This moist, gooey banana and chocolate bread is perfect with a cup of coffee, or for treating the kids at weekends or after school….
I love to be able to give my kids an after school treat towards the end of the week, and this yummy banana and chocolate bread does just the job. It is so easy to put together, and tastes wonderful still warm from the oven, or just as good served cold.
To try and make it as healthy as possible, I have used coconut sugar, but soft brown sugar also works perfectly well. As good as our intentions are with feeding our kids only healthy food, the reality is that the majority of them like a sweet treat. My philosophy is that rather than deny them, making something yourself is far better than buying processed rubbish, that contain goodness knows what additives. At least this way, you know exactly what your kids are putting into their bodies. And it contains banana, so that’s a portion of fruit surely…!
Olive oil is used here instead of butter, to give a lighter texture, and is also great if you are cutting down on dairy. The banana ensures an incredibly moist crumb, and when combined with the cinnamon adds a lovely coziness that feels like a big hug, especially when eaten warm.
Over ripe, unloved bananas are common place in my house, and this is a great way to use them up rather than throw them away. Chocolate isn’t compulsory in this recipe, you could simply leave the chocolate out, or use walnuts instead for some nutty crunch. I like to use chocolate buttons and break into smaller pieces, but if you want to use chocolate chunks instead that would work really well too. The combination of oozing melted chocolate with the warm gooey banana really is worth the effort.
I defy you not to be salivating as the delicious aromas are wafting from the oven!
Enjoy x
Banana & Gooey Chocolate Bread
Ingredients
- 220g Self Raising Flour
- 110g Coconut Sugar (or same amount Brown Sugar)
- ¼ tsp. Cinnamon
- ½ tsp. Bicarbonate of Soda
- 2 Eggs, lightly beaten
- 125ml Milk (I used semi skimmed)
- 75ml Olive Oil
- 2 Ripe Bananas, mashed (approx. 175g)
- 120g Chocolate, broken into small pieces
Method
Preheat oven to 170°C fan.
Grease and line a small loaf tin (10cm x 20cm).
Sift flour into a large bowl, and add sugar, cinnamon and bicarbonate of soda. Stir to combine and make a well in the centre.
Place eggs, milk and olive oil in a large jug, and whisk together. Add in banana and chocolate and mix ingredients all together.
Pour the banana mixture into the well made in the dry ingredients. Fold in gently, until just combined. Be gentle here!
Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin, and bake in the oven for approx. 45-50 mins. It is done when golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Remove from oven and leave to cool in tine for 5 minutes before transferring to a while rack.
Serve and enjoy.
Fiona Lyne - A lover of healthy living, interiors, fitness, fashion and food.