Chocolate Espresso Banana Bread Recipe
This Chocolate Espresso Banana Bread is a rich and moist twist on classic banana bread, infused with the deep flavors of cocoa and espresso. Perfect for breakfast or a delightful snack, it combines ripe bananas, chocolate chips, and a hint of coffee to create a decadent yet simple baked treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 10-12 slices) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder (or finely ground coffee)
Wet Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas (mashed)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and espresso powder until well combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. Stir in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until well combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Gently fold in the chocolate chips and nuts (if using).
- Bake the Bread: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice and enjoy plain or with a spread of butter or cream cheese.
Notes
- Using very ripe bananas enhances the natural sweetness and flavor.
- If you don’t have espresso powder, finely ground coffee works as a good substitute.
- To keep nuts fresh and crunchy, toast them lightly before adding.
- Store the banana bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for longer storage.
- For a dairy-free version, use vegetable oil and avoid adding butter as a spread.
Keywords: chocolate banana bread, espresso banana bread, banana bread recipe, chocolate espresso dessert, easy banana bread
