(Whole Wheat) Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

What’s slightly caramelized, dense, rich, and sweet—but healthier than regular banana bread?  This Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Starting back in the crunchy granola seventies—even before I was out of school, I set out on a mission.  I would try converting many of my favorite family recipes to new dietary standards. 

I figured If my childhood favorite food could

  1. handle whole wheat flour,
  2. use less fat and sugar and
  3. still taste devastatingly good

then it had to be a win-win! 

slice of banana bread

Of course muffins and sweet breads like this whole wheat chocolate chip banana bread are excellent candidates for whole wheat flour substitution.  You don’t need (and in fact don’t want) the gluten development that white flour facilitates.  Then because quick breads are already dense and moist, any texture changes are usually fine. 

And finally, the bright flavorings in these recipes can typically hold their own despite any wheat-y taste that is added.  ‘Cause I’ve never been one to settle for less!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Why You’ll Love This!

Flavorful.  Banana bread is magical in the first place.  Then chocolate makes everything better!

Easy.  Quick breads are popular because they’re so easy.  Just mix and bake!

Healthier.  With less sugar and fat than the original, plus whole wheat flour,  this is definitely more nutritious!

ingredients

What You’ll Need

Ingredients

  • Oil.  This helps the bread stay moist.
  • Sugar.  This sweetens the bread. 
  • Eggs.  This lightens the bread and helps if hold together.
  • Bananas.  This provides the banana flavor and additional sweetness.
  • Milk.  This adds moisture.
  • Vanilla, Cinnamon.  These enhance the banana flavor.
  • White whole wheat flour.  This forms the main structure of the bread.  I have also made it with regular whole wheat flour.  And Grandma made it with all-purpose flour.  Be sure to fluff, spoon and level rather than scoop when you measure the flour.
  • Baking powder, baking soda.  This helps the bread rise.
  • Chocolate chips.  This adds yummy chocolate flavor.  But you could use nuts instead or omit entirely.

Special Tools

            No special tools are required.

Step by Step Overview

With a whisk or in a mixer, mix together the oil, sugar, eggs, mashed banana, milk and vanilla.

mix wet ingredients

Combine the remaining ingredients except the chocolate chips, then mix them into to the first mixture.  If batter seems dry, add 1-2 T extra milk. 

mix dry ingredients

Fold in chocolate chips.

add chocolate chips

Pour into a greased (I use Pam) 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.  Bake at 350 about 50-60 minutes, testing for doneness with toothpick. 

pour in baking pan

Let cool about 5 minutes in pan to facilitate the release.  (Run a thin knife around the edge of the bread if needed.)  Tip pan upside down to release the bread and set onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

Tips & FAQs

My Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is a big loaf!  So be sure to test for doneness and don’t take it out of the oven too soon!  

Not brave enough go all the way with wheat flour?  Start out with half wheat and half white to give your tastebuds time to adapt.  With the exception of people raised on whole wheat (like my kids) it’s how most of us started.

If you’d like to improve some of your classic recipes, I have a rule of thumb about oil in muffins or quick bread.  I find that ¼ cup of oil is usually the perfect amount for a dozen muffins or a single loaf of quick bread.  This will provide good moisture and avoid the rapid staling which can happen if you use applesauce as a substitute.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

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Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

What’s slightly caramelized, dense, rich, and sweet—but healthierthan regular banana bread?  This Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread!
Author: Inger
No ratings yet
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Bread & Muffins
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 236 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup oil mild flavored
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 bananas mashed or 2 larger ones
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups white whole wheat flour fluffed, spooned and leveled, not scooped. Can use regular whole wheat or all purpose as well.
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips or more to taste

Instructions
 

  • With a whisk or in a mixer, mix together the oil, sugar, eggs, mashed banana, milk and vanilla.
  • Combine the remaining ingredients except the chocolate chips, then mix them into to the first mixture. If batter seems dry, add 1-2 T extra milk. Fold in chocolate chips.
  • Pour into a greased (I use Pam) 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 about 50-60 minutes, testing for doneness with toothpick.
  • Let cool about 5 minutes in pan to facilitate the release. (Run a thin knife around the edge of the bread if needed.) Tip pan upside down to release the bread and set onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
  • Enjoy.

Nutrition

Calories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 122mgPotassium: 219mgFiber: 3gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 69IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg
I am not a health professional and nutrition data is calculated programatically. Accuracy may vary with product selection, calculator accuracy, etc. Consult a professional for the best information.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

28 thoughts on “(Whole Wheat) Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

  1. Raymund

    5 stars
    This Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread is the ultimate twist on a classic! The wholesome ingredients give it a unique depth of flavor without sacrificing any of that sweet, moist goodness we love in banana bread. I’m all about sneaking in whole grains where I can, and this recipe is ideal for that—with a balance of whole wheat flour, a bit less sugar and oil, and those creamy, ripe bananas for natural sweetness.

  2. Christie

    5 stars
    Banana bread is my all time fave quick bread recipe. I can’t resist slicing when it’s first out of the oven, slathering it with butter, and devour a piece! With the chocolate in there, I wouldn’t be able to wait for it to cool.

  3. David Scott Allen

    Was this posted before we met? It seems like we’ve always known one another… I think this sounds incredible, but Mark would never let it in the house! Banana bread is one of the few foods the man will not touch. And, if you add chocolate chips, he steps further away. (Please send a care package!)

    1. Inger Post author

      I’m laughing because this means we’ve been blogging forever! I was kind of off banana bread myself until I had it in Hawaii (as in, when in Rome) and now it’s back on my list again. Well until I get serious about dieting again!

  4. Beth

    Substituting half whole-wheat flour in recipes is one of the easiest ways to make a recipe healthier! I don’t do it with all my recipes, but anything with oatmeal, or raisins, or fruit of any kind, is a prime candidate. No one has ever noticed the difference, and it just makes me feel a little better about the baking I do.

    1. Inger Wilkerson

      I do half whole wheat pretty much all the time myself–with a few rare exceptions. You are right, it really works well. After this, I’m wondering how many more things I could use all whole wheat flour in…

  5. Promenade Claire

    A fabulous photo of grandma Helen
    And until blogging I hadn’t thought of using oil instead of butter – I’ve tried it a couple of times and have bene delighted with the results. The bread looks perfect, I’m sure grandma would have another slice!

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