Mmmm...Chocolate Banana Bread

Lily has found a love of cooking. She has so much fun helping bake or any kind of cooking that we will let her help with. This has created more than a few messes...and, on occasion, some interesting tasting food as she likes to pour and sometimes goes a little overboard. Anyhow, because she enjoys this so much, I have been trying to bake with her at least once a week. This morning, we made some yummy Chocolate Banana Bread. This bread has wont he Betty Crocker award at my MOPS group 2 years in a row and is super yummy, so here are the pics of us, well, Lily, baking this morning and the recipe for this mmm, good bread.




Chocolate Banana Bread

1 3/4 c all-purpose flour 1/4 c cocoa powder
1 c sugar 1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp baking soda
2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1/4 tsp salt
4 ripe bananas mashed well 1/2 c unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 c white chocolate chips 1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c toasted walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)
1/2 c brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place oven rack to middle position. Butter and flour (or spray with a non-stick spray) the bottom and sides of a loaf pan.

Place the nuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, bakin gpowder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients until just combined and batter is thick and chunky. Fold in the nuts and chocolate chips. Scrape batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the top of the bread with brown sugar. Bake until bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center come out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes. Place on a wire to cool and then remove the bread for the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Alright, hope everyone enjoys this! I am off to wrangle the little ones!