Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread

from 9 votes

Preheat your oven for a 5-star recipe for Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread that’s moist, flavorful, and great for breakfast or snacking.

Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread sliced on a wooden cutting board

A freezer full of overripe bananas can lead to many a wondrous thing, from Banana Nut Pancakes to Banana Granola Muffins. But perhaps the greatest outcome resulting from the almost-past-its-prime produce is the one, the only, banana bread.

Bowl containing melted chocolate with spatula next to bunch of bananas, bowl with dry ingredients and whisk, and bowl with mashed bananas

Everyone’s favorite quick bread is getting a sweet makeover with this recipe for the best-ever Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread, which stars a buttermilk banana bread batter swirled with thick ribbons of melted chocolate. I repeat: melted chocolate!

Parchment paper lined bread pan containing alternating banana batter and the chocolate batter

Of course we all know the only thing better than a warm slice of banana bread is a warm slice of banana bread that’s joined forces with a bag of chocolate chips.

Could you stir in other additions? Absolutely! Chopped nuts or coconut flakes would be welcome additions, but if you really want to up your quickbread game, stir in some peanut butter chips for the perfect flavor mashup of bananas, chocolate and peanut butter.

And I’ll leave you with one final thought for consideration…

Hand with wooden dowel swirling together banana batter and the chocolate batter in bread pan

Overripe bananas → banana bread.

Leftover banana bread → Banana Bread French Toast. #makeithappen

Sliced Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread on wood cutting board

Make the most of all your overripe bananas with more of my top-rated banana bread recipes.

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Breakfast

Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread

Preheat your oven for a 5-star Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread recipe that's moist, flavorful and great for breakfast or snacking.
Author: Kelly Senyei
5 from 9 votes
Chocolate Swirl Banana Bread sliced on a wooden cutting board
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 very ripe, darkly speckled bananas, mashed well (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs, beaten lightly
  • 6 Tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions 

  • Melt the chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl for 30-second increments, stirring between each increment, until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly while you prepare the batter.
  • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a 9-inch loaf pan with parchment paper then grease the parchment paper with cooking spray.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, buttermilk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla.
  • Using a rubber spatula, lightly fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients just until combined. (The batter will be thick and chunky). Remove 1 cup of the batter to a separate bowl then add the melted chocolate to the bowl, stirring to combine.
  • Fill the loaf pan with alternating scoops of the banana batter and the chocolate batter. Using a knife, swirl the batters together.
  • Bake the bread for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Allow the loaf to cool in the pan for 5 minutes then transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely. Slice and serve.

Kelly's Notes:

  • Extra-ripe bananas are the key to the most moist, flavorful banana bread. Don't be afraid to let bananas turn completely brown before using them for banana bread.
  • If you don't have buttermilk on hand, you can make a quick version using whole milk and lemon juice or white vinegar. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup, and then pour in the milk until it reaches the 1-cup mark. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, then use ¼ cup for this recipe and save the rest for another use.
  • ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

Calories: 388kcal, Carbohydrates: 59g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 64mg, Sodium: 203mg, Potassium: 280mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 360IU, Vitamin C: 3.9mg, Calcium: 31mg, Iron: 2.5mg

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Recipe adapted from Cook's Illustrated.


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Comments

  1. The absolute most perfect banana bread recipe I’ve ever tried, and believe me, I’ve tried many… I have replaced the chocolate with Nutella (first time by accident cuz I was out of chocolate chips) but we liked it so much that we now make it both ways and adding chocolate chips makes it even better(if that’s even possible) One thing I want to try is making this into muffins. Just gotta play with baking times. Do you have a recommendation on that?

  2. 5 stars
    Just curious about the baking time. I put it in a 350 oven for 55 minutes, but was still super wet in the middle when I checked it. Put in an additional 10 minutes and checked it again. Still not done, put in an additional 10 minutes. After a total of 20 minutes it was finally done. Does that seem right?

  3. 5 stars
    I’ve made this bread so many times and taken it to church, to work, and to family gatherings. Everyone loves it! It’s been a while since I made bread but I had to look on my old computer to find the correct one! This one’s going to an auction to earn money for scholarships for women. I know it will bring in a good bid! The recipe is certainly a keeper!!

  4. 5 stars
    Perfect recipe! I tried another one right after this one.. threw it away and finished off this recipe’s loaf

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