Chocolate and caramel YES YES YES but chocolate and bananas? NO NO NO!! Any fruit/ingredients subs for me? Anyone? Bueller… Bueller… ?
From what I’ve heard, there’s not much flavor coming from the bananas. Maybe just sub in some applesauce or leave it out completely?
Yeah, I definitely don’t taste the banana in every bite. You’d want something in there I’d think for the consistency, but another mashed fruit should do the trick.
how about sweet potatoes? pears?
I bet pears would be delicious!
This was a big hit around here – I let the bananas get really dark (seemed to add more banana flavor)!
I am not sure I really want to make this.
Chocolate and bananas don’t really sound appealing…giggle.
Just leave the bananas out, and substitute some thick yogurt or sour cream. I just ran out of bananas, so that’s probably what I’m going to do.
Chocolate does go with bananas. Ever have chocolate-covered banana or banana split with chocolate syrup? Apparently I did make this bread at one point http://chocolatemoosey.blogspot.com/2008/06/bananas-for-you.html Hopefully I’ll make it again. I think we have some ripen bananas in the house again.
I’m with CB – no bananas here. Someone suggested pumpkin puree instead, but that’s kind of last season, you know?
Don’t make it with pumpkin puree! I tried that after the banana version and it didn’t turn out.
How can you say that bananas and chocolate don’t go together?! It’s an excellent combo. I think I’ll go dip one right now… ;-)
I will probably go with bananas but I bet greek yogurt would be a great sub.
I found the bananas distracted from the amazing chocolate flavor, but someone at work declared it the best dessert he has ever eaten, so I guess this combo has its fans. I think pumpkin (canned?) might fade into the background.
I wish I’d left the bananas out and used up the rest of my coconut milk. and I thought the cocoa powder made it a bit dry.
Loved this one! Can’t wait to take it into work with me tomorrow and see what my colleagues think!
I baked mine for 75 minutes and it was still a little bit moist inside: perfect!
Delicious! One person declared these “better than brownies” and multiple people couldn’t taste the bananas…
…I could though, so if you don’t like them then I wouldn’t risk it ;) Applesauce sounds like a great sub to me.
Folks, I think subbing is okay, but the bananas play a part in keeping the bread moist. So, if you leave the bananas out, be prepared that your bread may be drier than if you added them.
I made this several weeks ago, as written, except that I lamely put it in the wrong sized pan… knowing I shouldn’t… and let it overflow onto my baking sheet. It was yummy, but surprisingly for me, it wasn’t really my thing (and usually a chocolate banana combo would be right up my alley). I blame it on pregnant tastebuds. I agree with LW, if you leave the banana out, it is going to be dry. I’m interested to see how the sour cream / yogurt sub idea works out. Maybe I would like that better right now? I don’t know.
Banana is often used as an egg substitute, so I wonder if it acts as a binder as well as a moistener?
would Elvis kid us… A great combo
I’ve already made this, and I am pretty comfortable recommending leaving the bananas in. It didn’t really taste like bananas to me; it actually tasted very chocolatey. I think the bananas really helped to keep it moist. (Because of the mixing method, it’s less like banana bread in texture and more like pound cake.)
I liked it alot actually. We ate it with cherry jam – yum. I was actually thinking the leftovers would have been great spread with jam and turned into a trifle. If there had been any leftovers…
that’s so funny! we ate half the loaf as is and the other half i turned into trifle. was so good! i made a chestnut whipped cream for it (using some leftover sweetened chestnut spread from when we made the caramel chestnut cake).
and i agree–you can hardly taste the banana with all the cocoa in the cake.
Great minds think alike, Steph!
Loved it, as did the family and coworkers that tried this. No one could detect the bananas, not even me and I used almost overripe bananas.
People – MAKE THIS! MAKE IT NOW! I made it last week, got the baking dates mixed up, and it’s SO FREAKING good. The banana is a hint in the background, but it’s all chocolate.
OMAHGAH, it’s so good. I might make it again.
PS – I would bake it like for no more than 40 min during the second baking (65-70 min total). It could dry out easily, so pull it when there are a few moist (ugh, hate that word) crumbs on the testing knife.
I made this on Sunday.
I was really confused by it all. I still can’t decide if I liked it or not.
Others are right the texture is more like a pound cake. I loved the chocolate flavor and the chocolate chunks. The banana hits you at the end and was very subtle.
I think I’d rather have banana bread or chocolate pound cake. …just not sure about combining in this form. BUT I will say I did LOVE Dorie’s Black and White Banana Loaf…maybe because it was marbled?
I can’t wait to see how others who used yogurt, etc. turned out!
we love this at our house. I wish I had thought of the trifle idea for the end of it!
I didn’t want to miss out on the banana flavor so I added in an extra half of a banana to the recipe. This was AMAZING!!
I have constant problems with converting cups into grams and liters. Up to now, I always managed to get by. But today I poured 0,25l buttermilk in the batter. What I would have needed was… 0.09l.
I was already wondering. When I poured in the buttermilk (“should I REALLY use so much?”). And why the bread didn’t get firm in the middle (“but I am already baking for almost an hour after covering the bread with foil!”)…
Clumsy me. Should have paid more attention to math at school.
But besides it’s very humid in the middle, it tastes wonderful if you go for a lot of chocolate with a slight flavour of banana!
LOL Alvarosa – I added too much milk too, by accident. I just added more flour to make up for it (because I knew I did it), and was scared I’d end up with a leaden product – but no, it was still good!
I should start to trust my intuition – when I got the feeling this is way too much liquid, I should FIRST check again, and then start to bake…
I felt that the banana was kind of an afterthought. But then again, I made 1/4 the recipe, so I even then probably put too much banana in there. I don’t know…they were tasty nonetheless!
I want to make this, I really do… but now that I left the bananas on the counter to get black, I just want to throw them in the trash. Blackened bananas are possibly the homeliest ingredient. Maybe I should make it with my eyes closed.
Definetely make them with your eyes closed: you won’t regret it!!!
I made this earlier in the month and was disappointed that the banana flavor didn’t really come through-I made two mini loaves, ate one and stuck the other in the freezer. The banana flavor was much more pronounced in the loaf that I froze.
My advice, for those of you that are irked by the chocolate/banana combo: make the recipe as is. The banana is a background taste and not strong enough to make your taste buds shudder. Those that LOVE the chocolate/banana combo: add an extra half of a ripened banana to the mix.
BUT something tells me that the longer it sits, the more the flavor MIGHT come out. This theory is not tested yet ;)
I couldn’t really taste the banana. But mine came out awfully dense. Suggestions why??
just tasted the bread still warm from the oven and I was surprised at how banana-y it was! after reading all of the comments i was expecting a more chocolate-y flavor. i did use HUGE bananas though so maybe that’s why…
I made this earlier today. I shamefully forgot to buy more chocolate chips yesterday at the store (we are out, and we are never out!) so I left that out. I can see how having more chocolate in it would make the banana flavor less prominent. My pan is a little dark so mine got a tiny bit crusty on the edges, but the rest looks fairly moist so I hope it tastes good too (I’ve only had a crusty edge so far)! Next time I’ll probably add another half of a banana since I love the flavor combo and wouldn’t mind more of it! Easy recipe, even with two kids chasing me around.
I’m eager to hear from someone who used yogurt or sour cream as a sub…anyone?
From Sweet and Savory who can’t get her URL to show up.
I just baked it, yes, after midnight….I forgot about the banana when I tasted it and did not realize I was eating chocolate/banana until I started reading the comments. If the banana does anything, it is not give it banana taste. I hesitate to say this but even if you don’t like banana, you could use it and very likely not know it.
I loved it although even with two cookie sheets under it, the bottom got just slightly more cooked than it should have. Otherwise, it is a chocolatey bread that needs no enhancements.
The flavor was really good, but a bit dry. Wish I would have taken it out at the shorten end of the baking time. I think when I inserted my toothpick, I hit some melted chocolate, tricking me into thinking the bread wasn’t done :-p Still delish though.
I am super excited for this one! Hubs LOVES banana bread and I love chocolate…should be a good one. On my way to make it now. I am thinking about mini loaf pans so I can share with work. :o)
I’m out this week–thought I had bananas in the freezer, but must have used them all in smoothies:(
Just made this tonight…not sure about this one. I thought the flavors were quite weird, but hubs liked it. Mine was such a strong flavor of chocolate and then ya got hit with banana. Maybe I will try a piece in the morning and see if it grows on me!
Made this with no banana, subbing sour cream. My husband ATE THE WHOLE THING. It was a resounding success.
I’m making this tonight! I absolutely LOVE bananas and chocolate.
I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to bake this week! I was busy making black bottom brownies and no-knead bread. I really enjoyed reading the debate about bananas vs. pumpkin vs. sour cream. I think chocolate and banana sounds great and I hope to have a chance to make this soon.
Made. I’m with Becky O.–not sure what I think. I generally like bananas and chocolate together so that ain’t it; for some reason this bread just isn’t giving me the sexy.
I am baking this right now, I used about 9 baby bananas (just longer than my finger) and diced 2 of them. The batter tasted like bananas and really good!
Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it
can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube
sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views.
I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Tuesdays with Dorie 
Chocolate and caramel YES YES YES but chocolate and bananas? NO NO NO!! Any fruit/ingredients subs for me? Anyone? Bueller… Bueller… ?
From what I’ve heard, there’s not much flavor coming from the bananas. Maybe just sub in some applesauce or leave it out completely?
Yeah, I definitely don’t taste the banana in every bite. You’d want something in there I’d think for the consistency, but another mashed fruit should do the trick.
how about sweet potatoes? pears?
I bet pears would be delicious!
This was a big hit around here – I let the bananas get really dark (seemed to add more banana flavor)!
I am not sure I really want to make this.
Chocolate and bananas don’t really sound appealing…giggle.
Just leave the bananas out, and substitute some thick yogurt or sour cream. I just ran out of bananas, so that’s probably what I’m going to do.
Chocolate does go with bananas. Ever have chocolate-covered banana or banana split with chocolate syrup? Apparently I did make this bread at one point http://chocolatemoosey.blogspot.com/2008/06/bananas-for-you.html Hopefully I’ll make it again. I think we have some ripen bananas in the house again.
I’m with CB – no bananas here. Someone suggested pumpkin puree instead, but that’s kind of last season, you know?
Don’t make it with pumpkin puree! I tried that after the banana version and it didn’t turn out.
How can you say that bananas and chocolate don’t go together?! It’s an excellent combo. I think I’ll go dip one right now… ;-)
I will probably go with bananas but I bet greek yogurt would be a great sub.
I found the bananas distracted from the amazing chocolate flavor, but someone at work declared it the best dessert he has ever eaten, so I guess this combo has its fans. I think pumpkin (canned?) might fade into the background.
I wish I’d left the bananas out and used up the rest of my coconut milk. and I thought the cocoa powder made it a bit dry.
Loved this one! Can’t wait to take it into work with me tomorrow and see what my colleagues think!
I baked mine for 75 minutes and it was still a little bit moist inside: perfect!
Delicious! One person declared these “better than brownies” and multiple people couldn’t taste the bananas…
…I could though, so if you don’t like them then I wouldn’t risk it ;) Applesauce sounds like a great sub to me.
Folks, I think subbing is okay, but the bananas play a part in keeping the bread moist. So, if you leave the bananas out, be prepared that your bread may be drier than if you added them.
I made this several weeks ago, as written, except that I lamely put it in the wrong sized pan… knowing I shouldn’t… and let it overflow onto my baking sheet. It was yummy, but surprisingly for me, it wasn’t really my thing (and usually a chocolate banana combo would be right up my alley). I blame it on pregnant tastebuds. I agree with LW, if you leave the banana out, it is going to be dry. I’m interested to see how the sour cream / yogurt sub idea works out. Maybe I would like that better right now? I don’t know.
Banana is often used as an egg substitute, so I wonder if it acts as a binder as well as a moistener?
would Elvis kid us… A great combo
I’ve already made this, and I am pretty comfortable recommending leaving the bananas in. It didn’t really taste like bananas to me; it actually tasted very chocolatey. I think the bananas really helped to keep it moist. (Because of the mixing method, it’s less like banana bread in texture and more like pound cake.)
I liked it alot actually. We ate it with cherry jam – yum. I was actually thinking the leftovers would have been great spread with jam and turned into a trifle. If there had been any leftovers…
that’s so funny! we ate half the loaf as is and the other half i turned into trifle. was so good! i made a chestnut whipped cream for it (using some leftover sweetened chestnut spread from when we made the caramel chestnut cake).
and i agree–you can hardly taste the banana with all the cocoa in the cake.
Great minds think alike, Steph!
Loved it, as did the family and coworkers that tried this. No one could detect the bananas, not even me and I used almost overripe bananas.
People – MAKE THIS! MAKE IT NOW! I made it last week, got the baking dates mixed up, and it’s SO FREAKING good. The banana is a hint in the background, but it’s all chocolate.
OMAHGAH, it’s so good. I might make it again.
http://kitchenwithbrina.blogspot.com/2010/01/twd-cocoa-nana-bread.html
too bad you didn’t like this one, Beth. LOL
PS – I would bake it like for no more than 40 min during the second baking (65-70 min total). It could dry out easily, so pull it when there are a few moist (ugh, hate that word) crumbs on the testing knife.
I made this on Sunday.
I was really confused by it all. I still can’t decide if I liked it or not.
Others are right the texture is more like a pound cake. I loved the chocolate flavor and the chocolate chunks. The banana hits you at the end and was very subtle.
I think I’d rather have banana bread or chocolate pound cake. …just not sure about combining in this form. BUT I will say I did LOVE Dorie’s Black and White Banana Loaf…maybe because it was marbled?
I can’t wait to see how others who used yogurt, etc. turned out!
we love this at our house. I wish I had thought of the trifle idea for the end of it!
I didn’t want to miss out on the banana flavor so I added in an extra half of a banana to the recipe. This was AMAZING!!
I have constant problems with converting cups into grams and liters. Up to now, I always managed to get by. But today I poured 0,25l buttermilk in the batter. What I would have needed was… 0.09l.
I was already wondering. When I poured in the buttermilk (“should I REALLY use so much?”). And why the bread didn’t get firm in the middle (“but I am already baking for almost an hour after covering the bread with foil!”)…
Clumsy me. Should have paid more attention to math at school.
But besides it’s very humid in the middle, it tastes wonderful if you go for a lot of chocolate with a slight flavour of banana!
LOL Alvarosa – I added too much milk too, by accident. I just added more flour to make up for it (because I knew I did it), and was scared I’d end up with a leaden product – but no, it was still good!
I should start to trust my intuition – when I got the feeling this is way too much liquid, I should FIRST check again, and then start to bake…
I felt that the banana was kind of an afterthought. But then again, I made 1/4 the recipe, so I even then probably put too much banana in there. I don’t know…they were tasty nonetheless!
I want to make this, I really do… but now that I left the bananas on the counter to get black, I just want to throw them in the trash. Blackened bananas are possibly the homeliest ingredient. Maybe I should make it with my eyes closed.
Definetely make them with your eyes closed: you won’t regret it!!!
I made this earlier in the month and was disappointed that the banana flavor didn’t really come through-I made two mini loaves, ate one and stuck the other in the freezer. The banana flavor was much more pronounced in the loaf that I froze.
My advice, for those of you that are irked by the chocolate/banana combo: make the recipe as is. The banana is a background taste and not strong enough to make your taste buds shudder. Those that LOVE the chocolate/banana combo: add an extra half of a ripened banana to the mix.
BUT something tells me that the longer it sits, the more the flavor MIGHT come out. This theory is not tested yet ;)
I couldn’t really taste the banana. But mine came out awfully dense. Suggestions why??
just tasted the bread still warm from the oven and I was surprised at how banana-y it was! after reading all of the comments i was expecting a more chocolate-y flavor. i did use HUGE bananas though so maybe that’s why…
I made this earlier today. I shamefully forgot to buy more chocolate chips yesterday at the store (we are out, and we are never out!) so I left that out. I can see how having more chocolate in it would make the banana flavor less prominent. My pan is a little dark so mine got a tiny bit crusty on the edges, but the rest looks fairly moist so I hope it tastes good too (I’ve only had a crusty edge so far)! Next time I’ll probably add another half of a banana since I love the flavor combo and wouldn’t mind more of it! Easy recipe, even with two kids chasing me around.
I’m eager to hear from someone who used yogurt or sour cream as a sub…anyone?
From Sweet and Savory who can’t get her URL to show up.
I just baked it, yes, after midnight….I forgot about the banana when I tasted it and did not realize I was eating chocolate/banana until I started reading the comments. If the banana does anything, it is not give it banana taste. I hesitate to say this but even if you don’t like banana, you could use it and very likely not know it.
I loved it although even with two cookie sheets under it, the bottom got just slightly more cooked than it should have. Otherwise, it is a chocolatey bread that needs no enhancements.
http://sweetsav.blogspot.com
The flavor was really good, but a bit dry. Wish I would have taken it out at the shorten end of the baking time. I think when I inserted my toothpick, I hit some melted chocolate, tricking me into thinking the bread wasn’t done :-p Still delish though.
I am super excited for this one! Hubs LOVES banana bread and I love chocolate…should be a good one. On my way to make it now. I am thinking about mini loaf pans so I can share with work. :o)
I’m out this week–thought I had bananas in the freezer, but must have used them all in smoothies:(
Just made this tonight…not sure about this one. I thought the flavors were quite weird, but hubs liked it. Mine was such a strong flavor of chocolate and then ya got hit with banana. Maybe I will try a piece in the morning and see if it grows on me!
Made this with no banana, subbing sour cream. My husband ATE THE WHOLE THING. It was a resounding success.
I’m making this tonight! I absolutely LOVE bananas and chocolate.
I’m sorry I didn’t have a chance to bake this week! I was busy making black bottom brownies and no-knead bread. I really enjoyed reading the debate about bananas vs. pumpkin vs. sour cream. I think chocolate and banana sounds great and I hope to have a chance to make this soon.
Made. I’m with Becky O.–not sure what I think. I generally like bananas and chocolate together so that ain’t it; for some reason this bread just isn’t giving me the sexy.
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I am baking this right now, I used about 9 baby bananas (just longer than my finger) and diced 2 of them. The batter tasted like bananas and really good!
My post will be up later sometime. =)
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I also let my bananas get really dark before baking the bread. We loved it!
I loved this recipe!
My husband liked the flavor combination. I personally didn’t. It turned out very crumbly.Not a keeper for me. Sorry.
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Yesterday, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it
can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube
sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views.
I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!