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    Home » Cakes » Loaf Cakes

    Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread

    5 from 28 votes
    53 Comments

    Aug 17, 2020

    (updated Jul 27, 2024)

    by Kimberlee Ho

    Jump to Recipe

    Banana bread is a staple recipe in many kitchens. Even my friends who don't like to bake often tend to have a go-to banana bread recipe handy for when that bunch of bananas sitting on the kitchen counter go uneaten every now and again.

    Well, now I'm bringing you a handy variation on your go-to banana bread recipe with this Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread.

    This recipe is deceivingly easy to put together and makes for a delectable change of pace from classic banana bread. This Chocolate Banana Bread is moist and well-balanced between the chocolate and the sweetness of the overripe bananas. You're gonna love it!

    sliced marbled chocolate banana bread

    Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made by clicking the links in my post.

    Chocolate + Banana = a Match Made in Heaven

    To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of fruit plus chocolate together. I know, I know! I should really give it another try, but believe you me, I have and I don't know why, but it's just not my thing. (Hope you still like me despite this obvious flaw in my tastebud preferences!)

    Chocolate and banana, on the other hand, is clearly an exception. This pairing is one of those quintessential flavor combos that just makes everyone smile. So, in trying to redeem myself with you all, I will now share a delicious and super easy to bake recipe that highlights these flavors so well.

    marbled chocolate banana bread slices with chocolate chips in front

    How to Make Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread

    Putting this chocolate banana bread recipe together is a lot easier than it may look! It starts with making my easy Banana Bread batter. If you are out of baking soda, try Banana Bread (without baking soda).

    Don't have brown bananas? Use this simple method of ripening your bananas using your oven for a quick turn around. After the batter is all mixed, divide it in half by scooping half the batter into a clean bowl, leaving the remaining half in the mixing bowl.

    Next, add ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder to one of the batters. Fold in using a spatula or wooden spoon until well combined and no dry spots appear.

    Scoop out about ¼ cup of the plain banana bread batter and place in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Then scoop the same amount of the chocolate batter and place next to the plain batter dollop. Continue alternating the dollops of batter, layering them on top of one another until you have used up all the batter.

    Using a butter knife, swirl the batters together gently. Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips then bake .

    marbled chocolate banana bread sliced

    Tips for Making Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread

    • To mash the bananas, simply place the peeled bananas in a bowl and mash with a fork. No fancy potato masher or other equipment needed. I like to leave some pieces of banana in there – feel free to mash to whatever consistency suits you best! I typically need about 3 to 4 medium to large bananas for the amount specified in the recipe
    • I use an 8×4 loaf pan, whereas I’ve seen many other recipes call for 9×5. This isn’t the hugest of deals, but my personal preference is to have a taller loaf of banana bread rather than a shorter, denser loaf. Feel free to use whichever size you have on hand
    • When swirling the chocolate and plain banana bread batters together, resist temptation to keep swirling. Swirl only once through top to bottom of the pan. If you swirl too much the batters will blend together and you'll lose the marbling effect
    • Don't like bananas? Try my Moist Vanilla Chocolate Marble Pound Cake (Loaf) instead.
    dollops of chocolate and banana bread batter in a loaf pan
    swirling chocolate banana bread in a loaf pan
    swirled chocolate banana bread batter in a loaf pan
    chocolate banana bread batter sprinkled with chocolate chips

    Like this recipe? Follow me on Pinterest for lots more recipes just like this one! And don’t forget to pin this recipe for later by clicking on one of the images below the recipe. Or, click on any of the images in this post to save to Pinterest.

    baked banana bread marbled with chocolate

    Looking for more banana bread recipes? Give these a try:

    • Sour cream banana bread sliced and served on a cooling rack.
      One-Bowl Moist Banana Bread with Sour Cream
    • Banana Bread filled with a swirl of cream cheese filling.
      Home-Baked Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Filling
    • Banana bread sliced with chocolate chunks on the side and bananas behind.
      Moist Banana Bread with Chocolate and Ginger
    • Perfect banana snack cake with a thick layer of frosting.
      Banana Snack Cake

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    sliced marbled chocolate banana bread

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    sliced marbled chocolate banana bread

    Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Course: All Recipes, Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: banana bread with chocolate, chocolate banana, chocolate banana bread
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 245kcal
    Author: Kimberlee Ho
    US Customary - Metric

    Equipment

    • Loaf Pan
    • parchment paper
    • Stand Mixer

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 eggs room temperature
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 ¼ cups mashed overripe banana (about 3–4 medium to large bananas)
    • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ cup full-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
    • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Grease a 8×4 loaf pan with butter or line with parchment paper and set aside.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until well blended and smooth.
      ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • Stop the mixer, add in the mashed bananas and stir until well combined.
      1 ¼ cups mashed overripe banana
    • With the mixer off, add to the bowl the flour, baking soda and salt, mixing until just combined.
      1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • Add in the sour cream and blend well.
      ½ cup full-fat sour cream
    • Pour half the batter into a clean bowl and add to it the cocoa powder. Stir until well combined and no dry spots appear.
      ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • With a large ice cream scoop or a ¼ cup measuring cup, scoop out and dollop into the corner of the prepared pan the plain batter.
    • Repeat for the chocolate batter, placing the dollop next to the first.
    • Repeat this pattern, adding alternating dollops of plain then chocolate batter to the loaf pan, layering them on top of each other, until there’s no batter remaining.
    • Using a butter knife, gently swirl the top of the batter. Refrain from swirling too much otherwise the batters will get mixed together and muddled, losing the marbled effect.
    • Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing from the loaf pan and slicing

    Notes

    • Once completely cool, wrap the loaf tightly with plastic wrap and store at room temperature up to 4 days
    • If you have leftovers, store them tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the freezer for up to 3 months

    Nutrition

    Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 35.8g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10.3g | Saturated Fat: 6.1g | Cholesterol: 54.7mg | Sodium: 228.9mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Sugar: 19.7g
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    Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread | kickassbaker.com pin for pinterest 2

    Filed Under

    BreadsLoaf CakesIntermediateBananasChocolate
    « Single-Layer Chocolate Cake with Buttermilk
    Cherry Pie Bars »

    Reader Interactions

      5 from 28 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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      Comments

    1. Sarah

      August 24, 2020 at 11:43 am

      Could you substitute buttermilk for sour cream/Greek yogurt?

      Reply
      • Kim

        August 25, 2020 at 2:20 pm

        Yes you can!

        Reply
    2. Tasia ~ two sugar bugs

      September 07, 2020 at 12:41 am

      I just love the pretty swirl in this bread! I know my family is going to love it!

      Reply
    3. Kathy

      December 27, 2020 at 11:13 am

      5 stars
      I made this to use up bananas... delicious.

      Reply
      • Kim

        December 28, 2020 at 5:11 pm

        nothing makes me happier than to hear this!

        Reply
    4. Natacha

      April 02, 2021 at 5:44 pm

      5 stars
      This was a great change from regular banana bread - so moist and flavourful!

      Reply
      • Kim

        April 02, 2021 at 6:55 pm

        How wonderful to hear! Thanks for baking and sharing your thoughts!

        Reply
    5. Alicia

      April 05, 2021 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      So so so delicious!

      Reply
      • Kim

        April 10, 2021 at 7:52 pm

        This is definitely a fave!

        Reply
    6. Virginia

      August 10, 2021 at 3:21 am

      5 stars
      Delicious recipe! I used half the sugar and it was plenty sweet. It's so moist and the chocolate makes it a more special banana bread. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Kim

        August 10, 2021 at 5:55 pm

        That's good to know that you can cut back on the sugar and it's still plenty sweet - so helpful, thank you for leaving a comment and for baking it!

        Reply
    7. Shivani

      August 12, 2021 at 9:53 pm

      The best and moistest banana bread I've ever made!A must try recipe♥️

      Reply
      • Kim

        August 17, 2021 at 1:28 pm

        Thank you so much Shivani!! I agree for sure 😉

        Reply
    8. Amalia

      August 19, 2021 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      I made this swirled banana bread and my whole family loved it. It’s a very easy recipe and if you follow the instructions given by Kim you get these pretty swirls of chocolate! Yum!

      Reply
      • Kim

        August 19, 2021 at 6:19 pm

        How wonderful Amalia!! Those swirls certainly are dreamy 🙂

        Reply
      • Rachael

        March 24, 2024 at 3:07 pm

        5 stars
        Hi, I made this last week and it was delicious! For kiddos lunch, I’m wondering about swapping some or all of the ap flour for whole wheat, any recommendations?

        Reply
        • Kimberlee Ho

          March 24, 2024 at 3:12 pm

          I would recommend swapping 1/2 cup of the AP flour for whole wheat. I haven't tested it with all whole wheat flour, so I'm not sure how it would come out.

          Reply
    9. Margaret

      October 10, 2021 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars
      Omg just omg! This is the best banana loaf ever! Made it today! Def a keeper! 5 stars!

      Reply
      • Kim

        October 18, 2021 at 4:59 pm

        Woo hoo!! Such great news! Thanks for baking and leaving a comment, Margaret ❤️

        Reply
    10. Jeanne

      December 16, 2021 at 12:40 pm

      I made this recipe semi-low carb… Half granulated Stevia sweetener and half sugar; half all purpose flour and half almond/coconut flour blend… It was super delicious my husband loved it. With Ghirardelli cocoa powder, absolute best! So much better and tastier than plain banana bread!

      Reply
      • Kim

        December 18, 2021 at 5:11 pm

        I love how you made this to fit your lifestyle! So happy you love it as much as I do.

        Reply
    11. Jeanne

      December 16, 2021 at 12:42 pm

      5 stars
      Forgot to rate the recipe …I absolutely do rate this 5 BIG stars!

      Reply
      • Kim

        December 18, 2021 at 5:10 pm

        How fantastic!!

        Reply
    12. BakedR

      February 09, 2022 at 6:28 am

      Could I substitute sour cream for vanilla yoghurt or mayonnaise?

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        February 10, 2022 at 5:50 pm

        You can certainly substitute the sour cream for plain full-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt. I would be cautious about substituting for a flavored yogurt, as these tend to have lots of sugar in them, which can alter the taste of the final baked product. I haven't tried mayonnaise as a substitute for sour cream, however, mayo contains eggs and may alter the flavor and texture of the finished baked good. If you try it, though, please let me know!

        Reply
    13. Earlyne

      February 18, 2022 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      Hey kiss ass baker! This cake/loaf was the most delicious recipe I’ve ever made! My husband and I loved it! I didn’t have enough bananas so I added pure pumpkin to make up the difference. I also used half pretend sugar and granulated sugar. I would give you 10 stars!!

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        February 21, 2022 at 7:50 pm

        Wow that's fantastic!! Thanks for baking and for sharing your feedback!

        Reply
    14. Christine Derby

      July 14, 2023 at 10:23 am

      5 stars
      I happened on this recipe when I was looking for something to make with my very ripe bananas. Oh my….so delicious. I just made it for the 2nd time in 2 weeks because my family loved it. Thanks so much for the delicious recipe.

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        July 14, 2023 at 1:26 pm

        How wonderful Christine! So happy you stumbled upon the recipe!

        Reply
      • Stan

        December 08, 2024 at 9:02 am

        5 stars
        I have made your banana bread a dozen times and I've shared the recipe with as many friends and family. Moist and delicious. I've used sour cream when I have it, and yogurt as well. No big difference in taste or consistency.

        Reply
        • Kimberlee Ho

          December 08, 2024 at 2:01 pm

          This is great to hear, Stan!! Appreciate you sharing your feedback on sour cream vs yogurt, too. Super helpful for other bakers!

          Reply
    15. Stephanie

      September 05, 2023 at 4:52 pm

      I don’t have much granulated sugar. Can I use half granulated, half light brown?

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        September 15, 2023 at 1:45 pm

        Yes you can try that! The brown sugar has more moisture than granulated sugar, so it may make the cake a bit heavier and super moist. I'm interested to hear how this turns out for you!

        Reply
    16. Stephanie

      September 20, 2023 at 12:20 pm

      5 stars
      Hi Kimberlee. I made the cake using both brown sugar and white. It wasn't an even half of each...I used a bit more of the white than the light brown sugar. The cake turned out moist and extremely delicious. My family loved it! Thank you for the great recipe! I'll definitely make this again.

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        September 30, 2023 at 12:07 pm

        So good to know this modification worked so well! That will definitely help other bakers. Thanks, Stephanie!

        Reply
    17. Christine Parkinson

      May 18, 2024 at 12:31 pm

      I can see chocolate chips in the picture of the finished product but they are not listed in the ingredients list. When do they go on and are they in the bread too?

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        May 25, 2024 at 4:05 pm

        They are certainly optional! Add in 1/2 - 3/4 cup once the batter is mixed up, just before pouring it into the prepared pan.

        Reply
    18. Rubina Naeem

      June 12, 2024 at 5:51 pm

      Can I use coconut oil instead of butter?

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        June 16, 2024 at 4:22 pm

        I haven't tried making the recipe with coconut oil instead of butter, so I can't say for sure.

        Reply
    19. Josie Dagostino

      June 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm

      Can you use salted butter and eliminate the kosher salt?

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        July 07, 2024 at 12:04 pm

        Absolutely!

        Reply
    20. Rochelle

      July 24, 2024 at 3:06 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely loved this bread!! I'm not a fan of overly moist banana bread, so these are perfect!! the marbeling was easy to do. Had to search through my browser history to find this recipe to make again!

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        July 26, 2024 at 3:39 pm

        Wonderful! So glad to hear you loved it so much!

        Reply
    21. Chaitali

      July 28, 2024 at 11:47 am

      Can I use olive oil instead of butter?

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        July 29, 2024 at 10:59 am

        I would not recommend using olive oil. The flavor is strong and will impact the flavor of the baked banana bread. Instead try using vegetable oil, canola oil, or avocado oil, as these do not have a flavor.

        Reply
    22. Jody's Books

      December 14, 2024 at 11:19 pm

      5 stars
      This is our new favorite banana bread recipe!

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        January 02, 2025 at 11:02 am

        So happy to hear this!!

        Reply
    23. Claudette Ciaglia

      December 20, 2024 at 8:17 am

      Love it! Can't keep my husband out of the fridge!

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        January 02, 2025 at 10:58 am

        Haha so happy to hear that!

        Reply
    24. Alicia

      March 01, 2025 at 10:14 pm

      5 stars
      One of my favorite banana bread recipes!

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        March 02, 2025 at 2:56 pm

        I'm so happy to hear this, Alicia! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    25. Andrea

      May 17, 2025 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      I cannot thank you enough for sharing this 10 out of 10 banana bread recipe. I am over the moon because I have been baking my whole life, and now, at 62 years old, I can stop my life long search for the ultimate banana bread recipe. Couldn't find a banana bread recipe that I felt was outstanding until I baked this recipe. It is absolutely 100% the very best banana bread I have ever tasted in my life. Nothing I've ever had tops this recipe, nothing even comes close in comparison. Didn't even put the chocolate chips on top because I wanted to make sure I liked it first, and didn't want to waste the chocolate chips in case it didn't taste very good. So even without the chips, this banana bread is a literal slice of heaven, LOL! Thank you 😊

      Reply
      • Kimberlee Ho

        May 17, 2025 at 4:22 pm

        Amazing! So thrilled to hear this, Andrea!

        Reply

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