I've baked hundreds of loaves of banana bread over the years. And I've probably tried dozens of banana bread recipes. Some were too sweet, others too moist.
Eventually, I combined bits and pieces from different versions to create my own.
This easy banana bread recipe with chocolate chips, maple syrup and flax seeds is a great way to use leftover bananas.

One of the great things about banana bread recipes (and quickbread recipes in general) is they're very forgiving.
The recipe may call for three bananas, yet if you have two and a half and are skimpy with your flour, the loaf will taste just fine. The same goes for sugar.
Not everyone wants a full cup of sugar per loaf. I've found it easy to cut it back to ¾ of a cup or even ½ cup without complaints from the kids.
Related: Recipe for Raspberry Lemon Almond Muffins
Although my banana chocolate chip flax bread recipe calls for just one tablespoon of flax seeds, feel free to increase this to two.
Don't, however, use ground flax unless you prefer to use it to replace the eggs. Ground flax and eggs make this recipe a little too eggy and mushy.
Easy Banana Chocolate Chip Flax Bread Recipe

Easy Banana Bread Recipe with Chocolate Chips & Flax Seeds
This easy banana chocolate chip flax bread recipe is delicious and nutritious!
Ingredients
- ½ cup of softened butter/margarine/veg oil
- ¼ cup brown sugar OR ¼ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup white sugar
- 3 medium ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ½ salt
- 1 tbsp. flax seeds
- ¾ cup mini dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cream butter and sugars together.
- Blend in eggs and mashed banana.
- Use a separate bowl to combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and flax seeds.
- Add to the banana mixture.
- Sprinkle in chocolate chips.
- Use a spatula to scrape into greased 9 x 5 loaf pan.
- Bake at 350 for 1 hour.
- Let cool in pan on baking rack for ten minutes.
- Remove and let cool completely before slicing.
Nutrition Information
Yield 15 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 236Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 17mgSodium 172mgCarbohydrates 33gFiber 2gSugar 17gProtein 3g
This banana chocolate chip flax bread recipe combines whole wheat and white flour. I find the combo recipes provide a slightly denser, more flavorful loaf. Plus you get the added goodness of whole grains.
Substitutions for Banana Bread Recipes
Not everyone likes flax seeds in their quick bread and muffins.
And not everyone likes chocolate chips in their banana bread either (I don't know any of these people. But they're out there.)
If that's the case, don't worry. Other substitutions work just fine, such as:
- poppy seeds
- sunflower seeds
- walnuts
- dates
If you prefer to avoid butter, try substituting a generous ¼ cup of coconut oil, vegetable oil, or unsweetened applesauce. Margarine also works.
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Sarita Harbour
Hi Melissa - thanks so much for your comment! I'm just fine-tuning my black bean brownie recipe and you should see it within the next couple of weeks. 🙂
MeLissa
This sounds so yummy! Finally a banana bread with chocolate! Lol. I was browsing looking for your black bean brownie recipe when I saw this... Sunday morning breakfast is in for an upgrade this week!
Thank you, (and if you haven’t posted your brownie recipe, please consider it... ????).
Sarita Harbour
Thanks for the email, Deborah! We really like the nutty flavor the flax seeds add to it. Hope you enjoy it!
Deborah Davis
Hi Sarita,
I hopped over from Homestead Blog Hop to see your yummy Banana Bread recipe. I love the fact that you used flax seeds instead of eggs so I can't wait to make this for my family. I'm sharing this on social media too.