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Transform overripe bananas into this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread for a treat that everyone will love! Made with cocoa powder, peanut butter, maple syrup, and more.
Save the bananas… it’s time for banana bread
Didn’t eat your bananas in time? That’s okay, because there are so many different things you can make with overripe bananas. For today, we’re transforming them into a delicious, healthy chocolate peanut butter banana bread that’s perfect for dessert or with your morning coffee.
The great thing about this peanut butter bread with chocolate chips is that it’s a very simple recipe to put together. It’s no more difficult than making boxed brownies!
When all is said and done, you’ll have a delicious loaf of fluffy, flavorful bread that the entire family will enjoy.
Ingredients in peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread
Healthy chocolate peanut butter banana bread is made with just what you’d expect: flour, baking soda, bananas, and eggs. But one ingredient that you may not have expected is the cocoa powder. Rather than simply adding chocolate chips, we’re making the bread itself chocolatey.
- Oat flour: We will start with an oat flour base in the amount of 1/2 cup.
- Cocoa powder: Then, 1/2 cup of cocoa powder will be used to give the actual bread that delicious, rich chocolate flavor!
- Baking powder: Include 1 tsp of baking powder to help the bread rise properly.
- Baking soda: Likewise, include 1/2 tsp of baking soda.
- Salt: To give a bit of extra flavor, I like to throw in 1/4 tsp of salt.
- Bananas: Next, you’ll of course need the bananas! 2 large bananas will be plenty (or 3 small bananas). Once mashed, you should have about 1 cup of banana.
- Eggs: To help the ingredients bind together, we will use 2 eggs.
- Peanut butter: Next we will use peanut butter for the pb portion of the flavor! 1/4 cup is plenty.
- Maple syrup: For an all-natural sweetener, include 1/4 cup of maple syrup.
- Vanilla: Add 1 tsp of vanilla for taste.
- Chocolate chips: Finally, include 1 cup of chocolate chips, reserving a few extra for the top if desired.
What you’ll need to make this dessert
Healthy peanut butter banana bread is pretty tame on the kitchen tool front. All you need is a bread pan, two mixing bowls, a few stirring utensils, and measuring cups!
- 9×4 bread pan
- Small mixing bowl
- Stirring utensil
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
For measuring, you will need the following sized cups: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.
How to make healthy chocolate peanut butter banana bread
To make this chocolate chip banana bread we’ll start by mixing the dry ingredients, and then we’ll move onto the wet. Once everything is mixed, combine the dry and wet ingredients together, toss it all in a bread pan, top with chocolate chips, and bake!
Here’s the complete rundown:
To begin, prehet the oven to 350F and grease a 9×4 bread pan.
Then, in a small bowl, mix the oat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas and eggs. Then mix in the peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until combined. Once mixed, stir in the chocolate chips.
Pour the batter into the greased bread pan and top with more chocolate chips if desired.
Bake for 38-42 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Let cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
Substitution Tip
Whether you’re out of key ingredients or wish to try something different, here are some easy ingredient swaps that you can make for this recipe.
- Oat flour: Out of oat flour? Grab your regular jar of rolled oats, and blend with a blender or food processor. Ta-da, oat flour!
- Eggs: No eggs, no problem. One alternative is to use 1/4 cup of applesauce (so you’ll need 1/2 cup for this bread). Another option is to make chia seed eggs. For this recipe, mix 2 tbsp of seeds with 6 tbsp of water. Once it has formed a gel-like consistency, add it where the recipe calls for eggs.
- Maple syrup: If you’re not a fan of maple syrup, you can use honey or molasses instead. Start with a slightly smaller measurement, and add to taste.
- Peanut butter: Any nut butter will work in place of the peanut butter, as will your favorite nut-free butter alternative (like sunflower seed butter).
- Chocolate chips: For a taste that’s a little different but just as decadent, sub the chocolate chips with white chocolate.
How this bread is healthier
You may be wondering how this bread is healthier than a standard chocolate chip banana bread recipe. The answer is simple! I just removed two key “not healthy” ingredients and replaced them with higher nutrient options.
Oat flour
First up, oat flour is a great alternative to all-purpose flour. It’s lower in carbs, higher in protein, and higher in fiber, and it’s gluten-free!
Maple syrup
Second, I swapped white sugar with my favorite ingredient alternative: maple syrup. This all-natural sweetener gives banana bread the perfect amount of sweetness while serving as a healthier, lower-glycemic option.
Storing leftovers
This banana bread can be kept on the counter at room temperature either in a sealed container or covered with plastic wrap. It can also be stored in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 3-4 days for the freshest flavors.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Can’t get enough peanut butter? Here are some more tasty desserts that feature the star ingredient. You’re going to love those PB&J bars!
- Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten Free)
- Healthy Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
- Healthy Peanut Butter Pie (Dairy Free)
- Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal Cups
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Transform overripe bananas into this Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread for a treat that everyone will love! Made with cocoa powder, peanut butter, maple syrup, and more.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 large mashed bananas (~1 cup mashed)
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9×4 bread pan.
- In a small bowl, mix together oat flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together mashed bananas and eggs. Then mix in peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients to wet and stir until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Pour into greased bread pan, top with more chocolate chips if desired, and bake for 38-42 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let cool 10 minutes before cutting.
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Molly says
You nailed it yet again with this banana bread! My chocolate chips are a little bigger so I only used 1/2 cup and chopped them up. It came out so chocolatey and perfect.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Molly, I am so happy you enjoyed it! 🙂
Austin says
Have made this twice since you posted it, cannot get enough! This recipe gives me my chocolate fix, while being kind to my body with no dairy and only whole ingredients. It’s just the right anmount of sweet.
Thank you, Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Austin, I am glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Katie says
I couldn’t really taste the peanut butter but this bread is still really good because of the chocolatey-ness & the texture is perfect!
★★★★
Erin says
Hi Katie, so glad you liked it and feel free to add more pb next time!
Jenna says
Made a double batch and my husband and I devoured it in record time. The best part was that my husband doesn’t have a sweet tooth like me so I used bittersweet chocolate chips as a compromise and it was still finger licking good!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jenna, so glad you both enjoyed it so much! 🙂
Karissa says
This recipe is amazing! Moist and tasty! My whole family devoured it!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Karissa, so happy everyone loved it!
Yasmeen says
This looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it. I have a glass 9×4 pan. Should I adjust the time and temperature of this recipe since it’s a glass pan?
Erin says
Hi Yasmeen, I would add about 5-10 more minutes for baking. Things don’t cook quite as fast in glass pans! Let me know how it comes out!
Casey Colodny says
This banana bread is a dream come true! Chocolate with more chocolate, I could eat this for breakfast and dessert (and I do haha!)
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Casey, I am thrilled you loved it!
Kelly Friesch says
I’ve been baking my way through your blog and they have all been great! Keep em coming!
★★★★★
Kelly Friesch says
Also kid and husband approved!
Erin says
YAY! Love hearing that!
Erin says
Hi Kelly, thanks for your support! So happy you liked it!!
Michelle says
These are so delicious!!!! I made them into muffins, my kids loved them!
Erin says
Hi Michelle, so happy everyone liked them!!
Emma Gerrety says
So simple to make and came out perfectly!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Emma, so happy you enjoyed the bread!
Bree says
Made this last weekend and it’s so good! I’m in chocolate heaven and can’t stop eating it!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Bree, so happy you loved it!!
Suze says
Packs a great punch of both chocolate and peanut butter flavor, and I love that this recipe doesn’t use any oil! I reduced the baking time a bit for maximum fudgey-ness 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Suze, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Linda says
sooooooo goooooood!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Linda, so glad you enjoyed it!!
Meg says
So good! Tastes like a brownie. An excellent excuse to have dessert for breakfast 😊
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Meg, so happy you loved it!!
Taylor says
I subbed almond flour for oat and truvia for maple syrup (because that’s what I had on hand) and it came out great! This recipe was such a hit I’ve made it twice this week!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Taylor, so happy you enjoyed them and made them your own!
Amber says
insane. i subbed dark cocoa powder for regular and sprinkled pb powder on top. so simple and delish
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Amber, I am so glad you liked it and made it your own!
Megan J says
So. freaking. Good ♥️
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Darci says
This recipe was so easy to make and delicious! Will definitely be making this one again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Darci, so happy you liked it!!
Sarah Brown says
This was incredible! Definitely recommend for that chocolate fix
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sarah, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Sara says
looks soo good! i want to make this, but do you think that it would work with sunflower seed butter? thanks 🙂
Erin says
Hi Sara, I haven’t tried it with that, but it should be fine. Let me know how it comes out!!