Brown Butter Banana Bread (with Chocolate Chips)

This Brown Butter Banana Bread (with Chocolate Chips) is next-level delicious! It's your favorite classic banana bread but with rich, nutty browned butter mixed right into the batter-plus melty chocolate in every bite. The perfect way to use up those ripe bananas!

Once you get a taste of this rich, nutty goodness, you'll want to check out our whole collection of Brown Butter Recipes.

Banana bread with chocolate chips in a baking pan on a wire rack.

One thing I love about banana bread is that it's perfect all year round. There's no season or time when banana bread isn't in season!

While we're all about the classic banana nut bread, this recipe shakes things up with a couple of awesome twists. First, we've got that rich, nutty brown butter. Then, of course, chocolate chips-my stomach's already swooning!

Over the years, we've made all kinds of banana breads, but this method-melting the butter before mixing it with the flour and sugar-makes the most insanely moist banana bread ever!

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Why this recipe is great

Extra tender & moist: Melting the butter and stirring it into the flour and sugar mix is a total game-changer! Coating the flour and sugar in fat keeps everything super tender.
Deeply flavorful: Browning the butter is super easy and gives it this amazing nutty flavor. Once you start using brown butter, you'll never want to stop!
Makes two loaves: One for today and one for the freezer-double the banana bread goodness!

Brown Butter Banana Bread Ingredients

This recipe uses classic banana bread ingredients, plus some tasty chocolate chips! Quantities are in the recipe card below, but here are a few noteworthy tips.

Flour, bananas, chocolate chips, sugar, butter, a small dish of salt, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, milk, and vanilla extract on a countertop.

Flour: Standard all-purpose flour is just right.
Sugar: White sugar has the best flavor.
Milk: Whole milk is best, but 2% will also work.
Butter: We only use salted butter. Unsalted butter can be used, just add in a pinch more salt.
Eggs: Large eggs are standard in baking.
Baking soda and baking powder: Both are needed to provide enough lift tot the batter.
Vanilla: A bit of pure vanilla extract rounds out the flavor.
Salt: We only use kosher salt.
Bananas: The bananas pictured here are not quite ripe enough. It is best if the banana peel is beginning to get brown spots. The more ripe the banana, the deeper the banana flavor.
Chocolate chips: We love dark or bittersweet chocolate but feel free to use your favorite.

Helpful kitchen tools

How to make brown butter banana bread

The most important step in this recipe is browning the butter. If you have not made it before see our guides:

In a medium saucepan brown the butter over medium heat until it is a dark golden brown.

A glass bowl of flour and browned butter.

In a medium bowl mix together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk together until evenly combined. Pour in the browned butter.

Mixed dough in a large bowl with a hand blender in the top corner.

Using a hand mixer, combine on medium speed until mixture is small lumps that resembles course sand.

In a separate bowl add the mashed bananas. Then mix in the milk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix on low speed until everything is well combined. There might be a few small lumps, but those will bake off in the oven.

A bowl of bread dough and chocolate chips with a red spatula in it.

Gently stir in the chocolate chips. Save a few for dotting on the top if you want that look. Either way they will taste amazing.

Two bread baking pans with bread dough in them on a white surface.

Pour into prepared loaf pans and bake at 350ºF for 50-55 minutes. To check if it's done, stick a toothpick or skewer in the center. If it comes out clean or with just a moist crumb or two, it's good to go.

Hint: Make sure the loaf pans are well greased. Our favorite method is to use a non-stick baking spray that contains flour.

A slice of banana bread on a cooling rack next to a loaf and a butter knife.

How ripe should my bananas be?

This recipe will work if the bananas are yellow, but not green. However, for the very best flavor the bananas should have brown speckled spots dotting the outside. I find that letting them get black is a little too ripe and will not result in the best flavor.

What to serve with

While this bread can certainly be served on its own, if serving for breakfast or brunch consider serving alongside these:

How to store

To store for a few days, place in an airtight container or on a covered cake plate at room temperature for up to 5 days. To store longer, wrap completely cooled bread in plastic wrap and then foil and freeze for up to 6 months.

FAQs

Can I make the brown butter ahead of time?

Absolutely! Feel free to brown the butter and store in the refrigerator in a jar until you are ready to use it. Very gently warm it in the microwave until it is loose but not hot. Give it a good stir before using.

Do I have to brown the butter?

If you do not want to brown the butter, try this Banana Nut Bread Recipe instead! It really brings out the natural flavor of the bananas for a classic loaf bread.

A slice of brown butter banana bread on a wire rack spread with butter next to a cut loaf.

Tips & Tricks

Make sure your browned butter isn't too light or too dark. This recipe works best with a dark golden brown color.
If you want the top to look like the ones pictures, set a few aside and dot with the chocolate chips when there is about 10 minutes left.
Use ripe bananas that are really ripe.

More brown butter recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these: