Chocolate Banana Bread or Cake


banana-chocolate breadChocolate Banana Bread has been an old favorite, and needs no preamble or praise. The pairing of chocolate and bananas is one of the most reliable ones where baking is concerned, and though bananas were traditionally baked with walnuts or pecans for the classic banana-nut loaf, this new combination has indeed found a place in the hearts and minds of foodies. Chocolate can get really overpowering, especially in baked desserts; but this Chocolate-Banana Bread recipe still focusses on the distinct flavor of ripe bananas, while chocolate, nuts and dried cranberries make it both festive as well as delicious! Every chef will certainly have their signature banana bread recipe, but there's always room to improve it, right?! So here I share my recipe with you - a classic recipe adapted to make it eggless and also to suit my tastebuds!

Banana Bread is pretty similar to a Banana Cake, except for its shape; while one is baked in a loaf pan, the other uses a non-loaf pan!:) But this, to me, is not really a valid difference! I chose to bake my chocolate-banana bread cum cake in a rectangular pan rather than a standard loaf one, and believe me, it still tasted as great as ever! Serve this with a cup of tea or coffee for a bread-like feeling; drizzle some chocolate syrup and whip cream on the top and it transforms into a decadent dessert. So now you have not one, but two wonderful reasons to put those 4-day old ripe aged and yellow-skinned bananas to good use! Also, a tip from Stephanie's chocolate-banana bread recipe about sprinkling some brown sugar on the top to get the crusty golden texture while it bakes sounds interesting! This beauty is on its way to the Banana-Bread Bakeoff hosted by Not Quite Nigella!

Eggless recipe - A banana bread or cake is the most appropriate type of recipe to make into an eggless version. Mashed bananas impart the same texture and softness to the cake that egg yolks would; you might have to compromise just a tiny bit on the fluffy part, but if you use self-raising flour, even that difference would melt away! So for an eggless version, omit the eggs, use self-raising flour instead of regular one, add 1 more banana, and 1/2 tsp more of baking soda.

Ingredients
1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tspn baking powder
1 tspn baking soda
1 tspn salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
1 large egg
2 large ripe bananas (yellow-skinned ones)
1 tbsp milk
3 tbsp walnuts - coarsely chopped
3 tbsp dried sweetened cranberries
1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional)
1 tbsp poppy seeds (optional)

Method
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan, or a 9x9 inch cake pan and set aside.

Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well till it becomes light and fluffy.

In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and nutmeg. In another bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cranberries, poppy seeds and walnuts.

Add the banana mixture to the creamed sugar mixture and stir until combined. Add the dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.

Pour the batter into prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour (depending on oven and pan size), until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (Do the toothpick test after 45 mins, then bake a little longer if needed).

Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Remove the bread from the pan, then use a buttered knife to cut into slices.

Suggested Variations: White chocolate chips, raisins, pecans, macadamia nuts, toasted walnuts

This delicious Chocolate Banana Bread is great with your morning tea. The cranberries and poppy seeds add a nice flavor as well as a crunch to the loaf, at the same time balancing the sweetness of bananas. As bananas tend to give out a distinct smell as they get old, it is best to consume this bread within 2-3 days while keeping it refrigerated.

Similar Recipes:
Hazelnut & Mocha Bread
Banana & Walnut Fluffy Cake
Persimmon & Chocolate Spice Cake
Fried Banana with Ice Cream


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40 comments :

Anonymous said...

This looks so sinful and perfect!

The Short (dis)Order Cook said...

Your timing of this recipe could not have been better. I have a bunch of leftover cranberries from a meatloaf I made last night and a big craving for banana chip muffins. I also have the good fortune to actually have a few hours to myself on Friday night (a rare luxury these days) so I want to do some baking. This is better than muffins. I love chocolate and banana together so much and I hope I can hold out a day to make this.

(Don't worry. The amount of banana in cakes and breads isn't enough to start my stomach issues going.)

kamala said...

Anything with chocolate I love Mansi.Chocolate Bread is so tempting

Unknown said...

nice cake recipe...liked the tip for eggless version too!!

J said...

So is it a cake or bread ? :)

A Cook @ Heart said...

Sigh! Beautiful!!!

Mansi said...

sinful it was indeed! SDC - I could sense you needed a delightful baking escapade, so here's one:) hope you get to try it on friday!

Jyothsana - that's a choice I grant my readers:) keep choosing!

Kamala-homecooked,sowmya manasi - thanks for the compliments!

Anonymous said...

Mansi, you have an uncanny ability to read my thoughts!:) I just thought about using my old bananas and bake something with it, and here you are with this simple recipe and a gorgeous pic that makes my mouth water!!:) I'll be baking this today girl..thanks for sharing!

~sarah

Kalai said...

Man, if only there weren't bananas... That pic looks so decadent! :)

Beyond Curries said...

I love this combination Mansi. I have also baked this. Your tip about self rising flour is great. Two days back I also posted an Eggless Chocolate Chip Zucchini bread using bananas. It tasted so good.

Rachel said...

banana, choc and walnut combo...I have made them but never with cranberries.....interesting

Deepa Kuber said...

OOOH! CAKE LOOKS PERFECT AND TOO DELICIOUS.. I MIGHT TRY THE EGGLESS VARIATION. THANKS!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with your cake and bread theory:) the loaf looks very pretty and soft! and I loved the addition of cranberries and poppy seeds:)

-sheila

Anamika:The Sugarcrafter said...

dear mansi
i really loved this chocolate banana bread. your way of writing about this recipe simply appleaed in a very subtle and beautiful way ! was and am little busy so not very frequent on browsing around but thanks for passing by blog and let me please know your birthday !

Anonymous said...

There's so much you can do with banana bread! I just loved your additions, and also the suggested variations! thanks for the eggless version:)

-Meena

Unknown said...

The cake looks moist and u made it like a pro!Thanks for the recipe mansi..will try it soon..

Uma said...

mmm. looks delicious. perfect cake (I want to call it cake).

Namratha said...

Perfectly sliced Mansi. Why don't u send this in to the Banana Bread event?

http://www.notquitenigella.com/2008/04/10/nqns-banana-bread-bakeoff-event/

Rupa said...

Love anything chocolatty..My son who is standing here and watching the pic of the cake is drooling....Thanks for sharing

Johanna GGG said...

looks absolutely delicious - I have a chocolate banana bread recipe I love but I like your little suggestions at the end of cranberries, nutmeg and poppyseeds! I had wondered about making mine for the banana bread bake off being held by Not Quite Nigella but not sure if I will get to it in time - maybe you should check it out!

daphne said...

choc and banana? A winner combination! Those looks terrific!!!

Mansi said...

Nams, Johanna - thanks for the heads-up about Bread Bake Off event..I'll be sending this to her shortly!:)

Rupa - so start baking for your son! you can't keep him waiting:)

Daphne - yeah, I love this combo too! surely a winner!:)

Raaga said...

I baked banana nut muffins for breakfast this morning

SMN said...

Manasi that luks perfect and tempting..

Coffee and Vanilla said...

Mansi,
It looks absolutely delicious! Two my favourite flavours in one, perfect!
Margot

FH said...

My kids would love that. I am not into chocolate unless it's Belgian dark chocolate. Will try this for them!:)

EC said...

Perfect one....good combi

Siri said...

The cake looks yummy Mansi..:D Great combo..:)

Siri

Jaya M said...

Banana Bread looks great and yum , liked the eggless version too ..
hugs
jaya

Deborah said...

This sounds fantastic! I made a chocolate zucchini bread before, but banana is even more inviting!!

The Short (dis)Order Cook said...

Just stopping in to let you know I made this last night. It was awesome. Even Sir Pickypants loved it and he doesn't like bananas. The cranberries added a very interesting flavor dimension. The texture was lovely as well. I sometimes have trouble finding a banana bread with a good texture.

One little flaw in the recipe though. You didn't say when to add the cocoa. I just did the obvious thing though and added it to the rest of the dry ingredients. I sifted it in with the flour.

Another winner!

Mansi said...

sdc- thanks for trying it out, and I'm really glad your friday night bake turned out great!:) and thanks for adding the cocoa part...I've said to add all the dry ingredients together, but I'll make it more specific:)

thanks for deligently trying out so many of my recipes and coming back to endorse them!:) wish I could parcel you some free samples:)

-Mansi

Medhaa said...

hi Mansi, this is great combination, will try this the next time I bake, I like the tips on the eggless cakes will try self raising flour too. Thank you for sharing.

Vaidehi Bhave said...

cake looks really delicious. and you have given eggless version of it. Thanks a lot. I will definitely try it.

Cris said...

Oh my, banana bread itself is sooo good, and you added chocolate... sooo decadent, love it!

Straight-Arrow said...

Great blog. I love banana bread and another moist banana bread recipe favorite of mine can be found at:
http://www.mistercater.com/moist_banana_bread_recipe.php

Anonymous said...

Hi Mansi,

If I dont have cranberries for this cake, then can I go ahead with the recipe without adding it.

Vanessa

Mansi said...

Vanessa, sure you can make this without the cranberries...don't change any other proportions. But you can add chopped pistachios, or raisins or walnuts instead of the berries, if you like.

good luck!:)

Unknown said...

Am sure its a winner, looks soft and mosit!

Dev said...

Thanks for the recipe. It was great! The only changes I made was to halve the nutmeg and add some cinnamon. I chose to add dried cranberries and semisweet chocolate chips.