Double Chocolate Banana Bread

• •155 g All-Purpose Flour
• •40 g Cocoa Powder
• •3 Baking Soda
• •3 g Salt
• •115 g Unsalted Butter, melted (can be browned for extra flavor)
• •130 Granulated Sugar
• •2 piece Large Eggs
• •60 Yogurt, Sour Cream, or Buttermilk (or 60g milk with 1 tsp lemon juice, let sit 10 mins)
• •330 g Ripe Bananas, mashed
• •30 g Hot Water
• •130 g Chocolate Chips or Chunks

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) with racks set for top and bottom heat. Line a 23x23x7 cm (approximately 9x9 inch) square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas thoroughly with a fork. Add the granulated sugar and eggs, then whisk everything together until well combined and smooth.

3. 3

   Pour in the melted butter (ensure it's not hot) and the yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk (or your homemade buttermilk mixture). Mix until just incorporated.

4. 4

   In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Sift the dry ingredients into the wet banana mixture. Fold gently with a spatula until just combined, being careful not to overmix.

5. 5

   Finally, stir in the hot water until evenly distributed, then fold in the chocolate chips or chunks until they are well dispersed throughout the batter.

6. 6

   Pour the batter into your prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs but no wet batter.

7. 7

   Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack before carefully lifting it out using the parchment paper overhang. Allow it to cool completely at room temperature before slicing.

Chef's Tips

• 💡For an extra moist and fudgy texture, store the completely cooled banana bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container overnight before slicing and serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the moisture to distribute evenly.
• 💡Browning the butter before adding it to the mixture will add a deeper, nutty flavor that complements the chocolate and banana beautifully.
• 💡Ensure your bananas are very ripe (with plenty of brown spots) for the best flavor and sweetness.