Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread: There’s something magical about the aroma of banana bread wafting through your home—that sweet, comforting scent that signals a treat is on its way. But what if we took that beloved classic and elevated it to new heights of deliciousness? Enter this game-changing combination that transforms ordinary banana bread into an extraordinary indulgence.
This isn’t just any banana bread recipe. It’s the perfect marriage of three beloved flavors—ripe bananas, creamy peanut butter, and rich chocolate chips—creating a loaf that’s supremely moist, perfectly sweet, and utterly crave-worthy. Whether you’re looking to rescue those spotty bananas on your counter or simply craving a slice of comfort, this recipe delivers a familiar hug with an exciting twist.
Best of all? It’s surprisingly simple to make, requiring basic ingredients and minimal effort for maximum flavor payoff. Get ready to discover your new favorite way to enjoy banana bread!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe Overview
Baking Time and Nutrition Facts
12 Slices
15 Minutes
60 Minutes
1h 15Minutes
325kcal
16g
25g
6g
Why This is the Banana Bread You Need NOW
- Unbelievably Moist Texture: The dynamic duo of ripe bananas and peanut butter creates a bread that stays tender and moist for days.
- Perfect Flavor Balance: Sweet banana notes, nutty peanut butter richness, and melty chocolate chips in every bite.
- Super Easy Quick Bread Method: No mixer required! Just two bowls and a spoon are all you need.
- Overripe Banana Rescue Mission: The perfect solution for those spotty bananas that are too soft to eat.
- Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Food: Both kids and adults go wild for this flavor combination.
The secret to this peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread’s incredible texture lies in the perfect harmony of ingredients. The natural oils in peanut butter add richness while keeping the crumb tender, and the bananas contribute not just flavor but essential moisture. When chocolate chips melt throughout the loaf during baking, they create pockets of gooey sweetness that contrast beautifully with the caramelized banana flavor.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Ingredients
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Key Ingredients
- For the Banana Bread:
3 very ripe bananas (about 1½ cups mashed)
½ cup creamy peanut butter, room temperature
½ cup butter, melted and slightly cooled (or ½ cup neutral oil)
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup granulated sugar
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus extra for topping
Equipment Needed
Critical Ingredient Notes:
Bananas: The darker, the better! Your bananas should be heavily spotted or almost entirely black. These overripe bananas aren’t just softer and easier to mash—they’re significantly sweeter and more flavorful. Those brown spots indicate that the starches have converted to sugars, giving you both better taste and moisture. Some small lumps in your mash are perfectly fine and add nice banana texture to the finished bread.
Peanut Butter: Conventional creamy peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy) works best in this recipe as it has a consistent texture and integrates smoothly into the batter. Natural peanut butter can work too, but be sure it’s well-stirred before measuring, as separation can affect the moisture balance. Room temperature peanut butter mixes much more easily into your batter.
Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips offer the perfect balance with the sweet banana and nutty peanut butter, but milk chocolate works beautifully for a sweeter profile, or dark chocolate for a more intense contrast. Mini chips distribute more evenly throughout the loaf, but regular-sized create delightful pockets of chocolate.
Flour: All-purpose flour provides the perfect structure. For the most accurate measurement (and to prevent a dry loaf), spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife rather than scooping directly from the bag.
Fat Component: Melted butter contributes wonderful flavor, while oil (like canola or vegetable) results in an even moister loaf with a slightly longer shelf life. Either choice works beautifully, so use what you prefer or have on hand.
How To Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Instructions
- Prep Work: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides for easy removal. Lightly grease any exposed parts.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon (if using) until well combined. Set aside.
- Prepare Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until mostly smooth (some small lumps add nice texture). Add the peanut butter and whisk until well combined. Stir in the melted butter or oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and sugar until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated.
- Combine With Care: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, fold the mixture together with gentle strokes, mixing just until you no longer see dry flour. STOP HERE! DO NOT OVERMIX! Some small streaks of flour are actually preferable to overmixing, which can result in a dense, tough loaf.
- Add Chocolate: Gently fold in the chocolate chips, saving a small handful for topping if desired.
- Prepare For Baking: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Smooth the top gently with your spatula. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips on top and, if desired, add a light swirl of peanut butter (about 1-2 tablespoons warmed slightly for easier drizzling).
- Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 55-65 minutes. The extended baking time is normal for banana bread, especially one this moist. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs (but no wet batter), and the top springs back when lightly pressed.
- Cool Properly: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 15 minutes—this crucial step prevents your loaf from breaking apart. Then use the parchment overhang to lift the bread out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Tips for Perfect Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Moisture Mastery
- Use the ripest bananas possible—they contain more sugar and moisture.
- Measure your flour correctly (spoon and level) to avoid a dry loaf.
- The peanut butter adds both flavor and moisture, contributing to that perfect texture.
- Check for doneness early and avoid overbaking—once it’s dry, there’s no going back!
Texture Triumph
- The golden rule of quick breads: mix until just combined. Overmixing develops gluten and results in a tough, dense loaf.
- Fold ingredients gently rather than stirring vigorously.
- Let your eggs come to room temperature for better incorporation.
Flavor Focus
- Use high-quality vanilla extract for the best flavor undertones.
- The touch of cinnamon enhances the banana flavor without being detectable as cinnamon.
- A pinch of salt is non-negotiable—it balances the sweetness and makes all flavors pop.
Troubleshooting
- Bread too dry? Likely culprits: too much flour, overbaking, or bananas weren’t ripe enough.
- Dense or gummy interior? Probably overmixed the batter or underbaked the loaf.
- Sunken center? The bread was either underbaked or the oven door was opened during the first half of baking.
- Burnt edges but underdone middle? Your oven might be running hot—try reducing the temperature by 25°F and covering the top loosely with foil if it browns too quickly.
The Riper, The Better: Banana Wisdom
The single most important ingredient in this recipe is properly ripened bananas. Don’t even think about using yellow or slightly speckled bananas—they simply won’t deliver the sweetness, moisture, or flavor that makes this bread exceptional.
Need to speed up ripening? Place unripe bananas in a paper bag with an apple or ripe banana, fold the top closed, and check daily. The ethylene gas naturally released will accelerate ripening. For an emergency quick-fix, bake unpeeled bananas on a baking sheet at 300°F for 15-20 minutes until blackened (let cool before using).
Peanut Butter Power
While conventional creamy peanut butter (like Jif or Skippy) provides the most consistent results in this recipe, you can experiment with natural peanut butter if you prefer. Just remember that natural varieties separate and can sometimes make the batter oilier, potentially affecting texture. Always stir natural peanut butter extremely well before measuring, and consider reducing any added oil in the recipe by 1-2 tablespoons if using natural peanut butter.
Delicious Variations
- Texture Twist: Substitute crunchy peanut butter for creamy to add delightful peanut pieces throughout.
- Nutty Enhancement: Fold in ½ cup chopped peanuts, walnuts, or pecans along with the chocolate chips.
- Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Use a combination of semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, or try butterscotch chips for a different but complementary flavor.
- Decadent Finish: Once completely cooled, drizzle with a simple peanut butter glaze (mix 2 tablespoons peanut butter with ½ cup powdered sugar and 1-2 tablespoons milk) or a chocolate ganache.
- Spice It Up: Add ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg along with the cinnamon for a subtle warm spice profile.
How To Store Your Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
This peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread actually improves in flavor on the second day as the flavors meld and deepen. For optimal freshness:
- Counter Storage: Wrap cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Extend freshness to a week by refrigerating your wrapped loaf, though this may slightly affect texture.
- Freezer: This bread freezes beautifully! Wrap the completely cooled loaf (or individual slices for grab-and-go convenience) in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil or a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw wrapped bread at room temperature or gently warm individual slices.
Pro tip: Slightly toasting a slice before serving revives that fresh-baked texture and makes the chocolate chips melty again!
FAQs About Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Q: Can I use natural peanut butter in this recipe? A: Yes, but make sure it’s well-stirred before measuring. Natural peanut butter tends to make a slightly oilier batter, so you might want to reduce the added fat (butter/oil) by 1-2 tablespoons.
Q: Can I reduce the sugar? A: You can reduce it by up to ¼ cup without significantly affecting the texture. Remember that very ripe bananas add natural sweetness too!
Q: My bread turned out dense and gummy. What happened? A: The most common culprit is overmixing the batter, which develops gluten and results in a tough texture. Mix only until the dry ingredients are just incorporated, even if some small streaks of flour remain visible.
Q: Can I make muffins instead of a loaf? A: Absolutely! This batter makes wonderful muffins. Fill lined muffin cups about ⅔ full and reduce the baking time to approximately 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Q: How can I tell if my bananas are ripe enough? A: For this recipe, your bananas should be heavily speckled with brown or nearly black. They should feel soft and smell very fragrant. The mushier, the better!
Q: Can I make this recipe gluten-free? A: Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend. The texture might be slightly different, but the results are still delicious.
Comfort Baked In
There’s something profoundly satisfying about transforming spotty bananas into something so spectacularly delicious. This peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread isn’t just a recipe—it’s a small moment of joy in your day, a slice of comfort in a hectic world, and quite possibly the most delicious way to enjoy the classic flavor trio of banana, peanut butter, and chocolate.
Whether you’re enjoying a slice with your morning coffee, tucking it into a lunchbox, or serving it slightly warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert, this bread delivers pure comfort with every bite. The crispy top, tender crumb, and melty chocolate chips create an experience that’s both nostalgic and exciting.
Have you made this peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread? Let me know in the comments how it turned out! Did you try any variations? Share your loaf photos on Instagram and tag #ComfortBakedIn—I’d love to see your creations!
