Chocolate Banana Dream Cake Loaf

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.

This Chocolate Banana Dream Cake Loaf has just the right amount of banana and chocolate to make it dreamy in every sense of the word.  We even added in some mini chocolate chips and topped it off with a fudgy chocolate frosting with walnuts! 

Other loaf favorites include our Farmhouse Apple Walnut LoafSour Cream Banana BreadPumpkin Banana Cinnamon Bread and this Blueberry Fritter Loaf!

Chocolate Banana Dream Cake Loaf with Chocolate Walnut Frosting

One thick slice is the perfect serving of decadent indulgence, from my standpoint.  I could always go for more, so don’t tempt me.  I’m pretty much a dare-devil when it comes to chocolate, and this cake is one of those desserts that tempt me beyond my moderation point.   

I’ll have to admit, it’s one of the best loafs I’ve ever made with ripe bananas, but then again, I’m extra partial to anything that has chocolate attached to it. Plus, I’m a huge fan of walnuts, chocolate and banana together as well.  

You are more than welcome to not add the frosting portion, but it’s certainly yum-worthy of having it, especially with the walnuts.  

Also, add walnuts into the loaf as well, if you wish.  I didn’t have enough when I made this loaf, but if you love walnuts in brownies, then by all means, add, add away into the loaf batter!  

Simple Tips for Quick Breads

Most quick breads and cakes taste better the next day after they’ve had time to set and breathe in all the lovely ingredients, making it more moist and full of flavor.  Have you ever noticed this? Especially with banana and pumpkin breads!

I find if I sample cake or bread right after it comes out of the oven, it just doesn’t have the flavors your taste-buds were expecting.  Like cookies, only reverse order.  Cookies taste best out of the oven, hot and melty, according to most!  See where I’m coming from?   🙂

I usually bake my quick bread and then serve it the next day.  The next day I would frost it.

Next time you have ripe bananas on hand, give this Chocolate Banana Cake Loaf a try!  It’s sooo good!

For other Chocolate Banana Recipes you’ll love these!

Chocolate Banana Dream Cake Loaf with Chocolate Walnut Frosting

Chocolate Banana Dream Cake Loaf with Chocolate Walnut Frosting

Kim Lange
This ultimate chocolate banana loaf has just the right amount of banana and chocolatey depth to make it super moist and  luxurious in every sense of the word.  We even added in some mini chocolate chips and topped it off with a fudgy chocolate frosting with walnuts! 
4.61 from 23 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Servings
Calories

Ingredients
  

Chocolate Banana Bread

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups mashed bananas about 3 medium bananas
  • 1 large egg OR 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • ¾ cup canola oil
  • ¾ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips I used mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup walnuts chopped

Chocolate Walnut Frosting

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ½ to ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ½ to 2 cups of powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk of choice
  • Pinch of salt
  • Walnuts
  • Optional: Chocolate Chips

Instructions
 

Chocolate Banana Bread

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour a 9" x 5" loaf pan or line with parchment and spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, oil, sugar, egg or applesauce, and vanilla.
  • Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined. Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts.
  • Bake for 55-65 mins or until a cake tester comes out mostly clean.
  • Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 mins, turn out and cool completely on wire rack.
  • Make frosting.

Chocolate Walnut Frosting

  • Using a mixer, in a medium-sized bowl, beat softened butter, then add in the cocoa powder and beat until combined. Add in the powdered sugar, milk and salt and mix to get frosting consistency wanted.
  • Frost top of cake with offset spatula and and then sprinkle some walnuts and chocolate chips on top. Slice and serve when ready to devour!
Keyword banana bread, breakfast, cake, chocolate banana, chocolate banana bread, chocolate bread, loaf
Tried This Recipe?Let us know how it was by commenting below!

Birthday coming up?  Make these Birthday Sugar Cookie Bars as a fun treat!

17 Comments

  1. Thank you so much Bella for trying! I am so happy you want to try it again with different options! You sound like me, I love trying new options for the next time! 😉

  2. This is a very rich banana bread/cake. Perfect for satisfying chocolate cravings. You know you have a hit when your mom (who didn’t grow up eating desserts and therefore doesn’t crave desserty-things or even like them) absolutely LOVES it!

    I used organic wheat flour (1 c) and therefore added 1/2 c of almond milk to the recipe so it wouldn’t dry out. I used dark chocolate and semi sweet chocolate chips and walnuts. It was vegan so applesauce was perfect. I was too afraid to sub-out all the oil with applesauce for fear I’d taste too much apple so I just did the 3/4c vegetable oil. Came out brilliant. I may try using more applesauce next time — I don’t like using too much oil in my baking and it usually doesn’t mess up the taste if u go 50/50. Thankfully, I’ve got breakfast for the week!

    Great recipe — can’t wait to do it again… maybe with white chocolate chips and/or marshmallows LOL!

  3. Thank you so much Lionie! I appreciate your preference to reduce the chocolate chips if you want to taste the cake more. I’m so glad to hear you tried it and your very kind review with your modifications. 🙂

  4. Tried this recipe and it turned out great! Super chocolatey but you can still taste the banana. I reduce the sugar to 1/2 cup since the banana already sweet enough. And for me, I would reduce the chocochip by half or 3/4 since I want to taste the cake batter more ???? Super moist and dense… Love it! Best after 2 days for me, the flavor blends perfectly. Thanks a lot!

  5. Hi
    I’m a little confused with the instructions. The ingredients are 2 teaspoons of baking powder but the instructions say baking soda. Which is it? I can’t wait to make this. Sounds absolutely yummy!

  6. Oh, Kim, you and I would make so much trouble in a chocolate factory! I can never get enough chocolate! I’m not sure of what things I WOULDN’T add it to! Banana bread! Of course, brilliant. And that frosting? Just give me the bowl. Yummy recipe!

  7. Amazing! My only concern though, is that I’d eat too much of that delicious frosting and it wouldn’t make its way to the cake. 🙂 ~Valentina

  8. Thank you so much Catherine! I want to eat it all, but I don’t dare! It’s totally addictive! 😉 Good thing I have family that will happily take it! 🙂

  9. Oh my, this cake loaf looks just marvelous and dreamy indeed! That thick layer of frosting is calling my name, and I just love this flavor combination so much!

  10. Dream cake is right! This looks sooo good–I’d love a huge slice with my coffee right now!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating