Best Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips Recipe

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Something you may not know about me? I love to bake and entertain, as you know, and I’ve been cooking and baking since I was so young! I won the BEST apple pie in the 3rd grade and would have been one of those kids vying to be on today’s Baking Kids Championships, had we had those then! In my time, it was the county fair and school baking competition. Boy, times have changed! Not that I am a fancy baker (I am not); I just love to bake good basics!

Once upon a time, years ago, I put on scrapbooking retreats, and I cooked all the meals, 3 meals a day plus snacks. The ladies always raved about my food and wanted me to create a cookbook, and while I said I would, I collected mine and my family’s recipes, but I never put that book together!  Maybe one day I will, but until then I’ll be sharing my favorites here! My plan has always been that, if all goes well, I’ll share a weekly recipe. 

This week’s recipe: my Grandma’s Banana bread or muffins recipe, with a couple of improvements!  My Grandma Mercer made this Bread every Christmas, and sometimes we’d get lucky and get it for a family gathering throughout the year. I started making this bread when I got married and giving it to our neighbors, UPS, the mailman, and friends for Christmas. I’d make 24 loaves! I’d save every brown spotted banana and throw it in the freezer. At first my hubby would question all the bananas taking up all the freezer space, but now nobody says a thing! They get really excited if they see them defrosting in the sink!

My boys are terrible… They’ll each eat a loaf in a day if I’d let them! When I make a batch, I always make multiple batches. If making for my family, I’ll do 4 batches and make two trays of muffins and 4 medium loaves, then I’ll freeze 1/2. When I make at Christmas, I’ll make 8 to 12 batches and make some medium loaves and the rest mini loaves to give as gifts. 

My Grandma’s recipe called for 3 overripe bananas; I use 4, and I make sure the bananas are frozen and then thawed. This makes the moistest banana Bread you’ve ever had. I also added chocolate chips or nuts; my grandmother’s was just plain banana bread. You can leave out the Chocolate chips or the nuts if you wish; the main recipe won’t change.

Recipe: Best Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 overripe bananas

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted & cooled

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For a variation, add chocolate chips ( 2 cups), walnuts, or pecans (1 cup)!

Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease your muffin or loaf pans. Mash the bananas with a fork in a small bowl and then whip them; set aside. In a large bowl, add butter, eggs, and vanilla; beat well. Mix dry ingredients; fold in the bananas and chocolate chips, nuts, or both. Pour batter into loaf or muffin pans. Give the pan a good rap on the counter to get rid of air bubbles!  Place in oven, oven’s all range in heat temperatures so time could vary, so I say start checking in 45 min but could go as long as 1 hour. Test by sticking a toothpick in the center; if it comes out clean, it’s done! Makes 1 large loaf or  2 small loaves. 

I hope you enjoy one of my family’s favorite treats!

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