Ingredients:

  • ½ cups very ripe bananas, mashed (about 3-4 medium)
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ¾ cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
  • teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cups (210g) all-purpose flour
  • teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
  • cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips (reserve ¼ cup for topping)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a standard 9x5 inch loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper with an overhang.
  2. Thoroughly mash the bananas in a medium bowl until mostly smooth; a few small lumps are acceptable.
  3. To the mashed bananas, whisk in the melted butter, beaten eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until just combined. Do not overmix.
  4. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon until thoroughly incorporated.
  5. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Gently fold together using a spatula only until just combined. Stop mixing when a few streaks of flour remain to ensure a tender loaf.
  6. Gently fold in ¾ cup of the chocolate chips.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips over the top surface.
  8. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a wooden skewer into the center; it should come out with moist crumbs attached.
  9. Let the loaf cool in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully lifting it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.