Chocolate Espresso Banana Bread Recipe
A rich and moist Chocolate Espresso Banana Bread combining the deep flavors of cocoa and espresso with ripe bananas and a blend of dark and semi-sweet chocolate chips. This loaf is perfect for breakfast or a decadent snack, accented by an optional brûlée banana slice topping.
- Author: Marco
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 10-12 slices) 1x
- Category: Dessert, Snack, Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp espresso powder
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs (room temp)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 cup ripe bananas (mashed)
Chocolate Chips
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips + a few extra for the top
- ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips + a few extra for the top
- 1 tbsp all purpose flour (for dusting chocolate chips)
Optional Topping
- ¼ banana (2 long thin slices off of a banana)
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- Mixing the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients including flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, kosher salt, and espresso powder until evenly combined. Set aside.
- Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a loaf pan thoroughly to prevent sticking and gather all ingredients.
- Mixing the wet ingredients: Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, blend the olive oil with brown and granulated sugars until smooth and well combined.
- Incorporate eggs: Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl to ensure uniform mixing without overbeating.
- Add vanilla and sour cream: Mix in the vanilla extract and sour cream until fully incorporated, creating a creamy wet mixture.
- Add mashed bananas: Mash the ripe bananas well and gently fold them into the wet mixture until evenly distributed.
- Combine wet and dry: Carefully fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture just until nearly combined; some flour streaks remaining is acceptable to avoid overmixing.
- Prepare chocolate chips: Reserve a handful of chocolate chips for topping. Toss the remaining chips with 1 tablespoon of flour to prevent sinking and fold them evenly into the batter.
- Transfer batter: Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips evenly over the top of the batter.
- Optional banana topping: Place two long thin slices of banana lengthwise on top of the batter, pressing down gently to adhere.
- Bake: Bake in preheated oven at 350°F for 55 to 65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Optional brûlée topping: Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar over the banana slices and use a kitchen torch to caramelize the sugar until it forms a dark, crisp layer.
- Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely to room temperature.
- Serve: Slice, serve, and enjoy the delicious chocolate espresso banana bread!
Notes
- Using room temperature eggs helps the batter mix more evenly.
- Dusting chocolate chips with flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the loaf.
- The banana slices and brûlée sugar topping are optional but add a nice visual touch and extra flavor contrast.
- Do not overmix the batter once dry ingredients are added to maintain a moist and tender crumb.
- The bread can be stored wrapped tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
Keywords: Chocolate Banana Bread, Espresso Banana Bread, Chocolate Espresso Bread, Moist Banana Bread, Chocolate Chip Bread