Chocolate Banana Bread

I had eyed this recipe during the Home Baker's Challenge of quick breads, when I baked the zucchini carrot bread. I was waiting for an opportunity to bake when the right time came. HD had asked me to bake a cake for his staff and since this recipe was too much for one loaf, I decided to bake two mini loaves, and give one to HD and the other one for my office pantry and security staff.

I handed over the one I bought to office to the pantry boy and told him to distribute it among themselves and specifically mentioned the names as well. I had already declared to the security downstairs that I had bought them something special. Since I had already given my instructions, I thought it would be done and I wouldn't have to bother. The day when I was leaving office, I asked the security guy whether he got anything and he replied in the negative. I got a little shock but knowing how laid back the pantry boy can be, I thought they may get it the next day. The day after when I went to office, I casually asked the boy if he had give the cake to the security and he put his head down, nodding it sideways. I got a bit irritated and asked him, "Cake tho bada tha, apne kya kiya?" (The cake was big enough, what did you do with it?" He replied, "Aappi, wo cake bahut achcha that tho mene aur Lakshman ne poora khaa liya." (Big sister, that cake was so good that I and Lakshman finished off the whole thing." I had nothing to say... :) Worth the bake for sure...



Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup wholewheat flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs, lightly beaten
110 gm butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup white chocolate chips (I used Hersheys)

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease and flour a large loaf pan and set aside. I used two small loaf pans as seen in the picture.

Combine all the dry ingredients - flours to salt in a bowl and whisk well. In another bowl, combine the banana, butter, eggs and vanilla essence. Pour this over the dry ingredients and whisk well till combined. Add in the walnuts and chips and fold in well.

Pour into the prepared loaf pan or half each into the loaf cases. Bake 50 to 60 minutes till skewer comes out clean in case of a large loaf pan - do not forget to cover the top with foil after 40 minutes of baking. For the small loaf pans, I baked for 35 minutes.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then flip onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before slicing and enjoying them with a cup of coffee!