Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

Try this rich, chocolaty goodness of Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread that effortlessly combines ripe bananas with luxurious cocoa, enhanced by a hint of nut butter. Each bite offers a decadent yet health-conscious treat, perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings while keeping nutrition in check. Enjoy this delectable bread fresh out of the oven, paired with a cup of your favorite coffee or as a cozy snack any time of day.

Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

• Bananas: The riper, the better. Aim for bananas with brown spots.
• Eggs: Fresh, free-range eggs are recommended. For a vegan option, you can use flaxseed eggs or chia eggs.
• Nut butter: Almond, peanut, cashew, or walnut butter. For allergies, try tahini or sunflower seed butter.
• Flour: Oat flour (homemade or store-bought) for gluten-free. Can be substituted with whole-wheat, spelled, or all-purpose flour.
• Cocoa powder: Natural, without added sugars.
• Sweetener: Erythritol for sugar-free, or alternatives like coconut sugar, brown sugar, or any granular sweetener.
• Vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
• Baking powder: For rise.
• Chocolate chips: Extra dark with no sugars or according to preference.

Vegan Option:

• Replace eggs with two flax-eggs (1 flax-egg = 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds + 2 ½ tablespoon water)

High Protein Option:

• Partially substitute the flour with protein powder (max ⅓ cup or about 30 grams with one scoop of protein).

Instructions:

Preparation:

• Preheat your oven and prepare a loaf pan with non-stick spray or parchment paper.

Make Banana Mixture:

• In a large bowl, mash three ripe bananas until completely smooth. Incorporate the nut butter and eggs (or flax-egg). Add the sweetener of your choice, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix well for about two minutes.

Combine Dry Ingredients:

• Stir in oat flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder until well combined. Fold in your preferred chocolate chips.

Bake:

• Pour the batter into the loaf pan and sprinkle with additional chocolate chips if desired. Bake for 30-40 minutes at the temperature provided in the original recipe or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cooling:

• Let the chocolate banana bread cool in the loaf pan for about 15 minutes before slicing.

Why It’s Healthy:

• Oil-free: Uses nut butter instead of oil, providing nutrients, minerals, and protein.
• Sugar-free: Sweetened with bananas and a sugar-free sweetener instead of sugar.
• Gluten-free option: You can use oat flour which is gluten-free, rich in nutrients and high in protein.
• Rich in antioxidants: Uses cocoa powder, which is a source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Storage:

• Room Temperature: Wrap well, stays fresh up to 3 days.
• Refrigerate: In a food container for up to 5 days.
• Freeze: In airtight zipping bags for up to 3 months. Warm in the oven before serving.

Enjoy your healthy, indulgent treat!