This moist and tender double chocolate banana bread tastes as good as chocolate cake, but it’s so much healthier! Made with coconut flour and raw cacao powder, it’s paleo, nut free, gluten-free, dairy-free, family and kid approved!
I’ve always been a big fan of all-things comfort food. You just might be able to figure that one out browsing through my blog. I actually own a (pre-paleo) cookbook that contains 200 comfort food recipes, and I still reference it all the time for ideas!
I’m not ashamed to say that I’m a firm believer in the power of comfort food – especially when we can make it just as tasty – but way better for our bodies than the original versions. Have our cake and eat it too? Yes. Have our cake (make it paleo) and eat it too.
Except today, we’re not having cake, we’re having chocolate banana bread! Well, double chocolate banana bread actually, and I know you won’t be disappointed!
This recipe is based on a really, really old one. One of those recipes I sort of hope you haven’t discovered in the archives, due to the embarrassingly ugly photos.
I tweaked the recipe over the years, experimenting with different sweeteners and flour measurements, and what you see here is how I’m currently making it. The flour is a nut free blend of coconut flour and a bit of arrowroot (or tapioca) flour, with raw cacao powder to give the bread that rich dark flavor.
Bananas and full fat coconut milk give the bread lots of moistness, almost like a cake! It’s sweetened with just the right amount of raw honey (sweet enough so my kids would eat it!), and studded with dark chocolate chips.
Just as a side note on the chocolate chips, I’m okay with using Enjoy Life Brand Dark Chocolate Morsels, which contain cane sugar, making them not technically Paleo.
If you’d rather stick to unrefined sweetener but still want those chocolate chips (I don’t blame you!) you can make your own homemade, maple-sweetened chocolate chunks using this recipe from Bakerita. While you’re there, check out a few of her mouthwatering dessert recipes (mostly paleo + vegan) – serious YUM!
The result is what you see above – gooey, chocolatey, moist and tender paleo banana bread that’ll be a hit with anyone who dares to come along and steal a slice!
This is one of those recipes that seems to disappear within 2 hours of making it – all it takes is two slices each for a family of 5! I DO recommend letting the bread fully cool to room temperature before digging in, though, since it’ll be far easier to slice and won’t fall apart.
If you do happen to have leftovers, store them covered in the refrigerator, then lightly toast the bread to warm it up. It’s great for snacks, breakfast, or dessert! Are you guys ready to hop over to the dark (chocolate) side and bake this?! Let’s go!
Double Chocolate Banana Bread {Paleo & Nut Free}
Double Chocolate Banana Bread {Paleo & Nut Free}
This moist and tender double chocolate chip banana bread tastes just as good as chocolate cake, but it's so much healthier! Gluten free, dairy-free, nut free and paleo.
Ingredients
- 3 very overripe small bananas or 2 larger ones, mashed
- 3 large eggs room temp
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1/4 cup full fat coconut milk room temp, blend first if separated
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup coconut flour sifted
- 2 tbsp arrowroot starch or tapioca flour
- 6 Tbsp raw cacao powder sifted
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or paleo chocolate chunks* divided
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a medium loaf pan with parchment paper (I used this 8.5 X 4.5” loaf pan) but an 8 x 4" would be fine.
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Gently whisk together all dry ingredients (except chocolate chips) in a mixing bowl - make sure to sift the coconut flour and cacao powder prior to mixing, since they can be lumpy.
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In a separate larger mixing bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas with the eggs, coconut milk, honey and vanilla. Wet ingredients should be as close to room temp as possible before starting.
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Gently stir the dry ingredients into the wet using a spatula or wooden spoon - batter should not be vigorously mixed or blended since this interferes with the bread rising. Batter should be relatively thick and lumpy once combined.
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Stir in about 1/3 cup of chocolate chips, then transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top.
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Bake in the preheated oven 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean of batter (melted chocolate is okay) allow the loaf to cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then carefully transfer it to a wire rack, holding two sides of the parchment paper to help you. Allow bread to cool completely to room temp before slicing. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
*Make your own homemade paleo chocolate chunks with this recipe.
Nutrition
What I Used To Make My Double Chocolate Banana Bread:
Want more delicious paleo and nut free baking recipes? Try one of these!
Banana Blueberry Breakfast Bread
Coconut Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Bread with Chocolate Chips
Chocolate Frosted Chocolate Donuts
Tell Me!
Favorite sweet comfort food?
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Looks delicious and I want to make this! Anything be substituted for coconut milk? I don’t have any…
I’m not sure, it gives it a nice moist texture and it’s not quite the same result with oil or another milk!
Would I be able to substitute almond flour for coconut flour? Really excited to try this!
I am becoming SUCH a fan of your blog. I like that you’re into healthy, but also into taste and texture. Thank you! Also, thank you for showing me how to work with coconut flour. I am definitely making this when I make another batch of the amazing chocolate chip pumpkin bread you have on here, too!
Side note: Lining the pan with parchment, makes these recipes come out SO EASILY. (Sometimes the coconut and other GF flours can be crumbly or stick to the pan in places.) I have no idea why I never tried that before; I use it for cookies all the time.
Yes, lining the pan with parchment (and using parchment muffin liners) is a total game changer! Glad you’re enjoying the site 🙂
I have an aversion to honey in baked goods, can you recommend a substitute for the sweetener? I’d love to give this recipe a try.
Pure maple syrup should work fine
Hi, this looks delicious! I was just wondering about the second step, I didn’t quite understand the sifting procedure. In your instructions it sounds like I should sift after I mixed the dry ingredients, but that doesn’t make sense when you then say to measure? It must be to sift the dry ingredients separately and measure the sifted version, then mix? Thanks in advance and sorry if it’s a stupid question!
I recommend sifting portions of coconut flour and cacao separately before measuring and adding to the recipe
I made this a few days ago and it is SO GOOD! Perfect texture, just the right amount of sweetness (especially for someone who hasn’t had any sugar in over 4 months), healthy and can’t go wrong with chocolate! ! Thank you!!
Yay! So happy you liked it 🙂
Michele, can tapioca/arrowroot be substituted with cornstarch, potato starch or rice flour? Thanks!
I would think cornstarch, but I’m not sure of the exact measurement. Since it’s not a large amount I would think it would be pretty forgiving though.
Hello . the recipe looks very delicious! I wanted to ask if i can subtitude the flour with regular weat one? Will it work ok for this recipe?
Unfortunately I’m not sure of the amount that would work, though it would be significantly more since coconut flour is so dense and absorbs tons of moisture. I would think at least double the amount of coconut flour.
Love love love the few recipes I have tried from here, can’t wait to try this one!
Has anyone tried substituted the coconut milk for something else? I don’t have any but have regular almond milk or unsweetened apple sauce…. thinking of trying it with the Apple sauce
I just made this yesterday and it was delicious!! Since I didn’t have coconut milk I replaced it with 1/2 cup almond milk and the cake was still very moist .
That’s awesome! So happy you enjoyed 🙂
Sooo yummy! I just made it yesterday! I added carob chips and it was delicious! I saw your nutrient facts, but it doesn’t state how many servings, do you know how many are in one batch?
This recipe ROCKS!!! I’ve made it 3 times and it is a huge hit in our house. Perfect every time!!! Thanks so much for the delicious recipes!!!
That’s amazing to hear, glad you’re enjoying!
I took mine out half way through the cooking time as it looked done and toothpick came out clean – any ideas why yours takes up to 1 hour to bake? I think mine would come out really really dry if I did the whole time suggested?
I’m really not sure but all my banana breads take basically 55-60 minutes to bake, maybe it’s the pan?
Made this last night and it was delicious! Our first dessert post-Whole 30. It felt like totally worth it “food freedom.” Thanks for a great recipe made from real food ingredients!
Heavenly chocolatey banana bread recipe! So moist and delicious ? thank you ? for the AMAZING recipe
Can’t wIt to make this. Thanks so much ???shanti
Amazingly delicious, my new favorite! I’ll definitely be making again. I was worried 1/2 cup coconut flour would be heavy, but it was perfect! Love, love your recipes!!!
Made this exactly as written (minus the vanilla as I realized last minute I was out) and it turned out fantastic! Moist, chocolatey and dense. Excellent recipe that’s not too sweet, doesn’t have the overly cakey texture of coconut flour and doesn’t contain almond flour! Thanks for posting this!
I am so excited to try this! I have a severe nut allergy and it is seriously so difficult to buy any healthy food since nuts are so trendy. Which means I have to make most of my own food. I really appreciate that you made this nut free!
I made this as written but it turned out a little dry and not very sweet. I used super ripe bananas and maple syrup instead of honey. I think my issue was the chocolate chips though. I used Lily’s stevia sweetened dark chocolate and it came out a bit bitter. Would probably use different chips next time or increase the amount of sweetener and add another bandana or apple sauce to make it less dry.
Can you sub flax eggs for real eggs?
Can these be made into muffins? Trying it right now but wasn’t sure about cooking time. Thank you!
This is an gluten-free appetizer or snack. Super delicious, budget-friendly, kids-friendly food. I really like this dish.
Hi Michele, Just came across this recipe and tried it out as muffins.
They didn’t really rise at all, and the batter was quite thick too. Just wanted to make sure I didn’t miss out on something.
The only thing different I did was use light coconut milk instead of full fat since that was all I had on me.
This came out super moist and delicious. I’ll admit I added a little extra coconut sugar to sweeten it up a bit.
Made this with my 5 year old and it was so much fun and it was totally kid approved by all the munchkins!!
We just made this and it is awesome! So moist and chocolatey! My family approves!
Great, my husband loves it
So yummy! Loved this!
Love this! So rich and cake like and perfectly satisfying.
Love this banana bread! Making it for the third time today and it’s so good every time
Can the coconut flour be subbed for almond flour in this recipe?
This banana bread was awesome! Made it exactly as stated – it turned out great, couldn’t stop eating it! Will be making this again 👍
This was delicious! Instead of chocolate chips, I used dried cherries. It was so good!
Made this today without any honey or maple syrup as I can’t have them. Subbed coconut milk with almond and added a banana and a few tablespoons of almond butter to give sweetness. I also added some fresh berries. It was great! Such an easy and versatile recipe!
Pretty easy to make and it came out so delicious! My only frustration was with the formatting. Instead of listing the dry ingredients in the recipe steps, it said to whisk the dry ingredients together. I’m sure for most people this would be fine, but I don’t have great short term memory so I kept having to scroll up to the list and confirm each item I was adding.