Chocolate Brownie Banana Bread

This delicious dairy-free chocolate brownie banana bread recipe is lower in sugar than shop-bought sweet loaf bread, but still has the moist texture of a perfect banana bread with the great flavour of a real brownie! It's packed with protein, making it the perfect healthy snack.

What's even better is that it's so easy to make - just combine everything in a mixing bowl and mix together! There's no yeast involved, so it's super quick to put together and requires no kneading! It only takes only 10 mins to prep then you only need to bake in the oven before it's time to dig into that rich chocolatey goodness!

Oh yum!

So, what are you waiting for?

So what exactly is in this delicious loaf?

Cacao powder vs cocoa: which is better?

While cacao powder is made by grinding the dried beans of cacao trees into a powder, cocoa powder is made from the same bean but is heated at a high temperature which reduces the level of acidity in the powder.

This reduces the bitterness of the chocolate and enhances its flavour. It also results in the loss of most of the antioxidants that are found in the raw cacao bean.

This means that cocoa powder provides fewer health benefits than cacao powder. However, if cost is your main concern, then cocoa powder is the cheaper option of the two.

The great thing about this recipe is that it’s so versatile that it can be adapted to suit lots of different tastes and preferences. For example, you could use gluten-free flour if you suffer from coeliac disease. Or you could replace the chocolate chips with raisins or walnuts if you prefer something less sweet. Simply adjust the quantities of the ingredients to suit your preferences and enjoy a healthy, delicious treat the whole family will love!

How to make perfect banana bread every single time!

Well first of all, you need some ripe bananas - you could actually use any fruit that you fancy such as apples blended into sauce or dates blended into a paste, but this works best with bananas.

Ripe bananas contain a natural sweetener called 'fructose', which our bodies break down into energy naturally. This is great because it means we don't need to add in any extra sugar! Using ripe bananas also adds a delicious flavour and texture to the bread.

Then we need some good-quality dark chocolate. It's really important to use high-quality chocolate when making this recipe; not only does it taste better, but it's healthier too.

I buy mine from realfoodsource as it's vegan, dairy-free, affordable by the kg, and also high quality. But you can buy any chocolate you like as long as you check the ingredients first to make sure it's vegan and doesn't contain any artificial flavours or preservatives.

Why you should make your own cakes!

Making your own cakes is not only healthier for you and your family but it can also save you a lot of money. As well as being cheaper, you know exactly what goes into your cake – there are no artificial ingredients or preservatives so it’s much more natural and less harmful to your health.

Conventional cakes are made with tons of added sugars, fats and calories, and are laden with artificial preservatives, dyes and other additives. They also tend to be made with refined flours and other unhealthy ingredients. These ingredients are not only highly processed but are also not good for you. A better option would be to bake your own cakes using natural ingredients – it’s cheaper and healthier, and its way more fun too!

It tastes better! Some people say that when you bake at home it tastes better than the store-bought versions, so even if you don’t have a diet to maintain, you should still give it a try!

Processed cakes often contain lots of sugar and fat which can damage your waistline and affect your health in the long term. They are low in nutritional value and often contain very little fibre which can leave you feeling tired and sluggish. Too much added sugar can greatly increase your risk of tooth decay, obesity and diabetes. So, cutting sugary snacks from your diet will have a huge impact on your overall health and save you a lot of money in the process!

Chocolate Brownie Banana Bread Recipe

Packed with fibre and protein, as well as natural vitamins and minerals, this banana bread really is a treat you can enjoy without feeling guilty about ruining your diet!

Serves 8

INGREDIENTS

• 2 mashed over ripe spotty bananas
• 1/2 cup drippy smooth peanut butter 
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup cacao powder
• 1/2 cup plain flour, can use gluten-free
• 1/2 cup unsweetened plant-based milk 

Optional for extra sweetness

• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips + extra for topping
• 1/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1-2 tbsp Ceylon cinnamon

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180c/350F/gas mark 4
2. Mash the bananas in a bowl, add the plant-based milk, then fold in everything except the chocolate chips, and leaving the flour and cacao powder to last.
3. If the mixture is really thick add a little more plant-based milk.
4. Fold the chocolate chips in, then tip the mixture into a greased 2lb loaf tin.
5. Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.



Thanks for reading!

I hope you enjoyed this blog, and will join me again for the next one! 

For delicious recipes be sure to regularly check my website blog where I post plenty of tasty vegan recipes! 

Rose Wyles - The Vegan Nutritionist

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