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.

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.
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. It's so good it's almost sinful.
For more banana bread recipes, be sure to check out my Carrot Cake Banana Bread, Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread, Banana Cornbread, and Trail Mix Banana Muffins
Why This Recipe Works
- 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.
🥘 Ingredients
Ripe bananas- You will need some ripe spotted bananas to make this banana bread well flavored and sweeter.
Vegetable oil- Adding in vegetable oil will give the bread the necessary fats needed to stay moist.
Leavening agents- Use baking soda and baking powder as leaving agents to help the bread puff up nicely as it bakes.
Salt- This is a natural flavor enhancer and will make the bread taste delicious!
Vanilla extract- You will need some vanilla extract to help with the flavor enhancement.
Eggs- Use some eggs to help bind the bread together so it doesn't turn out too crumbly.
Sugars- You will need a combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar to make this bread sweet and to give it a nice depth of flavor.
All-purpose flour- This is the structural base of the recipe.
Orange juice- This will help to moisten the batter and give us some orange flavor.
Orange zest- Adding in some fresh orange zest will give us a wonderful taste of fresh orange.
Cocoa powder- This is what gives the bread a wonderful taste of chocolate in every slice and gives it that dark brown color. I like to use unsweetened cocoa powder or dark chocolate cocoa powder.
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make chocolate orange banana bread with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Set it aside.
Peel your ripe bananas and add them to a large mixing bowl.
Mash with a fork until no large chunks remain.
Add the vegetable oil and orange zest.
Mix well to combine.
Add in the baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Mix well.
Add in the vanilla, eggs, and sugars.
Stir until smooth.
Add in the orange juice.
Whisk to combine.
Add in the flour and cocoa powder.
Stir just until no white flour streaks remain. Do not overmix.
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan.
Bake for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out clean.
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!
🍴 Recipe Tips
Making this chocolate orange bread recipe is super easy (and fun). I like to drizzle mine with melted semi sweet chocolate for an added biter tangy richness that works well with the bread.
You could also opt to put up to a cup of chocolate chips into the batter so the flavor is scattered throughout the bread itself.
When the bread first pops out of the oven the orange flavor is very subtle. But wait a few hours or even until the next day and the bread will be much more flavor-packed as the orange starts to show its true potential.
💭 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.
More great banana recipes to try
- Pistachio Banana Bread
- Fruity Pebbles Banana Bread
- Stovetop Banana Bread
- Banana Pound Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Orange Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Mashed bananas (about 2-3 ripe) ($0.75)
- ½ cup Vegetable oil ($0.24)
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda ($0.01)
- ½ teaspoon Baking powder ($0.01)
- ¼ teaspoon Salt ($0.02)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract ($0.02)
- 2 large Eggs ($0.16)
- ½ cup Granulated sugar ($0.11)
- ½ cup Brown sugar ($0.19)
- 1 ¾ cups All-purpose flour ($0.14)
- ¼ cup Orange juice ($0.25)
- 1 Tablespoon Orange zest ($0.02)
- ¼ cup Cocoa powder ($0.40)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x5 loaf pan. Set it aside.
- Peel your ripe bananas and add them to a large mixing bowl.
- Mash with a fork until no large chunks remain.
- Add the vegetable oil and orange zest.
- Mix well to combine.
- Add in the baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Mix well.
- Add in the vanilla, eggs, and sugars.
- Stir until smooth.
- Add in the orange juice.
- Whisk to combine.
- Add in the flour and cocoa powder.
- Stir just until no white flour streaks remain. Do not overmix.
- Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for about 60 minutes or until a toothpick can be inserted into the center and come out clean.
- 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!
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