I despise fruit flies. And how come they just all-of-a-sudden appear one day? Well, the culprit in our household is always over ripe bananas. So, I decided to put an end to the fuss and make banana bread. That being said, I’ve never been a huge fan of banana bread – for no good reason really. A good banana bread is moist and flavorful – but that flavor is banana – not a fave of mine. Well, until now that is. This bread is so easy and so delicious – but I did have to amp it up a bit and flourish it with some bittersweet chocolate chips. They not only give it a little extra texture, but they’re also so darn decadent! Try this out – and it will be the best pesticide alternative you’ve ever used in the kitchen!
Serves: 8 Time: 60 minutes
4 tbs melted butter (1/2 stick) 3 really ripe bananas 1 cup BROWN sugar (that’s my secret weapon – makes it caramelly) 1 egg 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour plus 1 tbs 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp kosher salt ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips 2 tbs turbinado sugar (optional)
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×5 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Using a stand mixer with a paddle, add peeled bananas in approximately 1-inch pieces. Add brown sugar, egg, and melted butter. Beat until smooth – but there will still be pieces of banana visible. That’s okay.
Mix 1 ½ cups of flour with baking soda and salt in a separate bowl and stir into batter until just mixed. After the bowl is empty, pour in the chocolate chips and about 1 tbs of flour. Ensure that the chips are all coated with the flour. This will ensure they will be suspended throughout the bread and not all sunk to the bottom. Dump the chips into the stand mixer bowl and stir until combined. Pour the entire batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Cover the top of the loaf with the turbinado sugar. This will add a nice crunch on top – plus a little extra sweetness.
Bake for about 55 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out cleanish – the chips will have melted. Allow to cool slightly or completely before serving.
A great day for me is preparing great meals for friends and family. I enjoy experimenting with new ingredients and also updating classics that I've enjoyed for years. I love to travel and try lots of new cuisines - and wouldn't be anything without the love of my family!
