Chocolate Banana Bread

by Diane Rossen Worthington

Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe
Chocolate Banana Bread

Recently I had the pleasure of teaching cooking classes at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico, which was voted World's Best Destination Spa by Travel and Leisure magazine.

I must say, it exceeded my expectations. Spread out over hundreds of acres with spectacular sculptures dotting the landscape, Rancho La Puerta captured my heart. Imagine walking from class to class with colorful birds singing, rock formations that would challenge a geologist's curiosity and the most spectacular vegetable garden I have ever seen. Over 4 acres of perfectly grown produce -- leeks, rainbow-colored Swiss chard, juicy red strawberries and purple-hued mulberries were just a taste of what the garden offered during my stay.

Many guests go on the morning jaunt to the garden and "La Cocina Que Canta," where a scrumptious breakfast awaits them after a challenging hike. I had the opportunity to hand-select the vegetables, fruits and herbs that were the foundations of my cooking classes. I had never tasted vegetables that tasted so intense -- full of rich flavor and moisture. My students were equally enthused to use such brilliantly fresh produce. Fresh leeks were sauteed and sauced; spotted gem lettuces, carrots, radishes and cucumber were chopped into vegetable and grain salads that were singing with real garden freshness; and vinaigrettes were enlivened with unusual herbs.

I chose this Chocolate Banana Bread for the ending to one of the meals that we prepared. The bread is just one of the great recipes featured in the ranch's own cookbook, "Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta." Delicious served in slices but even more dazzling cut into 3-inch squares, this not-too-sweet quick Chocolate Banana Bread can be made into sandwiches with a ricotta honey spread and sprinkled with an array of just-picked berries.

Either way you serve this Chocolate Banana Bread recipe, it is chocolate heaven. This really rich, dark, dense Chocolate Banana Bread, made with ripe bananas and pureed prunes, tastes far more sinful than it really is. Serve warm, sliced thin, with fresh fruit, or freeze for up to 1 month.

Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 90 minutes

Yield: Makes 1 loaf

Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe Ingredients

2 cups water

12 ounces pitted prunes

2 medium ripe bananas

2 large eggs

1 cup unbleached all-purpose or whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup banana chips, broken into small pieces

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly butter an 8-cup loaf pan, and line the bottom with a piece of parchment paper.

2. In a small saucepan, combine the water and prunes and bring to a simmer. Simmer slowly until the prunes are very soft, about 30 minutes. Drain any excess liquid.

3. Puree the prunes, bananas and eggs in a blender until smooth.

4. Sift together the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda into a large bowl. Stir in the banana mixture and combine thoroughly. Gently stir in the walnuts, banana chips, and chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean (or with only a bit of melted chocolate chip on it).

5. Turn the loaf out onto a rack to cool, and remove the parchment from the bottom. Cut into thin slices to serve.

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Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe - Rancho La Puerta

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