The BEST chocolate chip banana bread that’s super soft, sweet and absolutely delicious! Filled with chocolate chips and fresh banana flavor. This recipe is always requested by friends and family!
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Favorite Banana Bread Recipe
This is one of my staple baking recipes that I make regularly. It tastes amazing and is so soft and fluffy. I also make classic banana bread, but let’s be honest…doesn’t everything taste better with chocolate chips? Yes indeed!
Today I’ll be sharing the BEST chocolate chip banana bread! I’ve tried quite a few recipes and have finally nailed down the perfect banana bread…which of course involves chocolate chips. ;) It’s always requested by friends and family and is super soft, sweet and absolutely delicious!
You can leave out the chocolate chips, but in my opinion, they make the bread! Also, feel free to add in some chopped walnuts or pecans too. My family prefers the bread without them, so we stick to straight chocolate chips. And who can argue with that?! ;)
Use Ripe Bananas
The best part about making this recipe is that it’s the perfect way to use up those overripe bananas. I love bananas, but the second they get soft and spotty, I won’t eat them plain. So what better way to make use of them than to bake this chocolate chip banana bread.
Bananas that are soft, spotty and a tad dark on the inside (similar to the above picture) are perfect for making this bread or mini banana bread muffins. I prefer not to use bananas that have blackened, because they taste a little more rotten to me. Just a personal preference!
I also like to freeze overripe bananas if I’m not planning on making this recipe right away. Just peel the bananas, then place them in a zip top freezer bag and store in freezer. When ready to use, thaw at room temp until no longer frozen. You can also use these frozen bananas in smoothies, too!
How to Make Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
- Make the batter. Cream together the butter and sugar. Then mix in the eggs, vanilla and sour cream. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl, then slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture. Fold in the mashed bananas and chocolate chips.
- Pour into pans. Pour the batter into two greased 8×4″ loaf pans. You can also pour the batter into one 9×5″ pan or four small loaf pans, however you’ll need to adjust the baking time.
- Bake in oven. Bake at 325°F for 55 minutes, or until the bread is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Once slightly cooled, remove from pan and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Baking Tips
- Flour your loaf pans or line with parchment paper to prevent the loaves from sticking.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a lighter alternative.
- Feel free to use frozen bananas. Just let them thaw first and then mash before making your bread.
- Add a few chocolate chips on top of the batter in the loaf pan to make it look extra pretty.
- You can cut the recipe in half if you’d prefer to only make 1 loaf, you can also make this banana bread with cake mix.
- If the bread is browning too fast, cover the top lightly with foil to prevent burning.
To Make into Muffins
You can easily make this recipe into chocolate chip banana bread muffins instead. Just pour the batter into a muffin tin lined with muffin liners or sprayed with non-stick spray. This recipe will make 24 regular-sized muffins. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Then transfer muffins to a baking rack to cool.
Freezing Instructions
This recipe makes two loaves, so I always love to freeze one of them for later. To freeze, simply wrap the loaf tightly in foil, then place in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for 2-3 months.
5 star review
“This is the best banana bread recipe ever. Everyone who has eaten it loves it!”
– Melissa
More banana quick breads we love include this banana cranberry bread and recipe for banana nut bread!
More Delicious Banana Bread Recipes
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Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup ripe bananas (mashed)
- 1 cup chocolate chips
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Then mix in eggs, vanilla and sour cream.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to sugar mixture and stir until combined. Fold in bananas and chocolate chips.
- Pour into 2 (8×4") loaf pans and bake for 55 minutes. If using a 9×5" pan, you can put the batter into one pan, but you will need to cook 10-15 minutes longer. You want the bread to be lightly browned. If it's browning too fast, cover lightly with foil. Remove from oven once a toothpick comes clean.
- Once the bread is slightly cooled, remove from the pan and place on a cooling rack. Slice and enjoy with a cold glass of milk!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Holy moly this was delicious. Perfect recipe to deal with today’s blizzard. I used two large loaf pans and had to cook a bit longer than the hour, bout an 1hr 7 min or so.
I was wondering for the chocolate chip banana bread do you spray the loaf pans with cooking spray ?
I usually butter them, but spray works too!
This is THEE best Banana Bread recipe hands down! I have never had a banana bread this amazing in my entire life! Usually most Banana bread recipes are dense, dry and heavy but this was light and moist! Thank you! This recipe will be locked away in my arsenal!
Does the type of flour matter? Self rising? Cake? All purpose?
All purpose. :)
Hi Jamielyn,
Quick question for you….in Step 1 it states to add “cream, butter and sugar” to a mixing bowl; in the above list of ingredients, ‘cream’ is not included at all – therefore, the amount of cream that the banana bread calls for is also not listed.
What is the needed measurement of cream? What type of cream do you recommend (heavy cream / half & half / almond milk substitute)?
Being that I am an inexperienced baker/cook, I follow recipes verbatim while in the kitchen and your banana bread sounds incredible so, I really hope to hear back from you so I can test it out tonight!
Thank you for your help! I’ll let you know how it comes out :)
xoxox
Hi Allie!
The instructions say, “In a large bowl cream butter and sugar.” In this sentence, it’s the action to cream – I use a standing mixer with a paddle attachment; if you don’t have one, a hand-held mixer with two metal beaters will work great! You want the butter and sugar to become one, light, and a little fluffy. It takes a minute or two.
Do let me know if you have any additional questions! Happy to have you in the kitchen!
I tried it yesterday. Absolutely wonderful. It did not say to spray the pans, but I did. I also sifted together the dry ingredients.
The loaves are light, moist and delicious!
This is the best! I made the muffins for Christmas breakfast a year or two ago and people where begging for the recipe. Now whenever there’s a family get together I always have to bring muffins. Thanks for the recipe, it’s way too good
This bread and/or muffins is wonderful!! We especially like it made with the MINI chocolate chips!! :-) Thanks for sharing!
Just made today…I was not sure how chocolate chips would taste in banana bread, almost switched to raisins.. But followed recipe and yummy.. Muffins are delious..this will be my new fav banana bread recipe.. Thanks
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Lynn!
I am making this for the first time today…and cannot WAIT to taste it. The house smells amazing right now! Thought of a question though, once the batter is assembled, can it be frozen for future use? And if so, for how long?
Hi Melanie! I would recommend freezing the bread once it is cooked. :)
The second ingredient sugar, does that say 11 cups?
1 and 1/3 cup sugar! :)
the banana chocolate chip recipe calls for cinnamon chips. Is that an error…possibly crossed with you cinnamon chip bread?
Hi Susan! Yes that is an error, it is 1 cup of chocolate chips! :)
What’s the measurement for sugar and sour cream n flour…? Does c stands for cup
Hi! It is 1 and 1/3 cups of flour, 1 cup at sour cream, and 2 cups of flour. :)
Well…a great big thanks for the recipe…it turned out just as moist & scrumptious & my whole house was filled with an aroma that FEBREEZE should sell.It got attacked by some grateful men who said it was the best they ever had…and will be going to work w/ me tomorrow morning for the guys in the kitchen as we prep for brunch. I made a dbl batch & the recipe fared XCELLENTLY…nuts & all…thanks again & I will be visiting often
I’m so glad you loved it Beth! Thanks for your sweet comment. :)
Hey…getting ready to make these as my banans are just ripe enough,a friend gave me a buncha pecans fresh from Ga. & I’ve got some mini chocolate chips just dying to be used…My questions??? Is cinnamon chips a misprint? And where is the amount of nuts that you would use? Would you add 1 c. of choc. chips & 1 c. of chopped nuts or 1/2 a cup of ea??? I added extra nuts to a cookie recipe before & it just made them dry & I’ve got 12 bananas staring at me everytime I walk by my counter,saying…mash me,use me,abuse me & I’ll be good to you…Also…I’m thinking of using 1/2 white & 1/2 brown sugar…just a little sweeter maybe? Anyways…raining out,dogs are sleepin…ovens preheating…if i dont hear back from you before I add the nuts…methinks I will add a cup of each and let you know how things went…
Hi Beth! Yes, cinnamon chips is a misprint! I am so sorry about that. I would probably do 1 cup of chocolate chips and 1/2 a cup of nuts, but if you really love nuts then definitely do 1 cup! :) Hope you enjoy these.
I love this recipe. Instead of sour cream, I use greek yogurt, sometimes I use lemon or strawberry which adds another yummy flavor.
Mmmm sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing. :)
looks good – what are cinnamon chips, though?
Hi Joey! Sorry, that was a mistype, it is chocolate chips! :)
Ok, maybe I have lost track of my recipes but I thought this used to be a chocolate chip banana bread but now it says cinnamon chip. I am finally getting around to writing down all of my favorite recipes and this was one. I am just hoping it is an autocorrect thing because you keep referencing chocolate chips :)
Hi Jessica! That was definitely a mistake, I’m so sorry. It is chocolate chip banana bread! :) Thank you for correcting me.
Thank you! This is my favorite baking recipe, so thank you for sharing it :)