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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Chocolate Chip Pecan Banana Bread (without Butter)

    Published: Nov 6, 2022 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on a white plate
    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on parchment paper
    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on parchment paper
    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on a white plate

    This easy Pecan and Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe without butter is THE BEST banana bread recipe ever. It's insanely soft and moist and the chocolate chips and pecan topping is to die for. You can even make it with frozen bananas!

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on parchment paper

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    Jump to:
    • More Great Banana Recipes
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Banana Bread without Butter
    • How to Make Banana Bread with Frozen Bananas
    • Can You Use Brown Sugar in Banana Bread?
    • Can You Use Overripe or Black Bananas for Banana Bread
    • Step-by-step Instructions
    • How to Store Banana Bread
    • Best Way to Freeze Banana Bread
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • More Easy Classic Dessert Recipes
    • 💌Let's Stay in Touch
    • 📖 Recipe

    This delicious banana bread recipe with pecans and chocolate chips is hands-down the best I've ever had.

    It's super soft and moist, loaded with banana flavor, and a really easy recipe to make in one bowl.

    No need to separate the wet ingredients from the dry ingredients -- you just mix them all together!

    Banana Bread with Frozen Bananas

    If you're wondering if you can use frozen bananas for banana bread -- yes, absolutely! I'll show you how.

    Banana Bread without Butter

    Another bonus? This banana bread is made without butter.

    Whether you're out of butter or the sky-high price of butter has you searching for other alternatives, rest assured, you can make this banana bread without butter and not miss it.

    Chocolate Chips & Pecans: In, On, or Both?

    Now, about the chocolate chips and pecans. Where you put them is totally up to you.

    I'm not as much of a fan of nuts in things as much as on things. So I like them as a topping. Same with the chocolate chips.

    I wanted to keep the banana bread in its pure and perfect form .. but I also wanted chocolate, lol.

    So I put them both on top of the bread. I love the way it looks and tastes.

    You can mix them into the batter at the very end, put them all on top like I did, or BOTH!

    More Great Banana Recipes

    • Caramelized Banana Topping for Pumpkin Pancakes
    • Banoffee Ice Cream Pie
    • Chocolate Banana Nice Cream with Peanut Butter Drizzle

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Perfect recipe for soft, moist banana bread without butter

    Simple recipe for one bowl banana bread you can stir together in minutes

    Easy banana bread recipe you can make with frozen bananas

    Beautiful and delicious pecan and chocolate chip topping

    Ingredients

    All you need are these basic ingredients.

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter ingredients

    Bananas. You'll need 2 full cups of mashed bananas, which is about 4 medium bananas. Use dark brown overripe bananas. Frozen overripe bananas also work. 

    Oil. Banana bread without butter stays soft and moist by substituting the butter with canola oil.

    Brown sugar. Many banana bread recipes call for all white sugar. I swapped out some of it for brown sugar for even more moisture and delicious molasses flavor. I always use dark brown sugar, but light brown sugar also works.

    Eggs. Let the eggs come to room temperature before adding them to the batter. This will help everything blend cohesively together.

    Sour cream. Sour cream makes this banana bread exceptionally moist. Use room temperature sour cream. Plain full-fat Greek yogurt also works.

    All purpose flour. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup rather than scooping it straight from the bag or canister. Too much flour can cause banana bread to become dry.

    Pecans. Nuts are optional and where you put them is also your choice -- in the batter or on top of the loaf. If you mix them into the batter, feel free to up the quantity to ½ cup or more!

    Mini chocolate chips. I use mini chocolate chips as a topping because I get more coverage from those tiny little morsels. You can use regular semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips, or none at all. If you prefer to stir them into the batter, up the quantity to ½ cup.

    How to Make Banana Bread without Butter

    Swapping out oil for butter in this no butter banana bread recipe is really easy to do.

    Replace ¾ of the amount of butter with olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil. So if your recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, use ¾ cup of oil instead.

    This banana bread recipe without butter turned out perfectly with ½ cup of canola oil. Of course, there's plenty of bananas, some brown sugar, and sour cream that also keep it super soft and moist.

    How to Make Banana Bread with Frozen Bananas

    frozen bananas on a white countertop

    Can you use frozen bananas to make banana bread? Yes!

    When bananas hit that perfect overripe state -- brown, almost black -- no need to feel pressured to make banana bread yet. Just throw whole brown bananas into the freezer, with the peels on. When you're ready to bake with them, defrost them on a plate at room temperature or in the microwave.

    To defrost bananas in the microwave, place them on a microwave-safe plate and heat at 50% power for 3-4 minutes, or until completely thawed. They'll be verrrrry soft and watery.

    Before using the bananas for banana bread, mash them and strain off the liquid.

    I've seen plenty of articles saying otherwise -- even that the liquid has an added benefit of improving the texture and flavor of banana bread.

    But then I read this article from Sally's Baking Addiction. Her argument that the extra liquid makes baked goods "overly dense and heavy," along with photographic evidence of such, built a compelling case for straining the liquid.

    So that's what I did and it worked perfectly. And look at how much liquid I got from 4 bananas!

    glass measuring cup with banana juice

    The advice to strain comes with some caveats like using the strained liquid to replace some of the liquid in a recipe. And if you're following a frozen banana bread recipe that was written specifically to include the liquid, by all means, follow the recipe.

    When straining frozen bananas for banana bread, the thawed, mashed, strained banana you are left with should have the same texture as ripe bananas that have not been frozen.

    Can You Use Brown Sugar in Banana Bread?

    Yes, you can use white or brown sugar in banana bread -- or both, like this recipe.

    Brown sugar will add a little moisture, rich molasses flavor, and a slightly darker color to the finished product.

    I always use dark brown sugar because it is more flavorful, but light brown sugar also works.

    Can You Use Overripe or Black Bananas for Banana Bread

    Yes, you absolutely should use overripe bananas for banana bread.

    Bananas that are at the perfect ripeness for banana bread are way beyond anything you'd put in a lunchbox or smoothie and just under the fruit fly radar.

    Overripe bananas for banana bread should be very dark brown and even black in places.

    If there is any mold or an off-putting odor, they've gone too far and you shouldn't eat them.

    Step-by-step Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven and prepare the loaf pan. 

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

    Line a 9x5 inch bread pan with parchment paper. This makes it easy to lift banana bread with toppings right out of the pan. If you're not adding toppings, grease the pan with nonstick spray.

    2. Make the banana bread batter.

    Lightly mash bananas in a large bowl. Keep the banana a little chunky, you don't want it to be completely smooth.

    If you're using frozen bananas, strain off the liquid before using. See more tips for "How to Make Banana Bread with Frozen Bananas" above.

    mashed banana in a white bowl

    Add the oil and sour cream to the mashed bananas. Stir.

    Mix in the baking soda and salt.

    Stir in the sugars, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract.

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter batter in a white bowl

    Mix in the flour. Stir until just combined, do not overmix.

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter batter in a white bowl

    3. Transfer the batter to the loaf pan and add toppings.

    Pour batter into the prepared pan.

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter in a loaf pan

    Sprinkle the chocolate chips and pecans in an even layer over the top of the loaf.

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter batter in a loaf pan

    4. Bake, cool, dig in!

    Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean or with a few moist crumbs, or the internal temperature reads 200-205 on an instant read thermometer.

    Tent with foil toward the end if it looks like it's getting too brown.

    Cool for 10-15 minutes on a wire baking rack. Remove the loaf from the pan and allow it to cool completely.

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on a cooling rack
    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on a white plate

    How to Store Banana Bread

    Store banana bread at room temperature covered in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for 3-4 days.

    Best Way to Freeze Banana Bread

    Banana bread freezes really well -- by the loaf or in slices.

    Before you freeze banana bread, be sure to cool it completely. Wrap a full or partial loaf or individual slices in 2 layers of plastic wrap and again in aluminum foil. Place the foil packet into a large freezer bag or freezer safe airtight container.

    Freeze the loaf or slices for up to 3 months. Thaw  banana bread at room temperature.

    Expert Tips

    Line the pan with parchment paper so it's easy to lift the warm loaf out of the pan.

    Sprinkle the pecans and chocolate chips over the batter in an even layer so they'll stick once the loaf has baked and cooled.

    As an option, add up to 1 cup of pecan and/or chocolate chips to the batter. Just fold them before you pour the batter into the pan.

    Use room temperature eggs and sour cream.

    FAQs

    How long does banana bread last?

    Banana bread stored in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap will stay fresh on your counter for 3-4 days. Freeze it by the loaf or slice for up to 3 months.

    How do you tell if banana bread is done?

    Banana bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean or when an instant read thermometer reads 200-205 degrees.

    What is a good substitute for butter in banana bread?

    Oil is an excellent replacement for butter in banana bread. Use a 3:4 ratio when making the substitute. If the recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, replace it with ¾ cup of oil.

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on parchment paper

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    📖 Recipe

    chocolate chip pecan banana bread without butter on parchment paper

    Chocolate Chip Pecan Banana Bread (without Butter)

    Cara Lanz
    This one bowl Pecan and Chocolate Chip Banana Bread recipe without butter is THE BEST banana bread recipe ever. It's insanely soft and moist and the chocolate chips and pecan topping is to die for. You can even make it with frozen bananas!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Course Breakfast, Drinks, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12
    Calories 336 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 cups mashed banana about 4 medium bananas
    • ½ cup canola oil
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup brown sugar light or dark
    • ½ cup sugar
    • 2 beaten eggs
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 2 cups flour
    • ⅓ cup chopped pecans
    • ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9x5 inch bread pan with parchment paper.
    • Lightly mash bananas in a large bowl. Keep the banana a little chunky.
      If using thawed frozen banana, strain off the liquid before using. See more tips in the post above for "How to Make Banana Bread with Frozen Bananas."
    • Add the oil and sour cream to the mashed bananas. Stir.
    • Add baking soda and salt. Stir.
    • Stir in the brown sugar and white sugar, beaten eggs, and vanilla extract.
    • Add the flour. Stir until just combined, do not overmix.
    • Pour batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and pecans in an even layer (so they'll stick when baked) over the top of the loaf.
    • Bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes back clean or the internal temperature reads 200-205 on an instant read thermometer.
      Tent with foil toward the end if it looks like it's getting too brown.
    • Cool for 10-15 minutes on a wire baking rack. Remove the loaf from the pan and allow it to cool completely.

    Storage

    • Store banana bread at room temperature covered in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for 3-4 days.

    Freezing Instructions

    • Before you freeze banana bread, be sure to cool it completely.
      Wrap a full or partial loaf or individual slices in 2 layers of plastic wrap and again in aluminum foil. Place the foil packet into a large freezer bag or freezer safe airtight container.
      Freeze the loaf or slices for up to 3 months. Thaw  banana bread at room temperature.

    Notes

    • Line the pan with parchment paper so it's easy to lift the warm loaf out of the pan without disturbing the topping.
    • Sprinkle the pecans and chocolate chips over the batter in an even layer so they'll stick once the loaf has baked and cooled.
    • As an option, add up to 1 cup of pecan and/or chocolate chips to the batter. Just fold them before you pour the batter into the pan.
    • Use room temperature eggs and sour cream.
    • Baking with frozen bananas? Read the tips in the post for "How to Make Banana Bread with Frozen Bananas."

    Nutrition

    Calories: 336kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 208mgPotassium: 204mgFiber: 2gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 136IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 1mg
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    Comments

    1. Maria says

      November 19, 2022 at 8:23 pm

      5 stars
      Can I use oat flour or almond flour for this banana recipe?
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Cara Lanz says

        November 19, 2022 at 9:20 pm

        Hi, Maria, I haven't tested this recipe with oat flour or almond flour, so I can't speak to how well either of those substitutes will work. Please let me know what you try and how it turns out! Thank you, Cara

        Reply
    5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love sharing easy, delicious everyday recipes from the heartland.

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