Dark chocolate & walnut banana bread

Level up your classic banana bread with this delicious dark chocolate and walnut banana bread recipe! Packed with rich dark chocolate chunks, crunchy walnuts and natural sweetness from ripe banana and raisins, it’s a wonderfully indulgent bake with NO ADDED SUGAR!

Made with simple ingredients, this easy banana bread is perfect for breakfast, an afternoon treat or a comforting dessert. Enjoy it warm from the oven, when the chocolate is deliciously melty, or save a slice for later with your fave cup of tea.

Ingredients (serves 6)

1 large ripe banana
100g raisins or sultanas
3 TBSP yoghurt (Greek, natural or goat yoghurt)
2 TBSP olive oil
100g plain flour
1 TSP baking powder
Pinch of sea salt
80g dark chocolate (70-85%)
60g chopped walnuts (or nut/seed of your choice)

Method

Preheat your oven to 170 degrees Celsius (fan) and line a bread tin or 6” cake tin with parchment paper.
Combine the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder, salt – in a large mixing bowl and set aside.
Add the banana, raisins, yoghurt and olive oil to a food processor and blend until smooth and the raisins have mostly broken down. Pour into the flour mixture and combine well with a wooden spoon.
Roughly chop your chocolate and walnuts into chunks, and stir into the mixture (keeping a small portion aside for the topping).
Pour into the baking tin and top with the leftover walnuts and chocolate chunks.
Bake for 30minutes or until the top is golden and a knife comes out clean.
Enjoy hot or cold! We suggest serving warm with a dollop of yoghurt, or for a touch of indulgence, try cream or vanilla ice cream.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 3 days. For a gooey chocolate melt, microwave for 30 seconds before digging in.

Top tip: This recipe is very forgiving and adaptable! Nut allergy? Swap out for your seed of choice. No raisins in the cupboard? Try other dried fruit such as dates or apricots.

You might have heard that the right kind of chocolate can be good for you. But not all chocolate is the same – dark, milk, and white varieties each offer different nutrient profiles (and sugar content!). We recommend using dark chocolate with 70% or higher cocoa content in this recipe for its richer nutrient profile and lower sugar content, but feel free to swap in milk or white chocolate for a little treat every now and then 😉 Learn more about the differences and benefits of chocolate with this article – what kind of chocolate should you choose?

For more recipe inspiration, check out the Gut Health Express!

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