This decedent chocolate banana bread is the perfect treat for a cool day! It’s not packed full of sugar either! Depending on which sugar you use it can be made completely refined sugar free!

I use coconut sugar usually for my banana bread, but last time I used sweet monk fruit and it worked perfectly! If all you have is refined cane sugar then that will work great also! Use the same amount of sugar called for in this recipe and the sugar of your choice and it will come out great!

Sweeteners

When switching to using an unrefined sugar you will want to ease into it. It takes some getting use to if you have always used refined sugar. Start slow. Start by using 1/4-1/3 of the sugar called for with unrefined sugar replacement and the rest with your regular sugar.

Sweet monk fruit is my new favorite unrefined sugar! It is calorie free, carb free, has ani-inflammatory properties, and taste less bitter than Stevia. The texture is very much like refined sugar so it’s an easy replacement.

Coconut sugar is another great refined sugar replacement, but it has a strong taste and a more dry texture than refined cane sugar. It is also darker in color so it changes the final color of your baked good.

I like to use HU Chocolate Chunks because they are made with unrefined sugar, but all I had the day I was making this chocolate banana bread was Enjoy Life chocolate chips. I also love Enjoy Life because they are dairy and soy free! They do contain refined sugar, but not a lot if you use their dark chocolate chips!

In this recipe, you choose how much refined sugar you want to use! If you want it all to have traditional sugar that’s great, only the chocolate chips, that’s great too! You can make this completely refined sugar free as well and it will be great! You choose!

Chocolate Chunky Banana Bread Gluten Free

Making Chocolate Banana Bread

Slightly overripe bananas work perfectly in this recipe. I sometimes use just ripe bananas to make banana bread because I can’t wait and want banana bread!

I like to mash my bananas on a cutting board with a fork. That gets you a smooth texture. I have also seen people mash them in a bowl with a potato masher. That way tends to leave more lumps. If you like lumps of banana in your bread this way is great for you.

Throw in mashed banana, sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract in a bowl and stir well! So easy!

Throw wet ingredients in a bowl and mix.

In a separate bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking powder. Then combine into banana mixture. Be sure not to over mix the flour into the wet ingredients or you will have a tough bread. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts if using.

Chocolate chips and walnuts make this so chunky and delicious!

Topping The Bread

My biggest piece of advice for this chocolate banana bread is to add lots and lots of chocolate chips on top before baking! This make sit so amazing and decedent! Even with HU refined free chocolate chips! It is also fun to add banana slices on top! It looks pretty and tastes great when you get a bite of sweet banana!

Chocolate gluten free banana bread topped with more banana and chocolate chips!

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