Three overripe bananas sat on my counter final Tuesday, creating these brown spots that both imply banana bread or compost. My teenager walked by, grabbed one, checked out it with disgust, and stated, “Are you able to make that chocolate banana bread once more? However like, with extra chocolate?”
Problem accepted. Besides this time, I went full protein mode. This loaf packs 10 grams of protein per slice — that’s mainly a snack bar that tastes like double chocolate cake. The mixture of chocolate whey protein and cocoa powder creates this insanely wealthy, fudgy texture that had my husband satisfied I’d used a field combine.
The primary time I made this, I ate three slices for dinner. With a glass of milk. Standing over the sink. Zero regrets. It’s technically bread, which suggests it’s technically acceptable for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or that 3 PM hunch whenever you want chocolate but additionally need to hit your protein objectives. I’m calling it meal prep. My coach calls it genius.
Why This Protein Chocolate Banana Bread Really Works
Most protein banana breads style like somebody forgot the enjoyment. They’re both dry sufficient to choke a horse, dense as a brick, or have that bizarre synthetic protein style that no quantity of chocolate chips can masks. I’ve made all of them in my quest for a banana bread that doesn’t derail my macros.
This recipe works as a result of we’re utilizing the bananas and Greek yogurt (or applesauce) to fight the drying impact of protein powder. The riper your bananas, the higher — we’re speaking black-spotted, your-spouse-questions-your-sanity ripe. That pure sweetness means we will use much less added sugar whereas nonetheless getting that bakery-level taste.
The key weapon? Coconut oil. I do know, I do know, butter is conventional. However coconut oil retains this bread moist for days and provides this refined richness that makes individuals ask what your secret is. Plus it performs completely with chocolate. Science? Magic? Who cares, it really works.
Substances for Excessive-Protein Chocolate Banana Bread
This makes one normal 9×5 inch loaf, about 10 slices (or 3 if you happen to’re having a day):
The Moist Squad:
- 3 medium super-ripe bananas (about 1½ cups mashed — the blacker, the higher)
- ½ cup Greek yogurt or unsweetened applesauce (yogurt provides extra protein)
- 2 massive eggs (room temperature if you happen to bear in mind, chilly if you happen to’re like me)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted (that is the key to conserving it moist for days)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
The Dry Group:
- ½ cup oat flour (or complete wheat — I take advantage of Bob’s Purple Mill oat flour for the feel)
- ¾ cup chocolate whey protein powder (about 75g — I take advantage of Optimum Diet Double Chocolate as a result of it truly tastes like chocolate, not disappointment)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-processed in order for you that deep, wealthy taste — it makes a distinction)
- ⅓ cup sugar substitute like erythritol (or ¼ cup maple syrup/honey for much less “weight loss plan” vibes)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (belief me, it makes the chocolate pop)
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder (for further elevate)
The Enjoyable Stuff:
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips (plus further for the highest as a result of we’re not savages)
- Non-obligatory: ½ cup chopped walnuts (for individuals who like texture)
Swaps That Don’t Spoil All the things:
- No protein powder? Use extra oat flour however you’ll lose the protein enhance
- Sugar-free? Persist with erythritol or monk fruit sweetener
- Nut-free? Skip the walnuts (clearly) and use sunflower seed butter as an alternative of nut butter swirls
- Vegan? Use flax eggs and plant protein powder
Step-by-Step Directions for Protein Banana Bread
Let’s make some chocolate magic occur. Preheat that oven to 350°F and prepare in your kitchen to odor like a brownie and banana bread had an exquisite child.
- Prep your pan. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan. I line mine with parchment paper too as a result of I like simple cleanup. Go away some overhang so you possibly can elevate the bread out later like slightly chocolate elevator.
- Mash these bananas. In a big bowl, mash your bananas till principally easy. Just a few lumps are effective — they’ll be little pockets of banana taste. The riper they’re, the simpler that is. In the event that they’re mainly liquid, you’ve reached banana bread nirvana.
- Combine the moist substances. To your mashed bananas, add the Greek yogurt (or applesauce), eggs, melted coconut oil, and vanilla. Combine all of it collectively. It’ll appear to be child meals. That’s… truly good. In case you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, use it. If not, a whisk and a few willpower work effective.
- Mix the dry substances. In one other bowl, whisk collectively the oat flour, protein powder, cocoa powder, sweetener, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Break up any protein powder lumps — they like to cover after which shock you later as bizarre pockets in your bread.
- The essential mixture. Add the dry substances to the moist ones. Fold gently with a spatula — we’re not making bread dough right here. Combine simply till you possibly can’t see dry flour. The batter can be thick, thicker than common banana bread. That’s the protein powder doing its factor.
- Fold within the chocolate. Add most of your chocolate chips (avoid wasting for the highest) and fold them in. If utilizing nuts, add them now. Attempt to not eat all of the chocolate chips. I dare you.
- Into the pan. Pour the batter into your ready pan. It gained’t pour like common batter — you may have to unfold it with a spatula. Clean the highest and sprinkle these reserved chocolate chips on high. Press them in barely in order that they don’t all roll off.
- The baking persistence check. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Begin checking at 40 minutes — stick a toothpick within the heart. You need it to return out with just some moist crumbs, not moist batter. If the highest is browning too quick, tent it with foil.
- The unattainable wait. Let it cool within the pan for 10 minutes. I do know. The odor is torture. The chocolate is melty. You need to eat it NOW. However if you happen to attempt to take away it too quickly, it’ll disintegrate. After 10 minutes, elevate it out utilizing the parchment overhang and funky on a wire rack.
- The second of reality. Slice with a pointy knife (wipe between cuts for clear slices if you happen to’re photographing). Serve heat with a smear of almond butter, or chilly from the fridge (it will get fudgier chilly), or toast a slice and add butter. There’s no flawed means.
Professional Ideas for Good Protein Banana Bread
Banana ripeness is every little thing. In case your bananas aren’t coated in spots, they’re not prepared. The pure sugars haven’t developed sufficient. Professional tip: stick yellow bananas in a 300°F oven for quarter-hour to fast-ripen them.
Don’t overmix. Significantly. The second you add these dry substances, you’re on borrowed time. Overmixing develops gluten and prompts the protein powder’s binding properties = robust, dense bread.
Room temperature substances combine higher. However who remembers to take eggs out early? Hack: put chilly eggs in heat water for five minutes. Microwave the coconut oil if it solidified once more.
The toothpick check lies typically. With the chocolate chips, your toothpick may hit melted chocolate and are available out trying moist even when the bread is completed. Purpose for the middle however keep away from seen chocolate chips.
Let it relaxation in a single day. I do know, extra ready. However this bread is definitely higher the subsequent day. The flavors meld, the feel improves, and it slices cleaner. In the event you can resist.
How you can Retailer Protein Chocolate Banana Bread
Counter: Wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an hermetic container, it’ll final 2-3 days. After day 2, it begins getting further moist (not in a great way).
Fridge: My most well-liked methodology. Wrapped effectively, it lasts a full week. The chilly makes it further fudgy. I truly favor it chilly — it’s like a brownie-banana bread hybrid.
Freezer: Slice first, wrap particular person slices in plastic wrap, then retailer in a freezer bag. Lasts 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge or microwave for 30 seconds. Toast frozen slices immediately within the toaster for a crispy outdoors, tender inside scenario.
Troubleshooting Frequent Banana Bread Issues
Dry and crumbly: Both overbaked, an excessive amount of protein powder, or not sufficient moist substances. Subsequent time, examine earlier and perhaps add an additional tablespoon of yogurt.
Sinking within the center: Your leavening (baking soda/powder) is perhaps outdated, or the oven temperature is off. Get an oven thermometer — most ovens lie.
Bitter style: An excessive amount of cocoa powder or your cocoa is outdated. Cocoa powder goes stale and bitter. Additionally, some protein powders are simply bitter — discover a higher model.
Gained’t come out of the pan: Ought to’ve used that parchment paper, buddy. Subsequent time, grease AND line. For now, run a knife across the edges and pray.
Bizarre protein style: Some protein powders are aggressive. Chocolate flavored normally masks it higher than vanilla. The banana and chocolate ought to disguise most of it, but when not, strive a special model.
Recipe Variations for Completely different Chocolate Banana Breads
Peanut Butter Swirl: Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter on high of the batter, swirl with a knife. It’s like a Reese’s met banana bread.
Mint Chocolate: Add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract, use mint chocolate chips. It’s controversial however scrumptious.
Nutella Stuffed: Pour half the batter in, add a layer of Nutella (heat it barely to make it spreadable), high with remaining batter. Not precisely wholesome however YOLO.
Protein Brownie Model: Use all chocolate protein powder (no oat flour), add an additional egg. It’s mainly brownies pretending to be bread.
Mocha Model: Add 2 tablespoons prompt espresso powder to the dry substances. Espresso and chocolate and banana? Belief me on this one.
Diet Information Per Slice
Based mostly on 10 slices per loaf:
- About 150 energy
- 10g protein (greater than most granola bars!)
- 20g carbs
- 4g fats
- 3g fiber
Examine that to common chocolate banana bread at about 250 energy and 4g protein per slice. You’re getting greater than double the protein for fewer energy. That is the maths that makes me glad.
The protein retains you happy means longer than common banana bread. I can have a slice at 3 PM and make it to dinner with out raiding the pantry. Common banana bread? I’m hungry once more in an hour.
Serving Ideas for Most Chocolate Influence
Let’s speak presentation, as a result of we eat with our eyes first. My go-to: slice it thick, heat it for 10 seconds within the microwave, add a dollop of Greek yogurt on high, drizzle with sugar-free chocolate syrup, sprinkle with just a few further chocolate chips. Instagram gold.
For brunch, make it fancy: minimize into thick slices, organize on a platter, mud with powdered sugar, serve with bowls of whipped cream, sliced bananas, and further chocolate chips. Individuals assume you’re a pastry chef.
However actually? More often than not I eat it straight from the fridge, no plate, standing in entrance of the open fridge at 10 PM. My husband calls this “banana bread meditation.” He’s not flawed.
Extra Excessive-Protein Recipes You’ll Love
In the event you’re into this complete “dessert that’s secretly wholesome” factor, you want these different recipes in your life:
Protein Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Muffins — Like consuming a cinnamon roll that’s truly good for you. 8g protein per muffin.
Excessive-Protein Gingerbread Pancakes — 30g protein per serving. Style like Christmas cookies in pancake kind.
Excessive-Protein Pumpkin French Toast — 13g protein per slice. Weekend brunch game-changer.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Protein In a single day Oats — For whenever you want breakfast ready within the fridge.
Professional tip: Fill up on protein powder when it’s on sale. That Orgain protein powder works in all of those recipes. One procuring journey, countless breakfast wins.
Why This Chocolate Banana Bread Is My Remedy
Actual speak: I make this bread once I want consolation meals that gained’t derail my health objectives. Unhealthy day? Chocolate banana bread. Youngsters driving me loopy? Chocolate banana bread. Random Tuesday? You get it.
There’s one thing therapeutic about mashing bananas with pointless aggression, folding in chocolate chips whereas taste-testing just a few (dozen), and having your home odor like a bakery. It’s stress baking that really helps your objectives as an alternative of sabotaging them.
My teenager now makes this himself when he wants “positive aspects bread” (his time period). My youthful daughter requests it in her lunch field, sliced thick with almond butter. Even my mom, who thinks protein powder is “suspicious,” admits it’s “fairly good for wholesome meals.”
The perfect half? It freezes completely. I at all times have a loaf within the freezer for chocolate emergencies. As a result of chocolate emergencies are actual, and this bread is the answer.
Make this subsequent time you’ve got unhappy bananas in your counter. Or glad bananas. Or no bananas — go purchase some and allow them to get spotty. Your future self will thanks whenever you’re consuming fudgy, chocolatey, protein-packed bread that makes you are feeling such as you’re dishonest in your weight loss plan however you’re truly successful at life.
