Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

As I was making my round-up of ABRAMS Dinner Party posts, I realized I never put this banana bread in the blog. I made it back in October from Dinner Plan: Simple Weeknight Recipes and Strategies for Every Schedule by Kathy Brennan. That entire cookbook gives ideas for meals that can be made ahead of time or saved for people who can't be at a specific meal. Banana bread fits both bills, aside from being a good use of too many bananas past the normal eating stage (I don't mind an overripe banana, but I've been told I am weird.)

Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour*
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 packed cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
3 overripe bananas, peeled and mashed with a fork
3/4 cup dark or bittersweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 F with a rack in the middle position. Grease an 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch loaf pan, then line with parchment paper, if you like, and set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, then set the flour mixture aside. Ina a large bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then add the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and sour cream and whisk together. Stir in the mashed bananas. Fold the flour mixture into the wet mixture with a rubber spatula, adding one-third at a time, until just combined. Avoid overmixing the batter.

In a small bowl, toss the chocolate chips with the1 tbsp flour (this will help keep the chips from possibly sinking to the bottom of the loaf pan, bu the step isn't necessary), then fold them into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the loaf, 45-50 minutes. Let cool before unmolding if you like, and slicing.

*Cookbook authors claim you can substitute almond flour for the whole wheat, but I'm not sure it will have the same texture. I probably used all-purpose for both amounts. 

This post is sponsored by ABRAMS Books, as part of the ABRAMS Dinner Party.