Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe
If you’re craving something that’s both comforting and a little bit fancy, you’re going to love this Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe. It’s got that perfect combo of sweet, tart, and chocolaty with moist banana bread as the base. Trust me, once you try it, it’ll be your new go-to for breakfast, snack time, or whenever you need a little pick-me-up. Stick around because I’ll walk you through all the tips and tricks to make it just right!
Why This Recipe Works
- Balanced Flavors: The tartness of raspberries cuts through the sweetness of banana and chocolate beautifully.
- Moist Texture: Using ripe bananas and yogurt makes the bread incredibly moist without being soggy.
- Chunky Goodness: Adding dark chocolate chunks instead of chips gives melty pockets of richness.
- Simple Prep: Nothing complicated here—you’ll have this batter whipped up and into the oven in under 15 minutes.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient in this Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe plays a crucial role in flavor, texture, or balance. Plus, I’ll share some shopping tips so you get the best results every time.
- All-purpose flour: The backbone of the bread; good quality flour ensures a tender crumb.
- Baking soda: Helps the bread rise just right so it’s light, not dense.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and brightens all flavors.
- Sugar: I use granulated sugar here, but you could swap half for brown sugar for a deeper flavor.
- Butter: Adds richness and a wonderful buttery aroma; room temperature butter mixes best.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and help with structure.
- Ripe bananas: The riper, the sweeter and moister your bread will be.
- Plain yogurt: Adds moisture and a subtle tang to keep the bread from being too sweet.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the natural sweetness and rounds out flavors.
- Dark chocolate chunks: Using chunks gives a perfect melt-in-your-mouth experience.
- Fresh raspberries: Tossing them in a little flour helps keep them evenly distributed without sinking or bleeding too much.
Tweak to Your Taste
You know me—I love making recipes my own, and I’m all about encouraging you to do the same. This Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe is a fantastic base for playing around, depending on what you have or what you’re in the mood for.
- Variation: I’ve often swapped out raspberries for blueberries or blackberries depending on the season, and they’re just as amazing.
- Dietary swaps: For a dairy-free version, try coconut yogurt and olive oil instead of butter.
- Extra nuts: Sometimes I chuck in a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.
- Less sweet: If you prefer less sweetness, cut the sugar down by a quarter and the bread still turns out moist and delicious.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe
Step 1: Prep your oven and pan
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Make sure to grease or spray your 9×5-inch loaf pan well—this prevents sticking and helps your bread come out clean. I like using a non-stick spray with a little flour or just butter on parchment paper for an easy release. Trust me, your bread deserves this gentle TLC.
Step 2: Whisk dry ingredients together
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures your rising agent is evenly distributed, so you don’t get weird pockets or uneven textures.
Step 3: Cream butter and sugar
In a larger bowl, beat your sugar and room-temperature butter until they’re light and fluffy, which takes about a minute on medium speed with an electric mixer. This step traps air and gives you a tender crumb—don’t skip it!
Step 4: Add wet ingredients
Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, mash up those bananas and add them along with your yogurt and vanilla extract. Mix until just blended—overmixing at this point can make the bread tough.
Step 5: Combine wet and dry
Stir the dry ingredients into the wet mixture gently, just enough to moisten everything. Then fold in the dark chocolate chunks. For the raspberries, toss them in a tablespoon of flour first—this trick keeps them from sinking and staining the batter too much.
Step 6: Bake and cool
Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan and, if you want, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chunks and raspberries on top for a pretty finish. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cooling in the pan for 15 minutes helps the loaf settle, then remove it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Pro Tips for Making Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe
- Use Ripe Bananas: The riper your bananas, the sweeter and moister your bread will be—don’t shy away from those brown spots!
- Toss Berries in Flour: Coating raspberries in flour prevents them from sinking and keeps your batter from turning purple.
- Don’t Overmix: Stir just until everything is combined to avoid a dense texture.
- Check Early: Ovens vary, so start testing your loaf with a toothpick around 50 minutes to prevent overbaking and dryness.
How to Serve Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe
Garnishes
I usually like to keep it simple—a light dusting of powdered sugar works wonders and adds a little elegance. Sometimes I’ll add a few fresh raspberries or even a thin slice of softened butter that melts into the warm bread. It’s like little moments of joy on each bite.
Side Dishes
This bread pairs beautifully with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea. For a heartier brunch, try it alongside scrambled eggs or a fresh fruit salad to keep things balanced and fresh.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve sliced the bread, toasted each slice lightly, and topped it with mascarpone and a few drizzles of honey. It turns this humble bread into an impressive dessert or afternoon treat. Wrapping individual slices with parchment makes great gifts too!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftover bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If your kitchen’s warm, the fridge works too but can dry it out faster, so a quick toast helps bring it back.
Freezing
This bread freezes beautifully! Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, or pop slices into freezer bags separated by parchment paper. It keeps well for up to 3 months, perfect for prepping ahead for busy weeks.
Reheating
To reheat, I like popping slices into a toaster oven or regular oven at 325°F for about 10 minutes. It revives the soft texture and melts those chocolate chunks like they’re fresh out of the oven.
FAQs
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Can I use frozen raspberries in this recipe?
Yes, you can! Just make sure to thaw and drain them well before folding into the batter to avoid extra moisture that could affect the bread’s texture. Tossing them in flour still helps to keep the distribution even.
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What if I don’t have yogurt?
If you don’t have yogurt on hand, sour cream is a great substitute and will keep the moisture and slight tang. Alternatively, buttermilk also works, but you might want to reduce any added liquid slightly.
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Can I use banana puree instead of mashed bananas?
Absolutely! Banana puree works just fine. Just make sure it’s thick and not watery, or else the batter might be too loose and take longer to bake.
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How ripe should my bananas be?
Look for bananas with lots of brown spots or even mostly brown skins. They’ll be sweeter and easier to mash, which helps make your bread tender and flavorful.
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Can I make this bread gluten-free?
Yes! Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend that includes xanthan gum for best results. Be mindful of the texture—gluten-free versions sometimes need slightly less liquid or a little more flour.
Final Thoughts
This Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe is one of those comforting bakes that feels like a warm hug on a chilly morning. It’s easy enough for a weekend bake but fancy enough to impress guests or make an everyday moment special. I’d recommend making it the next time you have a few ripe bananas lying around—you won’t regret it! If you do give it a try, I’d love to hear how it goes for you.
Print
Raspberry Banana Chocolate Bread Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Raspberry Dark Chocolate Banana Bread is a moist, flavorful treat combining ripe bananas, tangy yogurt, sweet raspberries, and rich dark chocolate chunks. Perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert, this loaf features a tender crumb with bursts of berry and chocolate in every bite.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs
- 1½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup dark chocolate chunks
- 1 cup raspberries tossed in 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of all-purpose flour, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon salt until combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, beat 1 cup sugar and 4 tablespoons butter with an electric mixer at medium speed for about 1 minute until well blended and creamy.
- Add Eggs: Add 2 eggs one at a time into the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition to incorporate fully.
- Add Banana, Yogurt, and Vanilla: Mix in 1½ cups mashed bananas, ⅓ cup plain yogurt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat until the mixture is fully blended.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually stir the flour mixture into the wet mixture just until moistened. Be careful not to over-mix to keep the bread tender.
- Fold in Chocolate Chunks and Raspberries: Stir 1 cup chocolate chunks into the batter, then gently fold in the 1 cup raspberries that have been tossed in 1 tablespoon of flour to prevent sinking.
- Fill Pan and Optional Topping: Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared loaf pan. Optionally, sprinkle a few extra chocolate chunks and raspberries on top for a decorative finish.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 15 minutes on a wire rack. Then remove from the pan and cool completely on the rack before slicing.
Notes
- Ripe bananas with brown spots work best for natural sweetness and moisture.
- Tossing raspberries in flour prevents them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
- Use room temperature butter for easier creaming with sugar.
- Do not over-mix the batter to ensure a tender crumb.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for plain yogurt for a thicker texture.
- Store leftover bread wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
