Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

• 3 medium or 2 large frozen bananas

• 1/2 cup butter-melted

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 egg lightly beaten

• 1/2 cup cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, yogurt or sour cream at room temp. You can really using anything to add some creaminess and moisture.

• 1 tsp vanilla 

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup cocoa powder

• 1 cup dark chocolate (bittersweet) chips. Some times I throw in some extra. That’s really only your business.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Defrost bananas on counter for 2 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and lightly grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Line with parchment paper for easy removal from pan.

3. Cut ends off bananas and squeeze into a large mixing bowl. Mash up with a whisk.

4. Pour melted butter into bananas. Add sugar, cream cheese (dairy product) and vanilla. Whisk until combined.

5. Add egg. Make sure the mixture is cool enough that you won't make scrambled eggs. 

6. In a separate bowl combine salt, flour, cocoa powder and baking soda. 

7. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until combined. Do not over mix!

8. Stir in chocolate chips.

9. Pour batter into loaf pan and spread to the edges with a spatula. 

10. Bake for 50-50 minutes. A tooth pick should come out with a few moist crumbs. The time really depends on how big the bananas were and how much moisture was in the batter.

11. Let the loaf cool 15 minutes before removing from pan. Lift loaf out of pan by the parchment paper and return to cooling rack.

12. Let cool for another 15-30 minutes before slicing.