Description
A comforting chocolate banana bread that combines ripe bananas and rich cocoa for a delicious treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large ripe bananas (about 1 1/2 cups mashed)
- 1/4 cup salted butter (melted and slightly cooled)
- 1/3 cup applesauce or your favorite cooking oil
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and grease it with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Add the melted butter and applesauce (or oil), stirring until fully combined.
- Mix in the brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, being careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula if necessary.
- Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for at least 30-45 minutes before transferring it to a wire cooling rack.
- Once cooled, slice and enjoy.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding chocolate chips or chopped nuts to the batter.
