Chocolate Banana Loaf

This chocolate and banana loaf is the ultimate quick-fix treat. It's rich, moist, and packed with flavour. Ripe bananas bring a natural sweetness and a soft texture to this delicious loaf, while cocoa adds that irresistible chocolatey depth.

It’s simple to make, perfect for using up overripe bananas, and it's just as delicious warm from the oven as it is the next day with a cup of coffee.

Ingredients:

Makes 1 loaf

• 3 ripe bananas (The riper they are, the sweeter they are. They can be fresh, or frozen and defrosted)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 150g (5 oz) butter
• 80g (2 1/2 oz) raw sugar
• 2 eggs
• 200g (6 1/2 oz) flour
• 40g (1 1/2 oz) cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 100g (3 1/2 oz) chocolate chips

Method:

• Pre-heat oven to 160 degrees Celsius (320 degrees Fahrenheit) and grease a loaf tin.
• Mash the bananas and vanilla essence together (or you can do this in a food processor).
• If you have mashed the bananas in a food processor, put them into a separate bowl. Then add the butter and sugar, and blend well together.
• Add the banana/vanilla mix and eggs, and blend again.
• Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and baking soda, and briefly blitz together.
• Add most of the chocolate chips - reserving a few for the top - and mix through with a spatula while pouring into the prepared loaf tin. 
• Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top, and bake for approximately 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean.
• Cool in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack.