Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Well it's finally starting to feel like Fall here in good old Arizona!  Currently, the wind is howling, the air is cool and there's rain on the way!  Considering it's probably about 30 degrees cooler out right now than it was yesterday, this is pretty exciting!

Because the weather is so Fall like, because it's Friday night (who doesn't love that?), because I need to bring something to crochet club tomorrow,  because I had some bananas rotting (err...I mean ripening) on the counter, I decided it was the perfect time to make some of my FAVORITE chocolate chip banana bread.

This recipe is really the only one for banana bread I have ever made.  It was the first one I tried and I love it so much that I really don't see the need to try any others.  The recipe comes from Starbucks of all places!  Anyone who knows me would not be surprised by this little bit of information.  The original recipe calls for walnuts, and you can certainly add those if you like that sort of thing.  I personally do not like nuts in any baked good except brownies and fudge so I left the nuts out and added chocolate chips instead.  I also sometimes sprinkle some cinnamon/sugar on top before I put it in the oven (and then a little more after it comes out for good measure).

I often double the recipe and make it in two pans.  You can freeze the extra one for later or fill someone's bucket (sorry, teacher term) and give it away!

One last note, this recipe calls for 2 Tbs. of buttermilk.  Since I don't keep buttermilk on hand, I make my own.  All you have to do to make your own buttermilk is put a tablespoon of white vinegar in a measuring cup and fill it to one cup with milk.  Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes to sour.  Since you need only 2 tbs. you can adjust the amounts of vinegar and milk to make the amount you want.  Easy and cheap!

I hope you try this recipe and I hope you love it as much as I do!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 1/8 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs. buttermilk
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 ripe medium-large bananas (mashed)
1/2 cup + 1/3 cup chocolate chips 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Grease a 9x5x3 loaf pan and dust with flour.  Blend together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.  Mix together the egg, sugar and vegetable oil until combined.  Add the flour mixture and when blended add the buttermilk, vanilla and mashed bananas and mix until combined.  Fold in chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan.  Top batter with remaining 1/3 cup chocolate chips.  Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before removing from pan.