Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Sometimes things happen in pregnancy, and they just aren't things to be proud of. Take this banana bread, for example. I made it last week when third trimester exhaustion hit me HARD and I really failed in the meal planning department. Because of this, I ate the entire loaf of banana bread in three days. I thought this was quite the feat, but Marc wasn't that impressed when I told him. His response? "I could eat the entire loaf in one day."
Regardless, I was pretty sure I was going to turn into a piece of this chocolate chip banana bread by the third day because I had eaten so much of it.
Luckily, I made some changes to my standby banana bread recipe to make this one a smidge less indulgent than usual. For one, I used white whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose. I love how white whole wheat flour keeps my baked goods light like all-purpose but is whole wheat.
I also swapped the butter out and used coconut oil instead, and added Silk Vanilla Soy Milk to keep the bread tender. Adding the vanilla soy milk not only added another hint of sweetness, but also amped up the protein, since Silk Soy Milk provides 8 grams of plant protein per serving. Not too shabby.
I had to keep things somewhat indulgent, and threw in some chocolate chips because to me banana bread just begs for chocolate chips. Nuts? Not so much. But chocolate? Yes'm.
For breakfast, as a snack, or for dessert, this banana bread fueled me for three solid days. For whatever reason, I preferred it chilled with a big smear of cold butter and as a snack or dessert warmed up in the microwave with melted butter. Let's just blame that weirdness on pregnancy, too.
So tell me - what are your favorite ways to make banana bread healthier? What are your favorite add-ins?
Ingredients
- 2 cups white whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup coconut oil measured in melted state
- 3 ripe bananas mashed
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk I used Silky Vanilla Soy Milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease 9x5" loaf pan with cooking spray.
- In large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In separate bowl, mix sugar, brown sugar, and coconut oil.
- To the sugar and oil mixture, add the mashed bananas, eggs, milk, and vanilla, stirring until well combined.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, until top is golden brown and a tester comes out clean.
- Cool completely. Slice and enjoy!
This conversation is sponsored by Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
I just happen to have exactly 3 ripe bananas sitting on my counter right now. I know what they're going to be by the end of the day! Love this!
Good timing! 🙂
Love how you have incorporated whole wheat flour in the Banana Bread! (And of course the chocolate chips...)
It's all about balance, right?! Thanks Cali 🙂
I like good ol' chocolate chips in my banana bread. Sometimes I splurge and add in some nuts, but I generally stick with just the chocolate. Love how you added the silk milk for extra protein! Anything that makes banana bread healthier is a good thing in my book!
Thanks Heather! I've known people who can't stand chocolate chips in their banana bread and I just don't understand them!
Oh the things we do during pregnancy! I don't blame you. I'd do the same and I'm not pregnant! YUM!
Haha thanks Julie! Sometimes I think I just use pregnancy as an excuse to do whatever I want 🙂
Lovely photos! I'm a big fan of Silk and I love how cleanly this bread slices... so tempting 🙂
Thanks Medha! I loved how easy it was to slice, as well...yet still stayed so tender!
haha oh gosh I've done similar things and I'm not even pregnant!!! 🙂 This banana bread looks just perfect - I love having banana bread in the house!
Yeah I think I'm just using pregnancy as an excuse to do whatever I want 😉 Thanks Ashley!
Girl, I could eat a whole loaf of this in three days and I don't have a good excuse! It looks so good! And I think it is just fine for you to eat that much. With whole wheat flour and soymilk, it's healthy enough that you can get away with it. 😉
This looks awesome Taylor and eat it all in three days...you go!! I love added chocolate chips to my banana bread, but my hubby doesn't. He is so plain. He wants just plain bread. No walnuts or chocolate. What the heck. I've never tried coconut oil. I need to do that asap! 🙂
My husband is the same way! Which is why he didn't touch this banana bread. Oh well, more for me! 🙂
I love the healthier swaps!
and...I totally do that all the time. I'll eat one thing and only one thing for a few days....and I have no excuse lol