Peanut Butter Banana Loaf (Printable view)

Moist banana loaf with creamy peanut butter, chocolate chips, and chopped peanut butter cups.

# What You Need:

→ Produce

01 - 3 large ripe bananas, mashed (approximately 1 1/4 cups)

→ Dairy & Eggs

02 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
04 - 1/4 cup whole milk or buttermilk

→ Pantry

05 - 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
06 - 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
07 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
09 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
10 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Mix-ins

13 - 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
14 - 3/4 cup chopped peanut butter cups

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, allowing excess for easy removal.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mashed bananas, melted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, peanut butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla until smooth and well incorporated.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
04 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
05 - Fold chocolate chips and chopped peanut butter cups into batter, reserving a small amount for topping.
06 - Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and sprinkle reserved chocolate chips and peanut butter cups on surface.
07 - Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center emerges with a few moist crumbs.
08 - Allow loaf to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling before slicing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Incredibly moist and tender — ripe bananas and melted butter create a luxuriously soft crumb that stays fresh for days.
  • Packed with bold flavors — creamy peanut butter, semisweet chocolate chips, and chopped peanut butter cups in every bite.
  • Easy and approachable — rated Easy difficulty, with just 20 minutes of prep and simple pantry staples.
  • Perfect for any occasion — equally at home as a dessert, an afternoon treat, or a special breakfast.
  • Vegetarian-friendly — no meat or fish, just wholesome baking goodness.
  • Freezer-friendly — slice and freeze for up to 2 months so you always have a treat on hand.
02 -
  • Use the ripest bananas possible — heavily speckled or even all-black bananas are sweeter and produce a far more flavorful, moist loaf.
  • Do not overmix — stir the batter only until the dry ingredients are just incorporated to keep the crumb tender and light.
  • Reserve mix-ins for the top — sprinkling a handful of chocolate chips and peanut butter cup pieces on top before baking creates a beautiful, bakery-style finish.
  • Check doneness carefully — a toothpick with a few moist crumbs is perfect; if it comes out wet, bake in 5-minute increments.
  • Cool before slicing — allow the loaf to cool completely on a wire rack to ensure clean, beautiful slices and the best texture.
  • Room temperature eggs and milk — bringing these to room temperature before mixing helps them incorporate more evenly into the batter.
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