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. This is one very deep, dark and chocolatey banana bread. It's also pretty nutty going by this photo, but you don't have to use nearly as many nuts as I did.

Made With Hershey Dutch Processed Dark Cocoa

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. Another way to get the dark color would be to use any brand of Dutch process cocoa and swap out about 2 tablespoons for black cocoa powder. The black cocoa powder is a good mix-in, though I'm not so sure I'd use it on its own here.

When to Eat Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

Sometimes it's hard to tell if certain quick breads are breakfast, snacks or dessert. Unlike the Silver Palate Banana Bread which is perfect for breakfast, Dark Chocolate Banana Bread would make a great dessert. Which is not to say you can't have it for breakfast as well. Of course it's good any time, but it is obviously one of the richer banana breads.

• Cinco de Mayo Brownies
• Last Minute Cinco de Mayo Treats
• Cinco de Mayo Treats
• Frozen Margarita Pie
• Best Fudge Brownies Ever

Recipe

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

Anna

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

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

 

• 1 cup sifted flour measured after sifting (or just weigh out 125 grams)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder (50 grams)
• 3 large very ripe bananas large (12 oz/340 grams weight after peeling)
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted (114 grams) melted
• ½ scant teaspoon salt omit if using salted butter
• ¾ cup light brown sugar (150 grams)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips use more if desired
• ⅔ 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.

Keyword Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

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