One Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts is the best banana bread recipe ~ made with just one banana! You’re welcome.

Only got one banana? Make this fabulous one banana banana bread!
This bread makes great use of that one lone banana that got left a little too long on the counter. It’s got a wonderfully moist texture and even though it only uses one banana it still has that classic-banana bread aroma and taste.
It’s perfect for those of you who appreciate banana flavor but don’t want to be hit over the head with it.
The scent of banana bread baking in the oven has to be one of the most comforting smells in the world. I love the idea of making the batter for this bread the night before, and baking it up fresh the next day. Just be sure to add the mashed banana just before baking, so it doesn’t brown. You can basically roll out of bed and enjoy thick slices of fresh-out-of-the-oven banana bread ~ score!
check to see that you have everything:
- banana ~ just one!
- butter
- egg
- milk
- flour
- sugar
- vanilla
- baking soda
- salt
- chocolate chips ~ optional
- walnuts ~ also optional
Tips for the perfect banana bread
- Ripe bananas yield the best flavor, although you can use bananas at any stage.
- Don’t over mix your batter. Blend it just until everything is combined.
- Use a heavy duty aluminum loaf pan. I don’t like glass or dark coated pans, which tend to cook too quickly or unevenly.
- Line your loaf pan with a long sheet of parchment paper so you can lift the cooked bread out for cooling and neater slicing.
- Invest in an inexpensive oven thermometer so you can be sure of your oven temperature. A few degrees either way can make a big difference in the success of your banana bread.
- A little bit of good vanilla extract really brings out the banana flavor.
- Did you know that you can make this batter the night before, and bake it fresh in the morning? Just leave out the banana and add it in the morning to prevent browning.
- Banana bread freezes well, just cool it completely before wrapping. I like to double wrap my bread, first in plastic or foil, and then in a sturdy zip lock freezer bag.
Featured comments on one banana bread
“I absolutely loved this recipe! It is a great mixture of banana and chocolate. I tried making it with half brown sugar and half white sugar instead of all white and I think this will be our familyโs to go chocolate chip banana recipe.โ ~Nazanin
“Thank you very much for this recipe for my lone banana. I think this is the way Iโm going to make it from now on. I made this recipe last night and everyone loved it.โ ~Hilary
craving more banana?
One Banana Banana Bread
Video
Equipment
- 9×5 loaf pan
Ingredients
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 large egg
- milk Note: you'll add the milk to the egg to equal one cup.)
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips, optional
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan.
- Add the softened butter and banana to the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, and mix until blended and smooth. (Or, if you don’t have a stand mixer, mash the banana by hand with a fork, and add in the softened butter along with the rest of the ingredients)
- Add the egg to a liquid measuring cup and then add milk to make one cup.
- Add the egg and milk, vanilla, flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt, and mix until no lumps remain.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan, and bake for about 40-45 minutes, until risen and golden brown on top, and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out without batter clinging to it. (Moist crumbs are fine.)
Notes
- The add-in’s are optional, so feel free to choose your own mix! Pecans would be great in place of the walnuts, and peanut butter chips can be used for that classic banana-and-peanut butter vibe.ย Try 1/2 cup of sweetened shredded coconut, too.
- Use tangy buttermilk or yogurt in place of the milk.
- Got 2 bananas?ย Try chopping an additional banana and folding it in with the chips and nuts.
- Bake the batter in a muffin tray for delicious banana bread muffins.ย Reduce the cooking time and keep an eye on them in the oven.
I will definitely be making these again!
I used buttermilk and also added some extra walnuts, chocolate chips and raw sugar on top. Used a jumbo muffin pan, and baked at 425 F for the first 5 mins then at 350 the next 40 or so. They look and taste amazing!!
I adore banana muffins so I’ll have to try this, thanks MB!
Mmmm. I substituted heavy cream for the milk……decadent, naughty:).
Tastes delicious only issue I had was center sunk.
I subbed raisins and a little cinnamon for the chips and nuts.
Usually the sinking in the middle is a sign of underbaking, not sure if that was the case with yours?
This recipe was awesome. I ended up adding another egg to make muffins. Made 12 muffins and came out perfect after 20 minutes.
My family loved this recipe. I used raisins instead of chocolate chips. Cake was moist. Thanks for the recipe.
the bread was good but my son said it was to moist
I really wasn’t sure about this recipe… but I only had 1 banana, so I gave it a try. It is really good!
I needed to cook it 55 minutes.. not sure why. The outside was caramelized (yum) and the inside a little more crumbly than some breads. I will definitely make again.
So great to have an option with one banana! We used half brown sugar and half white sugar and baked it for 55 minutes. A keeper!
You didn’t list a pan size that I can see
I always use a standard 9×5 loaf pan for quick breads, I’ll clarify that, thanks Maurie.
Love this recipe!
I made it, with a weird twist.
Peeled my lone banana before realizing I had no milk. No yogurt or buttermilk either…but I had vanilla coffee creamer. Googled it & got mixed reviews. I decided to go for it and it turned out great! It did take a full hour to bake but the result was so delicious. I don’t really like banana bread (just hate wasting that old banana), but with just one, and the chocolate chips and nuts, the banana flavor is not overpowering and the bread is scrumptious!
Now I’ll be holding back a banana so I can make this.
I’ve heard about that recently, good to know!