This chocolate chip zucchini banana bread is perfect for a snack or breakfast treat. Made with coconut flour, this bread is paleo and gluten-free and will help you sneak in some extra greens.
This is the story of how a (gluten-free) bread almost killed me.
Just kidding.
This is the story of how a bread brought me back down to earth.
It all started like most banana bread recipes do, with over-ripe bananas. At the time I was in the middle of Whole30 so I couldn’t eat banana bread, even if it was made with compliant ingredients. But my non-Whole30 dad could eat it, so I decided to make it for him. Then I had the brilliant idea to experiment with the recipe in hopes of eventually sharing it here on the blog. Smart, right? Plus, how hard could it be? Bananas, flour, eggs, some sweeteners. Done.
The bread looked and smelled really good when I pulled it out of the oven. I thought my work was done. When my dad later told me he didn’t love the bread I was taken aback. Something I made WASN’T GOOD? No, dad, it’s your fault for not liking zucchini.
I let my emotions settle and waited until after Whole30 to make the bread again. This time I figured because I could taste the batter it would be perfect. Somewhere along the way I forgot to use parchment paper (and I guess I didn’t grease the pan enough) because the bottom was burnt. The top was burnt too, for reasons I do not understand. I seriously wanted to kill this bread. I don’t fail twice.
I’m not perfect at anything (obviously) but I never assumed something as “easy” as baking could give me such a run for my money.
For the third round I erased my negative feelings toward the previous breads and started again (I realize how lame that sounds). But with anything in life, you need to learn from your mistakes. Success isn’t linear…it’s those “failed” recipes, job interviews, tests and relationships that will lead you to the ultimate prize. A failure isn’t a failure if you learn from it.
To summarize, the life lessons I learned from this banana bread: Be humble, calm and have some damn perspective. It’s just bread.
- 4 over-ripe bananas
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup of coconut flour
- 1/4 cup of coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup of peeled, shredded zucchini
- 1 tsp of baking powder
- 1 tsp of baking soda
- 2 tsp of vanilla
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp of coconut oil (or oil of your choice)
- 2/3 cup of chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life Foods Mega Chunks)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line 9 in x 5 in loaf pan with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mash the bananas and mix with eggs, vanilla and coconut oil.
- In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients.
- Blend the two mixtures together until combined.
- Add in peeled and shredded zucchini and mix thoroughly.*
- Stir in chocolate chunks.
- Pour batter evenly into loaf pan.
- Bake in oven for 50-60 minutes.
- Let cool completely before cutting and serving.
- *I used a peeler and food processor to prepare the zucchini.
- **Check bread at 45 minutes, oven times vary.
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I pretty much only make recipes once! If it isn’t good, it usually is just because it isn’t good, period, and I scrap it, lol.
During the summer (well, actually this is true year round), I will add zucchini to everything. It and pumpkin are two of my absolute favorite baking ingredients!
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…New Opportunities in Running, Life, and Blogging (Friday Favorites)
I almost added pumpkin to this but I thought it would have been too many flavors! And I din’t know how to narrow down the name of the recipe…
Let’s try this again! LOL As I said yesterday, this bread looks amazing. I know the word ‘moist’ is frowned upon but I think in this case it’s a good thing! :) Genius idea to combine zucchini bread and banana bread! Two of my faves.
K[email protected] recently posted…Link Love [2/19/16]
Haha thank you! I know that’s a “bad word” but that’s what I like for bread texture too :)
OMG this looks amazing!!! I love how gooey it looks and so simple with REAL ingredients. Thanks for sharing! XOXO
ACKTIVE LIFE recently posted…“When I Am In NJ” Workout
That’s what I love about it too! Simple, whole ingredients.
Yum, this looks so dense and delicious! I love using coconut flour for banana bread :)
Coconut flour is a staple in my house! I’ve used it to coat chicken too.
I visualized you stabbing this loaf of bread with a knife when you said you wanted to kill it and I got a good chuckle out of it. But in all seriousness this looks delicious and mega chunks are life sooo this is definitely on my “to-bake” list.
Georgie recently posted…Breakfast Burrito Bowl
Umm were you in my kitchen watching? I was VERY tempted to stab the thing!
Oh my gosh, this look delicious. I so wish I had access to an oven here at school, because I need this right now.
Sami recently posted…Friday Favorites – Shoe Edition
I SO missed having a kitchen when I lived on campus. I feel your pain!
Yea…my dad loves my dark chocolate grain free brownies. Then he noticed once when my bananas weren’t quite blended enough and will only eat them after referring to them as “banana brownies”!
What’s with dads and paying so much attention to food?! Just eat it, it’s good :)
I am so happy you finally nailed this recipe because it looks absolutely delicious. I haven’t had zucchini bread in forever (my mom used to make it all the time), but we always have a ton of zucchini during the summer so I will definitely be making this because, hello, CHOCOLATE! I love those Enjoy Life chunks.
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…{Friday Favorites} 2/19
This Chunks are AWESOME. A step up from chips in my mind :)
This looks delicious!! When I first went Paleo/gluten free, I thought bread was completely out of the picture. It’s so nice to see that there are the delicious and healthy options. Thank you so much for sharing!
I agree, I used to think my options were limited. Homemade is the way to go!
The texture looks spot on – can’t wait to try it!
Sarah @ BucketListTummy recently posted…For all you Snackers: How To Snack Smart
Thanks, Sarah!
Sometimes each recipe needs a few trials before it’s perfect, it can be frustrating but it’s so rewarding when you finally get it right! I can’t imagine how awesome it must have felt once you perfected this recipe! I can never say no to a huge slice of banana or zucchini bread so the combination of the two is pure bliss :)
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…Paleo Carrot Cake Monkey Bread Muffins
It is really rewarding when you nail a recipe! I think the combo of the two makes it acceptable for all hours of the day :)
Ahhhh I’ve been waiting for this recipe! I’m dying to make this. Haha and I like how humble baking can make you. I made some cookies for a work potluck. My boyfriend was not a happy camper when I took all but like 4 of them to work.. haha.
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…My key to surviving the treadmill
It really tested my patience and reminded me I’m not invincible in the kitchen (not that I ever really thought so, though). Hey he should be happy he got to keep some!
Story of my life! I’ve made my pancakes THREE times and I’m still not satisfied with the recipe! The worst part is that they taste delicious so duh I’m still eating it, but they just aren’t where I want them for the blog yet. And almond flour is SO expensive. We need sugar daddies to fund our recipe development
Margaret @ youngandrungry recently posted…Frosted Paleo Valentines Day Sugar Cookies
I feel bad for the poor bananas I “wasted” in the process. Luckily those don’t cost me an arm and a leg!
Hahaha that’s happened to me oh too many times. Although most of the time it IS my dad’s fault for not liking it…he’s way too fussy. :P
Megan recently posted…How to stay motivated after exercise addiction
I wish I could use that as an excuse! I consider it a big win if he likes a “healthified” recipe though.
Oh yum! Love that this uses coconut flour and enjoy life chips! I usually only make a recipe once, and if i don’t like it, then I wait a while before I end up trying a similar recipe. Usually I will just scrap it and not post it, and start fresh on another day.
kerri mcgrail recently posted…Friday Favs: Hot yoga, holistic health & Melissa McCarthy
I think I need to do that next time! Or at least extend the time in between rounds of recipe testing.
You know how I feel about recipe heartbreak! After a failure it takes me a while to attempt again because I’m afraid of getting hurt, lol. Seriously I have no perspective with recipes, the failed ones hurt!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Paleo Vanilla Cupcakes with Rich Chocolate Ganache
Ha I was thinking of you and your post about this! I think I need to start cooking/baking without the intent of sharing the recipe. Lower my expectations!
Everything you make is just beautiful! I am going to make these banana bread for my loving husband. Thank you, EMILY!
Thank you, Crystal! Hope you had a great weekend :)
I’m glad you made it a third time and it turned out because it looks delicious to me!! I have so many ripe bananas right now and was thinking of making muffins, but this looks better. I just need a zucchini!
Hayley recently posted…Dining All Over The Bay