A delicious and moist chocolate banana bread made with healthier ingredients! One bowl, no mixers required!
Okay for those of you patiently awaiting the CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD it is finally here! If you remember, there was a vote for chocolate or lemon blueberry bread and since this one lost the vote, it’s had to wait a couple of weeks. But there were enough requests to still share the recipe with you all ☺️
And I do have to say, I’ve never seen the toddler inhale something as quickly as he does this bread right out of the oven. He can’t even wait for it too cool down before eating a slice. My sister was over one of the times we made this and she kept having to remind him to breathe a little. “Um…is he going to choke or something?” She asked.
That’s when we started breaking off pieces to give to him instead of a plate with the bread on it. Turns out that didn’t make Mr. Independent (other names: “I have to do EVERYTHING myself” “No, Grey (except when he says his name it sounds like “Ray” do it”) very happy. ? On a side-note, he has recently learned how to say his own name and now he will not-so-patiently remind me that “Ray do it” for every single thing.
In other news he also refuses to believe that the word “Grey” can also be a color. We’ve been trying to teach him colors and while he can pick out blue, red, white, and yellow anywhere, he will get extremely defensive when we tell him something is the color gray. “No, me, Ray” he’ll say. ?
So let’s talk about the recipe for a quick minute! This bread is very quick and easy to make! NO mixers needed and only one bowl is required for mixing it all together. Although it’s super simple to make here are a few notes based off the comments I get on other healthier baked good recipes.
✔️ I call for vanilla Greek yogurt in this recipe. You can use reduced fat, but I would NOT recommend fat-free. Obviously you are going to get the most flavor and “thickness” with a full-fat Greek yogurt. I generally use reduced fat. The reason I call for vanilla is that is yields SO much more flavor than plain Greek yogurt in baked goods. If all you have is plain it will work, but you’ve GOT to try this sometime with vanilla flavored!
✔️ Oat flour. What is it? Basically just powdered oats. It adds a great texture, a different flavor, and a healthier aspect to this recipe. All you do is blend up regular old fashioned or quick oats in a blender until the resemble regular flour. I’ve used $20 blenders and my high powered Blendtec and both will do the trick just fine. No need to go buy oat flour; oats blend up in seconds. Unfortunately you can not use ALL oat flour in this bread. I have tried it and it was not successful. Also if you attempt to use a different flour in this bread please note that it may not yield the right texture. Oat flour absorbs much more liquid than regular flour.
✔️ Chocolate Chips. Any type of chocolate chip will work — semi-sweet, milk, dark, or chopped up chocolate. I use and call for dark chocolate just because of its health benefits. If you aren’t a fan of dark chocolate though, use a different type and while it won’t be as healthy I’m sure it will be delicious!
✔️ Egg situation. I call for 1 large egg and 1 egg yolk this is for the lift of the bread and the flavor. I think you’ll find it so much more flavorful with the extra egg yolk. BUT I know we all hate wasting food. You can discard the white OR save it for another recipe. I save all my whites to use in a breakfast or lunch for my boys. Here’s a simple wrap recipe we make all the time with the leftover egg whites. ??
Hopefully those notes are helpful; please let me know if you have any other questions in the comment section! I’ve also made a short 1 minute video to show you a quick overview of this recipe. Enjoy ?
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour or plain white
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips dark chocolate chips for healthier
- 1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips dark chocolate chips for healthier
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 1 cup mashed bananas ~2-3 bananas
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease and then lightly dust a bread pan with cocoa powder (or flour) and set aside.
- I use an 8 and 1/2 x 4 and 1/2 bread pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk 1 large egg and 1 large egg yolk (discard or save the whites for another recipe). Add in the vanilla Greek yogurt and coconut oil. Make sure to measure the coconut oil in LIQUID (melted) form. Melt the coconut oil, measure, and then allow to slightly cool so you don't cook your eggs.
- Add in the vanilla extract and the white sugar.
- Mash 2-3 extremely ripe bananas until WELL mashed and the consistency of a thick applesauce. Measure to ensure you have 1 full cup of banana. Add to the wet ingredients and mix well.
- In the same bowl, add the oat flour (measure oat flour AFTER blending the oats; to make oat flour, put old fashioned or quick oats in a blender and pulse them until they resemble flour).
- Without mixing yet, add the salt, baking soda, white or white whole wheat flour, cocoa powder, regular and miniature chocolate chips.
- Mix together, very gently, until just combined (over-mixing will yield a denser bread).
- Spoon the batter in the bread pan and if desired add a few more chocolate chips to the top.
- IF desired, sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons white sugar on top of the bread for a nice "crust"
- Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a fork when inserted into the center comes out clean or the bread starts to pull away from the edges. If needed, tent the top with tin foil if the top of the bread is baking faster than the rest.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Remove from the bread pan.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
If you substitute out the oat flour you will likely need more regular flour. Oat flour absorbs a great deal more liquid than regular flour.
More delicious healthier baked goods:
The BEST healthy brownies with no flour, no refined white sugar, no butter, and no eggs
A healthier lemon-blueberry GREEK YOGURT sweet bread
No bake, healthy, and easy breakfast cookies
Layla @Gimme Delicious says
Healthy and delicious! I wish I can grab a slice through the screen!!
Meriem @ Culinary Couture says
YUM! Of course everyone would vote for chocolate! It’s the best! Did you get a new camera lens? Your photography has been looking extra stellar!
chelseamessyapron says
Thanks Meriem! I really appreciate the compliment! 🙂 I haven’t upgraded any equipment lately! Still using my 50 mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8, and 24-70 mm 2.8 🙂
Peggy says
Sounds yummy! Can you leave the oats somewhat chunky so there is oat texture to the bread? Also have you used coconut flour in place of the oat flour? I believe it absorbs more liquid like the oat flour does. Thanks!
chelseamessyapron says
You definitely can 🙂 I would still pulse them a bit though. And I’m sorry I haven’t ever used coconut flour in this bread, I believe it absorbs more than oat flour though so if you do try it maybe start with 1/4 cup? Hope you enjoy!
Angelina says
Looks amazing! Can’t wait to try this out with the over-ripe bananas I have sitting around!! 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
I hope you love it! 🙂 Thank you!!
mira says
Looks amazing! Pinning to try it soon!
chelseamessyapron says
Thank you Mira! 🙂
Michele @ Two Raspberries says
totally drooling over this bread! I am right there with your toddler I would inhale this too! it looks incredible soft and moist!!!! loving this recipe Chelsea! 😉
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says
Yes! I have been eating the same old boring oatmeal for breakfast EVERY SINGLE MORNING. I need something like this in my life. And Chelsea – your photos just keep getting prettier and prettier!
Grace says
Could I sub coconut oil to canola oil?
chelseamessyapron says
I haven’t tried it so I can’t say for sure without further recipe testing, but I do know quite a few readers have used canola oil in place of coconut oil for my recipes with great success! Wish I could be of more help!
Roslyn says
I made this tonight and didn’t have coconut oil on hand and made it with canola oil (same measurement). The bread turned out perfect! My kids loved this and gobbled it up!
chelseamessyapron says
Yay!! I’m so glad to hear this! And it’s good to know that the canola oil substitute worked out perfectly! Glad you guys enjoyed! 🙂
zahra says
I made this today and I’m so happy that I did! it smells and tastes wonderful and the fact that it’s healthier makes me enjoy it even more.I used whole spelt flour and coconut sugar and it worked great for me.thanks for the recipe
chelseamessyapron says
So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe!! Thanks for your comment 🙂
Mari says
Do you use 1/3 cup oat flour or 1/3 cup old fashioned oats and put that amount in the blender and blend it?
I am looking forward to making this!
chelseamessyapron says
You should end up with about 1/3 cup oat FLOUR! Sorry for any confusion 🙂
Tasha Hess says
Interesting that you put white sugar in this recipe with a bunch of healthier ingredients( oats, greek yogurt and coconut oil). I will definitely sub for a healthier sweetener.
chelseamessyapron says
Okay 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Ana says
Hi…any chance I can make this not chocolate and leave out chocolate? 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
I would just recommend using my plain Greek yogurt banana bread. Recipe here: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/healthier-greek-yogurt-banana-bread-video/ Enjoy!
Natalie Wilson says
Hello!
Would all oat flour work for this recipe? Trying to make it as healthy as possible 🙂
chelseamessyapron says
I did not have success with using oat flour in these unfortunately 🙁
Collette says
Just made this as muffins with the batter divided equally. All 12 muffins look, smell, and taste amazing!
chelseamessyapron says
Awesome! I’m thrilled you enjoyed these muffins Collette! 🙂
Theresa Lessner says
I understand the serving size is one loaf….What is the serving size you usually follow? 12?
chelseamessyapron says
Yes! 🙂 Enjoy!
Sunshine baker says
This is delicious and super moist! I put half the batter into an 8.5 x 4.5 loaf pan and split the rest into two small decorative Ikea pans. Will definitely make this again!