Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe With Applesauce

This applesauce chocolate chip quick bread is a timeless recipe made with applesauce, chocolate chips and spiced with cinnamon and cloves. It’s incredibly moist, easy to make and can be mixed all in one bowl.

Historically, applesauce has been an ingredient for many baked goods like quick breads, cakes and cookies for many different reasons. Not only does it lend moisture to the baked item, it has also been used for flavor. In the first part of the 20th century, it was used as a substitution for ingredients like eggs or butter that were rationed during both World Wars or when ingredients were difficult to find or were expensive during the Great Depression. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, applesauce was promoted as a way to make baked goods healthier since it was a fruit, even though some recipes still called for high amounts of fat or sugar. Applesauce then made a comeback in the 1990’s, as the nation wanted to get healthier and it continues to be a common ingredient in a lot of baked goods in today’s health conscious and special diet world.

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Quick breads have been around in the U.S. for quite some time and for good reason – they are not only quick to mix, but are a relatively easy type of bread to make. Since quick breads rely on either baking soda or baking powder as a leavening agent, or what is used to help it rise, they are less time-consuming than yeast and a lot more simple to assemble. There are so many different varieties and ingredients that can be used in quick breads that make them so versatile.

Applesauce, Chocolate Chip And Banana Bread Recipe

The recipe for this applesauce chocolate chip quick bread was adapted from a recipe dating to the 1970’s – a time that using an ingredient like applesauce considered a baked good healthy since it contained fruit. However, even though applesauce is used in this recipe it still contains both sugar and fat, so it would not be considered a healthy recipe. In this specific recipe, the applesauce results in a really moist bread and adds great flavor instead. Everything in moderation is key, so you can still enjoy this flavorful quick bread!

The original recipe states to not use oleo or margarine. Like with almost all of my baked goods, I use unsalted butter. The batter for this recipe mixes up easily in one bowl: unsalted butter is combined with sugar, eggs and unsweetened applesauce. The dry ingredients of flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves are mixed in, followed by the chocolate chips. Additional chocolate chips are sprinkled on top of the batter prior to baking in a standard-sized loaf pan (8 1/2″ x 4 1/2″). Once the bread has cooled after baking, it can be sliced. This bread even slices better the day after baking.

This applesauce chocolate chip quick bread is a timeless recipe made with applesauce, chocolate chips and spiced with cinnamon and cloves. It's incredibly moist, easy to make and can be mixed all in one bowl.This Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe will be your new favorite! Perfect for breakfast, snacks, and lunch boxes. Super moist and made with one bowl and a whisk!

Banana Bread With Applesauce & Yogurt

I’ll admit, normally I’m a plain Jane when it comes to my banana bread. I like to make banana bread as a healthy snack and breakfast, which is why I generally leave out the chocolate when I make this healthy Banana Bread recipe.

My default is to make as many healthier swaps as I can without people noticing, so I’ve kept those substitutes that I used in my original banana bread recipe, but I’ve dolled it up to make it an extra special treat.

In my mind, the best banana bread is always one that you can eat without butter, peanut butter, Nutella, etc. If I have to add to it, it tells me that I should be adding more moisture (even though I just generally enjoy a little saltiness from butter with my banana bread).

The Best Ever Healthy Banana Bread

I use Greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce as I mentioned above, as lower fat options, but only because I am so in love with my original banana bread recipe that I didn’t want to mess with it.

To keep the exterior from getting dry with the long bake time, it is recommended to cover the banana bread once the top is dry.

I will admit though that sometimes I load up the top of my chocolate chip banana bread with chocolate chips and don’t want to smush them with the foil. That part is up to you! The interior will still be super moist.

Healthy Zucchini Bread With Applesauce

I always, always make two loaves of this chocolate chip banana bread at a time because between us and the kids it doesn’t last long! I like to have one in the freezer for breakfast or lunch box emergencies.

Simply wrap snugly in some plastic wrap (or a freezer safe container with a tight seal), and place in the freezer. Freeze up to 3 months.

Healthy

Keep in an air tight container for up to 2 days. I don’t like to keep it any longer than this on the counter as it can begin to spoil.

Banana Bread With Applesauce • Unicorns In The Kitchen

Store in an air tight container for up to 1 week in the fridge. Might I recommend a quick zap in the microwave to melt those chocolate chips before snacking?

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!This peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread has all of life’s essentials, right?! Peanut butter, banana bread, and chocolate. You really can’t get much better than that.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread [oil Free Option] This Healthy Kitchen

When I am feeling like lots of peanut butter I will even use peanut butter chips instead of chocolate chips in this quick bread recipe. So yummy and perfect for peanut butter cravings (that’s a thing I am pretty sure because I get it all the time 🙂 ).

This is an easy quick bread recipe to make. Mix up the dry ingredients in one large bowl like all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. You want to use a whisk to stir it up so there are no clumps in the flour.

Peanut

In a separate, smaller bowl, combine the wet ingredients. Stir together (I use the same whisk from the dry ingredients) the mashed banana, eggs, peanut butter, applesauce, oil, and vanilla extract.

Healthy Chocolate Banana Bread

Combine the wet into the dry ingredients and stir. Gently stir in the chocolate chips and then spread the batter into two 8×4-inch loaf pans. I like to then top each loaf with some additional chocolate chips.

– I read this tip years ago somewhere for when making quick breads in a loaf pan. After spraying the loaf pan take a paper towel and run it along all 4 sides of the loaf pan about 1/2″ down the side. By doing this you are removing the cooking spray which will help the bread not cling to the top edge and instead bake up and to the center, which will give you a nice raised domed loaf of bread after the bake time.

– Because of the amount of batter it’s best to use two 8×4-inch loaf pans. You can also use 4-5 mini loaf pans as well. The mini loaf pans won’t need the long cooking time so check them at about 25-30 minutes for doneness.

Healthy Banana Bread

– For a pretty presentation be sure and sprinkle some additional chocolate chips on top of the bread batter before you bake it.

– This recipe has only been tested and made with creamy peanut butter. I have never made this recipe using crunchy peanut butter and all-natural peanut butters.

Banana

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with creamy peanut butter, mashed bananas, chocolate chips, and applesauce to make it really moist and soft. Two bowls and no mixer needed for this quick bread recipe.

Dreamy Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I have not noticed a huge difference in taste when using unsweetened applesauce vs. sweetened applesauce. Use whatever you have in your pantry or what you prefer.

I love the addition of the warm pumpkin pie spices in this recipe. If you don't have any or don't want to use it, then just simply use about 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

BREAD RECIPES

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe With Applesauce