2/3cupdark chocolate chips (I used bittersweet), optional
2/3cuproughly chopped walnuts, optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a 9x5 loaf pan, and line it with a piece of parchment paper for easier removal.
In a small saucepan, melt the 1/2 cup unsalted butter. Remove from the heat and set aside to partially cool.
In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp nutmeg. Whisk well to combine, and set aside.
In a larger mixing bowl, add the 1 cup sugar. Add the 1 large egg to a liquid measuring cup and then add milk to make one cup. Add this to the mixing bowl with the sugar. Whisk well.
Add the 1 ripe banana, mashed with a fork and whisk until everything is well combined.
Drizzle in the melted butter and 1 1/2 tsp vanilla and whisk until smooth.
Finally, fold in the flour mixture, stopping when there are still a few streaks of dry flour left.
Fold in the 2/3 cup dark chocolate chips (I used bittersweet) and 2/3 cup roughly chopped walnuts until evenly distributed, and there are no dry streaks of flour left. Don't over-mix the batter.
Pour the batter into a prepared loaf pan, and bake for about 45-60 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.)
Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing the bread using your parchment paper 'sling.'
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. Try 1/2 cup of sweetened shredded coconut, too.
Use tangy buttermilk or yogurt in place of the milk.
Got 2 bananas? Try chopping an additional banana and folding it in with the chips and nuts.
*This recipe was rephotographed and re-tested in 2025. I've adjusted the recipe very slightly, but if you are one of many who loved the original, don't panic! Here's the original recipe:
Ingredients
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 egg
milk Note: you'll add the milk to the egg to equal one cup.)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups 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
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.)
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
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