A fabulous loaf of moist, rich, and flavorful banana bread isn't far away. While you may not have tried chocolate orange banana bread before, you won't want to live without this simple recipe.
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Chocolate and bananas, chocolate and oranges, oranges and bananas, all of these make great pairs but put them together and it's a three-way combination of flavors that works great in every slice.
While our Easy Chocolate Orange Cake is delicious, this banana bread is a faster way to get those yummy flavors on your plate.
Of course, as the orange and chocolate banana bread ages the orange flavor becomes more prominent, so eat it warm or wait a few hours, either way, it's going to be a treat worth waiting for.
If desired, you can do as I did and drizzle some semi-sweet chocolate over the top of your orange chocolate banana bread for added richness and sweetness.
For more banana bread recipes, be sure to check out my Carrot Cake Banana Bread and Jiffy Banana Cornbread.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's truly unique. With subtle orange flavors and rich chocolate, and moist banana bread all coming together for one sweet and savory bite you won't soon forget.
- Quick prep. It's so fast to throw together that the batter can be ready in the same time it takes for the oven to preheat.
- It's always popular. Banana bread doesn't need a time of the year to make an entrance at your house. It's evergreen and always well-received. Especially our Oreo Banana Bread.
🛒 Ingredients
Ripe bananas. Use spotted, ripe bananas for the best sweetness and flavor. If you have extras, try Red Velvet Banana Bread and Mango Banana Bread.
Leavening agents. Baking soda and baking powder help the bread rise properly.
Sugars. A mix of granulated sugar and brown sugar adds sweetness and depth of flavor.
Orange zest. Fresh orange zest brings bright, citrusy flavor.
Cocoa powder. Unsweetened or dark cocoa powder gives the bread its rich chocolate flavor and deep color.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use very ripe bananas: Overripe bananas add natural sweetness and reduce food waste.
Zest before juicing: Zest the orange first, then juice it so you get the most flavor from one fruit.
Skip the drizzle: The bread is rich and flavorful without added chocolate on top.
🥄 Instructions for Chocolate Orange Banana Bread
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Set it aside.
Step 2: Peel your ripe bananas and add them to a large mixing bowl (Image 1).
Step 3: Mash with a fork until no large chunks remain (Image 2).
Step 4: Add the vegetable oil and orange zest (Image 3).
Step 5: Mix well to combine (Image 4).
Step 6: Add in the baking soda, baking powder, and salt (Image 5). Mix well (Image 6).
Step 7: Add in the vanilla, eggs, and sugars (Image 7). Stir until smooth.
Step 8: Add in the orange juice (Image 8). Whisk to combine.
Step 9: Add in the flour and cocoa powder (Image 9).
Step 10: Stir just until no white flour streaks remain (Image 10). Do not overmix.
Step 11: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan (Image 11).
Step 12: Bake for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out clean (Image 12).
Step 13: Let the bread cool for 10 minutes in the pan before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. If desired, drizzle chocolate over the top for added effect.
Slice, serve, and enjoy!
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Chocolate drizzle. A drizzle of melted semi sweet chocolate adds a rich, slightly bitter contrast to the bright orange flavor.
- Add chocolate chips. For a stronger chocolate presence, mix up to one cup of chocolate chips into the batter for even distribution.
- Let the flavor develop. The orange flavor may be mild right out of the oven. Letting the bread rest for several hours or overnight allows the citrus notes to deepen and shine.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days, with the best flavor on day 2.
Make Ahead: Bake the loaf a day in advance to allow the orange flavor to develop. The bread can also be frozen for up to 3 months and thawed before serving.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Serve Chocolate Orange Banana Bread with coffee or tea, fresh fruit, or a smear of butter or cream cheese for an easy breakfast or snack.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
This orange banana bread with chocolate is good frozen for up to 3 months if stored in an airtight container. Just allow the bread to thaw before slicing and eating.
If stored in an airtight container at room temperature, this bread can last about 3-5 days but I think it tastes best on day 2.
It's best to use ripe or overripe bananas for banana bread, as they provide the desired sweetness and flavor. Unripe bananas won't yield the same results.
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🐝 If you tried this Chocolate Orange Banana Bread, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Orange Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas, about 2 to 3 bananas - ($0.75)
- ½ cup vegetable oil - ($0.35)
- 1 tablespoon orange zest - ($0.14)
- 2 large eggs - ($0.30)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - ($0.03)
- ½ cup granulated sugar - ($0.18)
- ½ cup brown sugar - ($0.22)
- ¼ cup orange juice - ($0.02)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda - ($0.01)
- ½ teaspoon baking powder - ($0.02)
- ¼ teaspoon salt - ($0.01)
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour - ($0.23)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder - ($0.36)
Instructions
- Preheat. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Set aside.
- Mash bananas. Add the bananas to a large mixing bowl and mash until mostly smooth.
- Add wet ingredients. Stir in the vegetable oil and orange zest until combined.
- Add leavening. Mix in the baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix sugars and eggs. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Stir until smooth.
- Add juice. Whisk in the orange juice until fully incorporated.
- Add dry ingredients. Add the flour and cocoa powder and stir just until no dry streaks remain. Do not overmix.
- Bake. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy.
Notes
- Chocolate drizzle or chips. Drizzle with melted semi-sweet chocolate or stir in up to 1 cup chocolate chips for extra richness.
- Flavor development. The orange flavor becomes more pronounced after a few hours or overnight.
- Storage. Store at room temperature for 3 to 5 days. Day 2 has the best flavor. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months and thaw before serving.
Nutritional Information
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