Cinco de Mayo Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

This is my Cinco de Mayo Banana Bread! It’s only Cinco de Mayo in that I sprinkled the top with cinnamon sugar, so after May 5 you might call it Chocolate Banana Bread. Or better yet, Dark Chocolate Banana Bread because it is very dark.

It’s made with Dutch Processed Hershey’s Dark Cocoa and dark chocolate chips. The flavor is better than I expected, and there’s a good balance of banana and chocolate so neither gets in the way of the other.

As for when to eat this, unlike the Silver Palate Banana Bread which is perfect for breakfast, Dark Chocolate Banana Bread would make a great breakfast OR dessert.

Print Recipe

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

A very dark and chocolate-y banana bread perfect for dessert or a special breakfast.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 20 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 12

Author: Cookie Madness

Ingredients

• 1 cup sifted flour measured after sifting (or just weigh out 125 grams)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons 50 grams Hershey’s Dark cocoa powder (or Dutch)
• 3 very ripe bananas large (12 oz/340 grams weight after peeling)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter 114 grams, melted
• 1/2 scant teaspoon salt omit if using salted butter
• 3/4 cup 150 grams light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips use more if desired
• 2/3 cup roasted and chopped pecans I use Trader Joe’s pre-roasted
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar or mix ¼ teaspoon cinnamon with about 1 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. I like using a Pyrex loaf pan that I’ve greased and lined lengthwise with a sling of parchment or foil. The parchment/foil is optional, but good insurance.
• If you do not weigh your flour, sift it and then measure one cup. Mix the flour, baking powder and cocoa powder together very well and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas. Stir in the egg until well mixed, then stir in the butter and salt (if using unsalted butter). Stir in the vanilla and brown sugar. With a heavy duty scraper or mixing spoon, gradually stir in the flour mixture. When well blended, stir in the chocolate chips and half of the pecans.
• Spread mixture in the loaf pan, then sprinkle top with pecans and cinnamon sugar
• Bake the bread at 350 for about 1 hour (check it after about 45 minutes) or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Let the bread cool for about 20 minutes, then gently run a knife between bread and sides of pan to loosen. Do not remove bread from pan quite yet. Allow it to cool completely, then turn from pan or lift.

Notes

The original recipe, which I found in a British version of Good Housekeeping, used gram measurements. If you have a scale, your best bet is to go with weights, however the volumes will work. Also, if you want to skip the cinnamon and pecans, you can do what British Good Housekeeping did and drizzle the loaf with dulce de leche.