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Simple, delicious, Chocolate Chunk Chai Banana Bread. One bowl, simple ingredients, super quick to mix up, wholesome, and SO DELICIOUS! With over-ripe bananas, sweet pure maple syrup, and a homemade chai spice blend, this is sure to become your favorite banana bread to bake throughout the fall. It’s warming and just want we want to sink our teeth into on a chilly day.

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Look, I know everyone and their mother is already baking with pumpkin, but I just can’t do it. I’ve never fully understood why everyone rushes to bake with pumpkin all September long. By November they’re over the pumpkin craze and just move straight into Christmas baking.

That I can kind of understand, but I’m someone who likes to celebrate Thanksgiving. Personally, I really don’t want to get sick of pumpkin before Turkey Day even rolls around.

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In September, I stick to baking with apples and chocolate instead. I know this may not be the popular thing to do. But something in me just feels like we have to wait for October to embrace the pumpkin season.

Don’t worry though, come October 1st I’ll be baking and cooking up a pumpkin storm. I’ve already been brainstorming.

Right now, we have a comforting autumn banana bread. It’s made with my favorite blend of warming spices commonly found in a steaming cup of chai.

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Details

The chai spice mix is key. It really brings the aromas of fall into the kitchen and into the bread.

Before you start the banana bread, make the chai spice mix. Itโ€™s a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, all-spice, cloves, and the tiniest bit of black pepper. You will not need all of the spice blend, just 1-2 tablespoons.

I sometimes mix the remaining spice with sugar and use it like cinnamon sugar. Delicious on buttered toast.

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Next, locate some very ripe bananas. Ideally, they should have black spots all over them. These bananas will make the very best banana bread. 

Mash up the bananas and then mix them with a little coconut oil, maple syrup, a couple of eggs, and a splash of vanilla. Next, add whole wheat flour, the chai spice, and a dash of salt.

Cider Braised Chicken with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

Stir in chocolate chunks or chocolate chips and bake. An hour later your house will smell incredible and youโ€™ll have the prettiest deep golden, chocolate-filled loaf of banana bread.

While the bread bakes, I usually make the maple butter. It’s simply butter and maple whipped together. So easy, but really delicious when spread over a warm piece of bread.

Cider Braised Chicken with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

Each bite is filled with sweet chai-spiced cake and melty chocolate. The sweet, creamy butter just adds a specialness that’s fitting for fall days.

Cider Braised Chicken with Caramelized Onions | halfbakedharvest.com

Looking for other chai spiced recipes? Here are a few ideas: 

Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Latte Cupcakes with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Frosting

Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Chai Spiced Maple Sugar Cookies with Browned Butter Frosting

Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Cupcakes

Vanilla Chai Old Fashioned

Chai Espresso Martini

White Chocolate Chai Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Lastly, if you make this Chocolate Chunk Chai Banana Bread be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, donโ€™t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

Chocolate Chunk Chai Banana Bread

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 1 loaf
Calories Per Serving: 384 kcal

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Ingredients

Chai Spice

Banana Bread

Whipple Maple Butter

Instructions

  • 1. To make the chai spice. In a shallow bowl, combine the cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, all-spice, cloves, and pepper.ย You will not need all of this, save the blend for another use.
    2. Preheat the oven to 350ยฐ F. Grease a 9×5 inch bread pan.
    3. In a bowl, stir together the bananas, coconut oil, maple, eggs, and vanilla until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, 1-2 tablespoons chai spice, and salt, mix until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks.ย 
    4. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the center is just set. Remove and let cool slightly.
    5. To make the butter, whip together the butter and maple syrup until light and creamy, about 3 minutes using a hand whisk. Spread over the warm bread. Trust me it's delish.
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4.98 from 117 votes (67 ratings without comment)

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Comments

    1. Hi Trayee,
      I think a gluten free flour blend would work best for you here! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely incredible! I’m waiting for weather to get a bit colder, so I have every excuse to make this recipe! Bonus: my home smells incredible when it’s baking!

  2. 5 stars
    So delicious! Do t skil the whipple butter We made it for the first time 6 months ago and my mouth waters just thinking about it. Making it again this weekend!!

    1. Hey Rebecca,
      Happy Friday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT

  3. 5 stars
    Delicious, especially right out of the oven! Didn’t even need the maple butter, but why not! Perfect blend of banana, chocolate and chai spice! I used 2 TB spice–perfect!

    1. Hi Laura,
      So glad to hear this! Thanks for making this banana bread and your comment! Have a great Thursday! xT

  4. 5 stars
    Just made this and it is delicious! The Chai spices add a great nuance and are perfect for the season! Of course the chocolate chunks – so good. Perfect for those extra bananas.

    Thank you!

  5. Hi! thanks for the great recipes. what should the internal temperature be? the top of the loaf burned at 350 and it wasnโ€™t high up in the oven.
    also, i make the co so banana muffins often and have extra chai spice left – can i use it for the muffins and how much should i use?
    big ty!