Since moving to Myrtle Beach, I’ve taken it upon myself to create THE Best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. It’s no easy task, but with diligence, perseverance and a lot of trial and error, I think I’ve found that recipe.

I’m Making a Smemory

Do you remember that scene from the movie The Parent Trap where Hallie meets her Grandfather for the first time? She walks in anxious clutching her bags tightly, wide-eyed at the house her mother and grandfather have lived in for so many years without her. She approaches his office and greets him with an exuberant, “Grandfather, I’m home!” They embrace each other and then Hallie starts smelling his jacket. He asks what she’s doing (cuz let’s be honest, smelling someone’s jacket is a little strange) and her quick retort is, “I’m making a memory.” HONEST QUESTION: Have you ever thought about the connection between smells and memory? It’s pretty remarkable that a smell can transport you to a specific time or place. My family has coined a term for this: SMEMORY! A smell-memory! I’m trying to make smemory happen (sorta like fetch) so help me in spreading the word and awareness about it, please and thank you. All this to say, here is a personal smemory I have…

The Comfort of Banana Bread

Every time I make banana bread, it conjures up all kinds of warm fuzzy feelings. It makes me think of fall and comfort, of childhood and simpler times. Growing up, my family moved to Pennsylvania for 3 years so my dad could go to seminary to become a priest/pastor. I remember many fall afternoons coming home to the smell of freshly-baked banana bread wafting through the house. It felt like I’d died and gone to heaven, won the lottery, and gotten a puppy all at once. There was something so tender about my mom baking something from scratch for me and my sister to enjoy after a long day at school.

Quick, Easy, Delicious

I tried to recreate that same feeling with this recipe. Although it doesn’t have any nuts in it like my mom’s original recipe, I still think it’s pretty phenomenal. It’s quick and easy to whip up a moment’s notice. Not to mention, it’s a delicious way to start your morning, noon, or night. There is something so consoling about partaking in something familiar. I hope this recipe becomes a family favorite in your household like it has mine. Whether you’re baking this on a fall day or in the heat of summer, this recipe never goes out of season.

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Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened at room temperature)
3/4 cup cane sugar
2 eggs (room temperature)
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt or sea salt
3/4 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 x 5 loaf pan with your nonstick cooking spray of choice. Using a handheld or stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
2. Add the mashed banana, eggs, and vanilla extract and blend until fully combined. Mix in flours, baking soda, ground cinnamon, and salt. Mix together until fully incorporated. Do not overmix or the bread will come out stiff rather than tender. Fold in chocolate chips, saving some for garnishing the top.
3. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Add extra chocolate chips to the top of the batter prior to placing in the oven. Cook for 35 minutes, then place a piece of aluminum foil over the bread and continue cooking for 20 minutes covered. This trick allows the bread to stay moist without burning the edges.
4. Once fully cooked, approximately 55 minutes total, take loaf pan out and remove the bread from the pan. Allow the bread to cool prior to serving. ENJOY!

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Sharing is Caring

Now it’s your turn to share the warm fuzzy feelings! Share this recipe with a friend, coworker, sister, or neighbor. Bring it to your next bible study or girls night. Because y’all, this recipe is truly THE Best Chocolate Chip Banana Bread!