Sometimes you shouldn’t mess with traditions. Sometimes you definitely should! Like this Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. I took my grandmother’s classic banana bread and gave it a little something extra. Then I added in a little bit more extra. The original recipe is still everything a delicious homemade banana bread recipe should be, and will always be my family’s favourite way I use up those extra banana’s no one is willing to eat. But some days, you just need something a little extra special.
Does anyone suffer from what I like to call the Winter Blahs? Vitamin D where are you???
I thought it was just me. It’s not. People who go away on some hot, tropical trip during January and February are doing it right! Taking a trip during these months gives your body a shot of glorious sunshine that helps rejuvenate your heart, body and soul. Unless you’re really a winter person and you manage to spend a lot of time outdoors and still manage to get enough sunshine while you’re in the North.
This was the farthest thing from my reality this year. Honestly, I spent most of the months of January and February on my couch. My doctor decided to play around with my medication levels so I could get off my autoimmune suppressant meds – and I just wasn’t ready yet. After a 2-unit blood transfusion, I was told we were going to try again. Than I got sick with a cold. I’m on day 11 of this cold and I’m done. I love my couch, but I’m really ready to take a leave of absence – at least for an afternoon. It’s also very hard to find the energy to do anything quite frankly. Ok, and thinking. Thinking is really hard too.
I did get my hands on a copy of Recipe Tin Eats’s amazing photography book (affiliate link) which motivated me just enough to put this recipe for Chocolate Chip Banana Bread together and try out some of her fantastic tips for food photography. I must admit I impressed myself!! There are some amazing suggestions in this book and I’m still not done reading the entire book. (see above with regards to ‘no motivation’)
Well, the chocolate chip banana bread is long gone, but I’m happy to wake up this morning to a bright, sunny day. It seems to have woken up my brain just a little as well. So while I still walk pass the window and enviously watch my neighbors playing outside with their kids or going for walks, I continue on to my crevice on the couch where I’ve created my fleecy nest all within reach of the TV remote, medication and super sized water bottle. I consider this day a success and I think a nap is in order as a reward.
And if you’re wondering what makes this banana bread so amazing, the secret is in the teaspoon of cinnamon. Trust me. 😉
Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup flour
- 1 tbsp Baking powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/3 cup vegetable shortening
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 2 Eggs
- 1 cup Mashed banana (about 3 ripe bananas)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or more if you like)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350° F.
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Using a hand mixer, beat together the vegetable shortening, sugar and eggs. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
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Add the dry ingredients in with the wet. Add the mashed bananas and mix until everything is just combined.
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Pour batter into greased loaf pan and cook 60 to 70 minutes. Insert a tooth pick to test for doneness at the end.
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Allow the bread to cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack to completely cool.
You know what: you are right about the cinnamon. I often go for cardamom too, but any time I make a spiceless banana bread, it’s a bit dull 🙁
I’ll have to try cardamom. That’s a lovely spice too!
Shortening? That is an interesting addition! I bet this is quite decadent!
Just the way my grandma used to make it. I’m sure there are much, ehm, healthier options?
I can never have too many banana bread recipes.
So that’s what my banana bread has been missing!! Chocolate chips!! I have a could of bananas that are ready to be mashed this weekend, so I’ll give it a try.
I love my banana bread with big, melty, chocolate chunks! Cinnamon is king in my books!
I really enjoy banana bread. Such a great thing to make with excess bananas too.
This banana bread looks great and lovely to have a handed-down recipe. I hope you’re feeling better.
choco chips are my favorite thing to add to bananabread..apart from nutella of course 😛 😛
The banana bread looks delectable! Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂