CHOCOLATE Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (Oil-Free!)

WOW! I didn't know how popular this recipe would be until I posted it on Facebook and Vegan Amino! I guess an oil-free yet tasty banana bread (with chocolate!) is enticing to most people. It makes you feel LESS guilty. :-) I do admit that this moist and dense bread is the perfect occasional dessert. It's not too sweet, but just the right sweetness. It's also just the right amount of chocolate to curb a chocolate craving. Paired with berries, it's absolutely marvelous!

3 medium-sized RIPE bananas

2 T. unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup non-dairy milk

1 t. vanilla extract

1 ½ cups spelt or whole wheat pastry flour

¾ t. baking soda

¾ t. salt

3 T. cocoa powder

¾ cup coconut sugar

1/4-1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a blender, combine the bananas, applesauce, non-dairy milk, and vanilla. Blend until smooth.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, and coconut sugar together well.

Add in the banana mixture and stir to combine. Do not overmix.

Pour into a standard-size, non-stick loaf pan. 

Bake for 45 minutes and insert a toothpick in the center to make sure the bread is done. If the toothpick comes out clean, remove from the oven and let cool a bit before serving. If the bread is not done, continue baking and checking every 5 minutes or so.

People said there is a smiley face in my banana bread! ;-) See it???