Dark Chocolate Walnut Banana Bread.

This is the best banana bread you will ever have and the only banana bread recipe you’ll ever need. It’s chocolately, nutty and packed with good-for-you ingredients like fiber-rich whole wheat and almond flour, omega 3-rich chia seeds, plant protein and omega-3 powered walnuts and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate. We make this Dark Chocolate Walnut Banana Bread once a week with our over-ripe bananas.

{This post was originally posted on November 21st, 2015, but has been updated with new images.}

OVERRIPE BANANAS. We’ve all got em.

In our house, overripe bananas are used in one of three ways:

1. Smoothies (we freeze lots of extra bananas) – the kids love smoothies, of all kinds
2. Smashed bananas (basically these are mashed bananas “fried” up in a skillet, topped with yogurt and shaved dark chocolate) – this is such a satisfying and decadent dessert. It looks fancy, but it couldn’t be easier.
3. This Dark Chocolate Walnut Banana Bread.

Adrian would rather have #2. I would rather have #3. Especially when it’s not smoothie weather (whole I love smoothies in winter time, they make me SO cold). I love banana bread. And love it even more when it’s packed with dark chocolate chips and walnuts. Bananas + chocolate + walnuts is just a match made in heaven. We’ve been making this banana bread for years and still make it all the time. It’s a better-for-you quick bread, as I’ve cut back on the sugar and used mostly whole wheat flour. It’s still best enjoyed as a dessert though, as it’s packed with dark chocolate chips. We love these Ghiradelli bittersweet 60% cacao chips.

Is the banana bread kid-friendly?

Yes! This banana bread is definitely kid-friendly … depending on whether or not your kids like nuts. If they don’t like nuts, you could omit them, or just have the kiddos pick them out (that what my kids do).

INGREDIENTS:

So what’s in this banana bread? All the good things.

• Walnuts: may benefit probiotic diversity in the gut + rich in heart smart and brain health promoting omega-3 (ALA) fatty acids + rich in plant-powered protein
• Chia seeds: rich in fiber + omega-3 (ALA) fats
• Almond flour: rich in healthy fats, protein and fiber
• Whole wheat fiber: rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals
• Dark chocolate: rich in antioxidants

And yes, there is butter, a stick of butter. But this bread serves 8-10, so each slice has less than 1 tablespoon of butter in it, which is A-ok in our book. If you prefer, you can sub a plant-based, cholesterol and trans-fat free stick.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS to make this healthy banana bread:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a loaf pan with parchment; spray with cooking spray.
3. Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt in a large bowl.
4. In a medium sized bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended, then blend in eggs.
5. Add mashed banana, milk, chia seeds and vanilla and stir to combine. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir to combine.
6. Fold in ¾ cup dark chocolate chips and ¾ cup walnuts.
7. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup dark chocolate chips, ¼ cup walnuts overtop the batter, evenly.
8. Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Baking time may vary, depending on oven. Remove from oven and let cool. Slice and serve.

We make this dark chocolate banana bread on a weekly basis, but can also be the perfect special occasion bread as well. Just wrap in pretty paper and a bow. Who doesn’t love chocolate chip banana bread?

Does this banana bread freeze well?

Yes! Just be sure to wrap in well in plastic wrap then put it in a ziplock bag in the freezer. Often times, whatever we don’t eat in the first day, I’ll slice and freeze the slices individually.

Here’s how to make this moist, chocolatey and nutty banana bread:

Dark Chocolate Walnut Banana Bread

This is the best banana bread you will ever have and the only banana bread recipe you’ll ever need. It’s chocolately, nutty and packed with good-for-you ingredients like fiber-rich whole wheat and almond flour, omega 3-rich chia seeds, plant protein and omega-3 powered walnuts and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 10

Calories 493 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup blanched super fine almond flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter softened
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 2 eggs beaten
• 3 bananas, ripe and mashed
• 1/2 cup milk or milk alternative room temp
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips, divided
• 1 cup walnuts, divided

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a loaf pan with tinfoil or parchment paper and spray with nonfat cooking spray.
• Combine flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt in a large bowl.  
• In a medium sized bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended, then blend in eggs.
• Add mashed banana, milk, chia seeds and vanilla and stir to combine. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and stir to combine. 
• Fold in ¾ cup dark chocolate chips and ¾ cup walnuts.
• Pour into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup dark chocolate chips, ¼ cup walnuts overtop the batter, evenly. 
• Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Baking time may vary, depending on oven. Remove from oven and let cool. Slice and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 493kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 13gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 182mgSodium: 473mgPotassium: 450mgFiber: 5gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 716IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 176mgIron: 2mg

Keyword dark chocolate walnut banana bread

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