Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Minimalist Baker
Who doesn't love a good slice of banana bread? It's one of the most popular and beloved baked goods out there. And if you're a vegan or trying to eat more plant-based, you might think that banana bread is off-limits. But fear not! With this Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe from Minimalist Baker, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Ingredients
Before we get to the recipe, let's take a look at the ingredients you'll need to make this delicious bread:
- 3 ripe, medium-sized bananas
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil or vegan butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour blend
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (or regular chocolate chips, if you're not vegan)
Make sure your bananas are ripe - the riper they are, the sweeter and more flavorful your bread will be.
Instructions
Now that you have all your ingredients, it's time to start baking:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork or a potato masher until they're mostly smooth with just a few lumps.
- Add the melted coconut oil, brown sugar, and vanilla extract to the bowl and stir well to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Fold in the vegan chocolate chips.
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top with a spatula.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.
- Let the bread cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips and Variations
Here are some tips to help you make the perfect Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:
- If you don't have vegan chocolate chips, you can use regular chocolate chips or chopped chocolate instead.
- Feel free to add nuts, dried fruit, or other mix-ins to the batter.
- Make sure your oven is properly preheated and use an oven thermometer to ensure that it's at the correct temperature.
- If your bread is browning too quickly on top, you can cover it with foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Final Thoughts
There you have it - a delicious, vegan-friendly recipe for Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. This bread is perfect for breakfast, as a snack, or even as a dessert. It's easy to make, and with a few simple tweaks, you can customize it to your liking. Give it a try and see how you like it!