Chocolate Chip Protein Banana (Printable Version)

Moist banana bread enriched with protein and studded with dark chocolate chips for a wholesome treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
02 - 2 large eggs
03 - ⅓ cup maple syrup or honey
04 - ¼ cup melted coconut oil or light olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

06 - 1½ cups whole wheat flour
07 - ⅓ cup vanilla or unflavored protein powder
08 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
09 - ½ teaspoon baking powder
10 - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
11 - ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

→ Add-ins

12 - ½ cup dark chocolate chips (70% cocoa, no added sugar)
13 - ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas. Whisk in eggs, maple syrup or honey, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
03 - In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine flour, protein powder, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
04 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
05 - Fold chocolate chips and nuts, if using, into the batter until evenly distributed.
06 - Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top if desired.
07 - Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. A few melted chocolate streaks are acceptable.
08 - Allow bread to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent without the refined sugar crash that usually follows a mid-afternoon treat.
  • One slice with coffee hits different when you know exactly what went into it, and the protein keeps you satisfied until dinner.
  • The chocolate chips stay gooey enough to feel like dessert, but the whole wheat flour keeps things grounded and real.
02 -
  • Do not skip the 10-minute rest in the pan; rushing to slice a hot loaf is how you end up with banana bread mush instead of sliceable bread.
  • The protein powder completely changes the game—it's what transforms this from "banana bread that happens to have some protein" into actual nutritious food that keeps you satisfied.
03 -
  • Freeze overripe bananas in advance; they thaw perfectly for banana bread and honestly have more banana flavor than fresh ones.
  • Toast your walnuts or pecans lightly before chopping to deepen their flavor—the extra five minutes in a dry pan transforms them from just nuts to toasted-nut-level delicious.
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