Whenever I spot a few overripe bananas in the kitchen, I know it’s time to bake this wholesome chocolate walnut banana bread—comforting, rich, and surprisingly healthy. It’s a simple bake recipe. In this recipe, I have used ghee instead of butter. I used maple syrup instead of refined sugar. I also included unprocessed cacao powder and rolled oats. So, I have tried making this bread healthier yet tasty. It’s super moist, light, and soft—perfect for a snack, dessert, or breakfast.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Healthy and tasty – Have you ever tried ghee instead of butter in your banana bread? I recently gave it a try. It is not only tasty, but healthier. This recipe also uses ground rolled oats, unprocessed cacao powder along with all purpose flour. It gives you the goodness of walnuts with maple syrup instead of refined sugar. This makes this chocolaty treat healthy yet tasty.
- Meal-prep friendly – If you have some extra bananas, whip up this super moist, delicious banana bread recipe. It’s perfect if they’re overripe too. The great thing about it is that it will keep for 2-3 days in an airtight container at room temperature. It can last even longer in the fridge.
INGREDIENTS FOR BANANA BREAD
- Mashed banana – For the best flavour, use overripe bananas in your recipe.
- Ghee – The recipe calls for ghee, which adds rich flavor and is a healthier option to butter, but you can substitute with melted butter or cooking oil if desired.
- Maple syrup – Instead of refined sugar, I’ve used the natural sweetener maple syrup. However, you can substitute it with any other sweetener.
- Vanilla extract
- Egg – I have used 1 egg. But this recipe can be made without egg by replacing it with 1/2 cup of curd plus 1/4 tsp of additional baking soda, or by using flaxseed gel (which is 1 tbsp of ground flaxseeds plus 3 tbsp of water).
- All-purpose flour(APF) – Instead of all-purpose flour (APF), you can use whole wheat flour.
- Coarsely ground rolled oats
- Cacao powder – I included unprocessed cacao powder in this recipe because it contains a lot more nutrients than regular cocoa powder. But if you can’t find unprocessed cacao, cocoa powder also works.
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Chopped walnuts – Feel free to add other nuts if you would like.
- Chocolate chips – I have used semi-sweet milk chocolate chips but you can use dark/milk or even white.
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE WALNUT BANANA BREAD
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan with ghee or line it with parchment paper.
- Whisk or sift flour, cacao powder, baking soda, and baking powder together. To this mixture, add the coarsely ground rolled oats. Mix well and set it aside.
- In another bowl, combine mashed bananas, melted ghee, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla. Beat the wet ingredients with a hand mixer for 2–3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Gently fold until just combined; do not overmix.
- Fold in the chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350° F for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Slice once fully cooled.
Banana bread stays fresh at room temperature for 2–3 days (just keep it wrapped or in an airtight container). For up to a week, store it in the fridge and warm up a slice before serving for that just-baked taste.
CHOCOLATE WALNUT BANANA BREAD : FAQs
Yes! You can easily make this recipe without eggs. Instead of 1 egg, use a flaxseed gel: mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons of water, stir well, and let it sit for a few minutes until it forms a gel. This works as a perfect egg substitute.
The best bananas for banana bread are overripe with brown spots; they are sweeter and softer.
Swap APF( all purpose flour) with whole wheat flour.
Yes, feel free to add any nuts, chocolate chips, or shredded coconut to your liking, but don’t exceed the recipe’s specified quantities.
CHOCOLATE WALNUT BANANA BREAD
Ingredients
- Mashed banana 1 ½ cups
- Ghee 1/3 cup
- Maple syrup ½ cup
- Vanilla extract ½ tbsp
- Egg 1
- All-purpose flour 1 cup
- Coarsely ground rolled oats ½ cup
- Cacao powder ¼ cup
- Baking soda 1 tsp
- Baking powder ½ tsp
- Chopped walnuts ½ cup
- Chocolate chips ¼ cup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan with ghee or line it with parchment paper.
- Whisk or sift flour, cacao powder, baking soda, and baking powder together. To this mixture, add the coarsely ground rolled oats. Mix well and set it aside.
- In another bowl, combine mashed bananas, melted ghee, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla. Beat the wet ingredients with a hand mixer for 2–3 minutes until smooth and creamy.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients. Gently fold until just combined; do not overmix.
- Fold in the chopped nuts or chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Slice once fully cooled.
