Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread Recipe

Banana bread is a beloved classic, known for its moist texture and comforting, familiar taste. But what if you could take that beloved recipe and elevate it to a whole new level? Enter Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread. This version combines the rich flavor of ripe bananas with a swirl of cinnamon-sugar and the sweetness of chocolate chips. The result is a banana bread that’s decadently flavorful, moist, and perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack.

Instructions:

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal. If you want extra insurance against sticking, you can use a cooking spray with flour.

Step 2: Prepare the Wet Ingredients

Start by mashing the ripe bananas. Place the bananas in a large mixing bowl and mash them with a fork or potato masher until they are smooth with only a few small lumps remaining. You should have around 1 ½ cups of mashed bananas.

• Tip: The riper the bananas, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be. If your bananas are really ripe, even better!

To the mashed bananas, add the eggs and vanilla extract. Whisk them together until the mixture is smooth and the eggs are fully incorporated into the bananas.

In a separate bowl, mix the softened butter and sugar together using an electric mixer or by hand until they are light and fluffy. This process usually takes about 3-4 minutes using a hand mixer on medium speed. If you’re using a stand mixer, beat the mixture on medium speed for 2-3 minutes.

Once the butter and sugar are mixed, add the banana-egg-vanilla mixture to the butter mixture. Beat the ingredients until everything is fully incorporated.

Step 3: Prepare the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. This ensures that the leavening agents (baking soda) and spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour, which helps the banana bread rise evenly.

• Tip: Sift the dry ingredients to ensure there are no lumps and the ingredients are well combined.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet banana mixture, stirring gently with a spatula or spoon. Be careful not to overmix. Overmixing can lead to dense and tough banana bread. Stir until just combined. It’s okay if there are a few small lumps, but make sure there are no pockets of dry flour.

• Note: At this point, the batter will be thick and slightly sticky.

Step 5: Add the Chocolate Chips and Nuts

Once the batter is mixed, fold in the chocolate chips and any optional nuts you may be using. Stir gently so the chocolate chips are evenly distributed throughout the batter. This is where the magic of chocolatey goodness begins!

• Tip: If you want the chocolate chips to be more evenly distributed, toss them in a small amount of flour before adding them to the batter. This helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom while baking.

Step 6: Prepare the Cinnamon Swirl

In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for the swirl. Mix well until there is an even distribution of the cinnamon.

Step 7: Assemble the Bread

Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Spread it out evenly using a spatula.

Then, sprinkle about half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the batter. Gently swirl it into the batter with a knife or skewer, making sure it’s not too deep. You want the cinnamon swirl to be marbled throughout the bread, but not completely mixed in.

Add the rest of the banana bread batter on top, spreading it out evenly, and then sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.

• Tip: For an even prettier swirl, you can run a knife through the layers in a swirling motion, but don’t overdo it. The goal is a beautiful, marbled effect.

Step 8: Bake the Banana Bread

Place the loaf pan in the preheated oven on the middle rack. Bake for 60-75 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown on top, and a toothpick or cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean (with only a few moist crumbs attached). If you notice the top is browning too quickly before the center is cooked, you can cover it loosely with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.

• Tip: Ovens can vary in temperature, so check for doneness at the 60-minute mark. If it’s not done, continue baking and check every 5 minutes.

Step 9: Cool the Banana Bread

Once the banana bread is done baking, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. After this time, carefully remove the bread from the pan and place it on a wire rack to cool completely.

Allowing the bread to cool on the rack helps prevent the bottom from becoming soggy, as the moisture from the bread can escape from all sides.

Step 10: Slice and Serve

Once your Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread has cooled completely (or at least somewhat), slice it into thick slices. Serve as-is or with a pat of butter or a drizzle of honey for extra richness.

• Tip: This banana bread tastes amazing when served slightly warm, and it’s also delicious the next day, making it perfect for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack.

Tips for the Best Banana Bread:

1. Use Very Ripe Bananas: The more ripe your bananas are, the better your bread will taste. Bananas with lots of brown spots or even overripe bananas are perfect for this recipe, as they add natural sweetness and moisture to the bread.

2. Don’t Overmix: Overmixing the batter will result in a dense, tough loaf. Mix just until the flour is incorporated, and stop there!

3. Let the Bread Cool: As tempting as it is to slice into your banana bread right away, let it cool for at least 10 minutes in the pan and then on a wire rack. This ensures that the bread firms up and doesn’t fall apart when you slice it.

4. Customize the Swirl: If you love cinnamon, add an extra teaspoon of cinnamon to the batter, or even a bit of ground nutmeg. You can also add a bit of vanilla extract to the swirl mixture for more flavor.

5. Make it Extra Chocolatey: Add extra chocolate chips (or chunks) for a richer chocolate flavor. You can also add a sprinkle of chocolate chips on top of the cinnamon-sugar layer for added visual appeal.

6. Make it Dairy-Free: To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter with a non-dairy butter alternative and the sour cream with non-dairy yogurt or coconut cream.

Storage and Freezing Tips:

• Storage: Store your chocolate chip cinnamon swirl banana bread at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days. If it lasts that long, that is!

• Freezing: To freeze the banana bread, let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. It will stay fresh for up to 3 months. To thaw, simply leave it out at room temperature for a few hours.

Conclusion:

This Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread takes a classic favorite to new heights with a rich swirl of cinnamon and a generous amount of chocolate chips, making it irresistibly sweet and comforting. Whether enjoyed with a cup of coffee in the morning, as an afternoon snack, or for dessert, this banana bread will undoubtedly become a new favorite in your household. It’s easy to make, uses simple ingredients, and can be customized to suit your tastes.

Yield: 12

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread Recipe

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Banana bread is a beloved classic, known for its moist texture and comforting, familiar taste. But what if you could take that beloved recipe and elevate it to a whole new level? Enter Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread. This version combines the rich flavor of ripe bananas with a swirl of cinnamon-sugar and the sweetness of chocolate chips. The result is a banana bread that’s decadently flavorful, moist, and perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a snack.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients

• For the Banana Bread:
• 2-3 ripe bananas (mashed)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
• 1/4 cup sour cream or yogurt (optional, for extra moistness)
• For the Cinnamon Swirl:
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x5-inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
   
2. Prepare the wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth. Add the melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and sour cream (if using). Mix well until everything is combined.
   
3. Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
   
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips.
   
5. Prepare the cinnamon swirl: In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.
   
6. Assemble the bread: Pour half of the banana bread batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top of the batter. Add the remaining batter on top and then sprinkle the rest of the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the top.
   
7. Swirl: Using a knife or skewer, gently swirl the cinnamon-sugar mixture into the batter to create a marble effect. Don’t overdo it — just a few swirls will create a beautiful pattern.
   
8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay). If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover the loaf with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.
   
9. Cool: Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

Bananas: Make sure your bananas are very ripe for the best flavor and sweetness.

Chocolate Chips: You can use milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate chips depending on your preference. You could also add chopped chocolate or even nuts for extra texture.

Sour Cream/Yogurt: Adding sour cream or yogurt helps make the banana bread extra moist, but it’s optional.