East to make, Dark Chocolate Coconut Banana Bread is flavored with coconut oil, coconut flakes, banana, and dark chocolate.
My husband had plans to take me out for my Birthday Dinner this past Friday. It was a surprise and I love surprises.
Not knowing what he had in store for the weekend, I sent him an email Friday afternoon suggesting that Saturday was going to be a gorgeous day and perhaps we can go for some Afternoon Tea and watch a movie.
He assumed I meant instead of our Friday night plans, let’s celebrate my birthday on Saturday. Uhhhh… no! And then we went back and forth.
Me: OMG, I’m not saying let’s do one or the other, I’m saying let’s do both days.
He: I can’t do both days, I’ve been out the past 2 weekends.
Me (in my head): Men are so LAZY!!!!!
Me: Fine. Then let’s just stick to tonight’s plan.
He: Tomorrow sounds fun too, Afternoon Tea + Movie. It’s your birthday weekend, so let’s celebrate both days. Changed my mind.
Saying I was excited is an understatement, but unfortunately when Saturday rolled around, I ended up taking a 3 hour nap in the afternoon, hence my Afternoon Tea date that I suggested didn’t quite go as planned, but we did end up going for a movie that night.
I suppose that’s what I get for being greedy.
Moving on to Birthday Cake… since most food bloggers end up baking their own cake, here is a healthy Dark Chocolate Coconut Banana Bread I baked that Parita recently recommended on her blog. Although the bread tasted good, it was a bit too dry in my opinion. I guess I was sorta expecting cake at the end. Oh well.
NUTRITION: Whole Wheat Pastry Flour is a good source of Fiber and Protein. Bittersweet Chocolate Chips add some Antioxidants to this beverage. Bananas are a very good source of Vitamin B6. They are also a good source of Vitamin C and Fiber. Coconut is low in cholesterol and sodium, and it is a good source of fiber. Although coconut contains high amounts of saturated fats, not all saturated fats pose as a health problem, especially those linked with coconut. Coconut Oil contains Lauric Acid which helps in increasing good HDL cholesterol. Coconut Oil is also beneficial in weight loss by controlling the blood sugar levels. The saturated fats in coconut oil are not as harmful as the saturated fats seen in vegetable oil. With that said, coconut is a saturated fat and should be eaten in moderation.
APPROXIMATE NUTRITION PER SERVING (yields 10 slices @ 350 degrees):
- Calories: 312 cals
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Carbs: 44 g
- Protein: 6.5 g
- Fiber: 4.2 g
INGREDIENTS (original recipe from Tasty Kitchen, my version slightly modified below):
- Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips – 6 tbsp (3 ounces)
- Whole Wheat Pastry Flour – ¾ cup
- White Flour – 1 cup
- Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – ½ cup
- Baking Powder – 1 tsp
- Baking Soda – ¾ tsp
- Salt – ¼ tsp
- Cinnamon – ½ tsp
- Organic Eggs – 2
- Packed Brown Sugar – ½ cup
- Fage 2% Greek Yogurt – ½ cup
- Organic Virgin Coconut Oil – ¼ cup (melted)
- Organic Overripe Bananas – 1 ½ cups (mashed; 3 to 4 bananas)
- Let's Do Organic Unsweetened Shredded Coconut – ½ cup (for the batter) + 2 tbsp (for the top)
- Turbinado Brown Sugar – 1 tbsp (for the top)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a loaf pan with butter.
3. Heat the chocolate chips over a double boiler.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients… flours, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
5. Check on the chocolate – once it is melted, let it cool.
6. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the eggs and packed brown sugar.
7. Mix for a few minutes until you achieve this mocha color.
8. Add the Greek yogurt, coconut oil, and mashed bananas. Mix until well combined.
9. Slowly add the dry ingredients – I did this in 3 batches. DO NOT OVERMIX.
10. Batter.
11. Add unsweetened coconut flakes and fold in.
12. Batter with coconut flakes.
13. Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan.
14. Pour the melted chocolate all over the top.
15. Using a knife, swirl in the chocolate.
16. Top with 2 tablespoon of coconut flakes and turbinado sugar.
17. Into the oven for 50 to 60 minutes. I baked mine for 55.
18. Done!
VERDICT: 3.5 / 5
Both my husband and I enjoyed the taste of this bread, but the coconut most definitely dominated the flavor of this bread despite that I lowered the coconut amount. We both thought the bread tasted better the next day, but I still didn't think it was moist enough. I actually skipped adding 1 ½ tablespoon of coconut oil and added more Greek yogurt to compensate for the missing oil. Regardless, I believe this bread probably needs more yogurt or bananas (healthy options) to compensate for the lack of moisture, or simply cut down the white flour by a ¼ cup.
TELL ME: Have you ever baked bread? What’s your favorite kind of bread-like cake?
kellyfoodparadise says
I am obsessed with banana bread and the dark chocolate caught my eye... but coconut sold me and now I must try this recipe!
Thanks!
honeywhatscooking says
banana and chocolate is a match made in heaven. Love it! Coconut is very prominent in this bread.
madscar says
Uaaau this is amazing:) Love it!
honeywhatscooking says
haha.. thanks.
ASmita says
Hi Nisha,Belated Happy Birthday! The bread looks incredible! Cannot imagine it not turning out good, the pictures look awesome.
honeywhatscooking says
Thank you Asmita. It was good, just a bit dry.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Nap, surprises and a delicious banana bread -- what a wonderful birthday!! 🙂
honeywhatscooking says
LOL.. yes nap.. thanks Kiran. 🙂
Hash cakes says
Many Many happy returns of the day 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful day and year ahead.
Keep cooking and posting. Your cake recipe are the best and so easy to follow and make.
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Hash. That's so sweet of you to say, I try my best to cook as often as possible, but sometimes it's hard to cook and post while working. I love blogging though, will keep doing it while I still love it. Thanks for your sweet comment.
Shumaila @ The Novice Housewife says
Well dry or not, it doesnt look dry. Maybe you could have added more banana?
3 hours nap on Saturday- looks like you did have a fun Friday night! 🙂 And a fun birthday! Wish you many more happy ones!
honeywhatscooking says
Yeah, it doesn't look dry. Next time will add more banana. haha.. it was a fun Friday night, but I think I was probably starting to get sick by Saturday, hence why I passed out. Thanks Shumalia!
Donalyn @ The Creekside Cook says
Happy Birthday! And this bread does look delicious. I have a favorite banana chocolate bread I make often and a lot of different ones that use pumpkins, apples, etc. I love quick breads!
honeywhatscooking says
Yes, it was definitely good in taste, just a bit dry. I love breads too, so far my favorite is my Pumpkin Banana Bread.
Laura says
Looks yummy! Hope you had fun Friday night aaand napping Saturday 🙂
Happy Belated Birthday!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Laura.. haha.. yes, definitely don't forget the saturday nap. 🙂
Nisha says
Happy belated birthday Nisha! Looks you had a great birthday weekend (it's okay to be greedy on special occasions :D) ...Jawani Deewani was a good choice 😀
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Nisha. Haha.. I know, hence why I probably passed out the next day... being too greedy. Did you watch the movie? I thought it was awesome.
Nisha says
Yep I did, the weekend it released. Stood in line for two hours first time for a movie - it was definitely not THAT worth it, but was good entertainment for sure 😀
Pam says
Happy birthday. Sounds like you had a fun weekend. The cake looks delicious!
honeywhatscooking says
Thanks Pam. It was a fun weekend.