if desired.
- Bake for 50–60 minutes.
- Cool before slicing and serving.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.