Marbled Banana Bread

An easy, family-friendly baking project, this chocolate-laced loaf is a top-rated recipe made with tangy buttermilk and two overripe bananas.

Save your ripe bananas for this chocolaty cake. Melted chocolate swirled into the batter gives you chocolate in every bite.

Ingredients:

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting the pan
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 medium very ripe bananas
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly mist a 9-by-5-inch metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust well with all-purpose flour to cover the pan completely, tapping out the excess.

Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted and smooth, 1 minute to 1 minute 30 seconds. Set aside to cool slightly while preparing the batter.

Combine the bananas and sugar in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher or fork until mostly smooth with just a few small pieces of banana left. Add the oil and eggs and stir until combined. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, mix in both flours, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in the buttermilk and vanilla.

Stir 1 cup batter into the melted chocolate. Fill the loaf pan with half the banana batter and then half the chocolate batter. Repeat the layers and gently swirl together using a spoon or knife. Bake until golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Cool in the pan 15 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Cook’s Note: To prepare your loaf pan for baking, you can also use a nonstick spray with flour already in it. Flouring the pan helps the bread rise well and prevents any collapse after it comes out of the oven.

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