Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 large ripe bananas (about 1 1/2 cups mashed)
- 1/4 cup salted butter (melted)
- 1/3 cup applesauce
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Mix in melted butter and applesauce until combined.
- Stir in brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined; small lumps are okay.
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour and check doneness with a toothpick—it should come out clean or with few crumbs attached.
- Cool in the pan for 30–45 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 75g)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Opt for very ripe bananas with brown spots for the best flavor. Avoid overmixing the batter to maintain a light texture; lumps are fine. Customize by adding chocolate chips or nuts if desired.
