Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

When you’re not sure what to bake, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is the answer! This moist classic bread packed with chocolate chips will make any banana bread lover happy.

Love chocolate and banana? Try our chocolate chip banana muffins next. Or give our rich, fudgy chocolate banana cake recipe a try soon.

Why this Recipe is Best

This banana bread recipe needs no introduction.

I’d like to shake the hand of the person who first decided to fold semi-sweet chocolate morsels into their banana bread batter.

If a warm slice of fresh baked banana bread weren’t delicious enough, the addition of chocolate in each bite makes it impossible to turn down.

Then again, I love chocolate chips in just about everything. I’m happy to toss a cup or two into waffles, Coffee Cake, Homemade Granola Bars and just about any other place where I can get away with it (hush puppies anyone?).

This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is super moist with the perfect balance of banana bread to chocolate chip! It makes a delicious breakfast paired with a cup of coffee or after school snack for the kids.

I’ve been known to grab a slice for a quick dessert or midnight snack, too.

The Key to Moist Banana Bread

When it comes to banana bread, I’m a little picky. It has to be moist with a tender crumb and stay that way even the next day.

SOUR CREAM is the key ingredient that adds tang and moisture to your banana bread.

Like a bakery style bread, this recipe stays moist for DAYS.

Sour Cream Banana Bread has long been my favorite for this reason, but I think this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread shares that coveted top spot!

I often like to make a couple batches of banana bread at a time. One for eating now, one to freeze for later.

If you keep chocolate chip banana bread in the freezer, you’ll always be ready to serve a delicious homemade baked good at a moments notice, especially if you slice it before freezing like I do.

Ingredient Notes

Here’s what I use to make this classic moist banana bread:

{Ingredients at a glance; scroll down for amounts]

• Bananas – Very ripe and mashed. Use our guide on how to ripen bananas in 20 minutes!
• Eggs
• Flour – All purpose is best. You could sub white whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour if needed but the final loaf will be a bit denser.
• Granulated sugar
• Mini chocolate chips – If you can’t find miniature morsels, chop regular sized morsels into smaller pieces.
• Butter – Unsalted is best. Let the butter soften before adding to the recipe.
• Sour Cream – this is where the moisture for the bread comes into play!

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two loaf pans and line with parchment paper. Set aside.

STEP 2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add in eggs, and vanilla until combined.

STEP 3. Add in mashed bananas, mix until creamy. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir JUST until combined, then fold in the sour cream and chocolate chips until blended completely.

STEP 4. Pour into prepared loaf pans. Add a few extra chocolate chips on top, if desired!

STEP 5. Bake one hour, remove and cool in pans, then cool out of the pan on a wire rack.

Let the banana bread cool completely before cutting into slices. Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

Here are some of my tips for making a classic moist banana bread with chocolate chips:

• Use mini chocolate chips: I find that mini chocolate chips work best here because they are small enough to be suspended in the batter and not sink to the bottom while baking. That said, if you don’t have mini morsels you can still make this banana bread recipe, just chop up the morsels into smaller pieces first.
• Overripe bananas: You want to use overripe bananas for your banana bread because they yield the best flavor, not to mention offer a great texture. You want to look for a banana that has brown dots, streaks, and/or brown coloring. There is no such thing as a too-ripe banana, with the exception of mold. Do not use a moldy banana, haha.
• Do not over-mix: A common mishap I see with quick breads like this is over-mixing. Mix the dry ingredients in too vigorously and your bread will be dense and tough. A light mix is all you need. Everything you be just barely combined.

Can I add anything to my chocolate chip banana bread?

This banana bread is delicious all on its own, but you can add other ingredients into it that will take it to the next level.

Nuts: Who doesn’t love a little crunch to their banana bread? My favorite nuts to add are walnuts and pecans, but feel free to get creative.

Fruit: you can choose to go the dry fruit route with the addition of dried cranberries, cherries, or raisins. You can also add in fresh fruit such as blueberries or raspberries.

Storage Tips

Chocolate chip banana bread can be stored for 7 days at room temperature as long as it is stored in an airtight container.

You can also freeze banana bread for up to 3-6 months for best quality.

When it comes to breads, I prefer to freeze the entire loaf wrapped in foil, then slide it into a ziploc freezer bag. This prevents any freezer burn.

More Easy Bread Recipes

• Snickerdoodle Banana Bread
• Homemade White Bread
• Pumpkin Bread
• Instant Pot Banana Bread
• Amish Bread
• Olive Garden Breadsticks

Are you ready to bake the best ever Chocolate Chip Banana Bread? I know you’re going to love it!