Chocolate Banana Bread

• ½ cup toasted walnuts or pecan, coarsely chopped
• 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
• ¼ cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1 cup granulated white sugar.
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup white chocolate chips
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed well
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and place oven rack to middle position.
2. Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/ flour spray) the bottom and sides of a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. Set aside.
3. Place nuts on a baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly toasted.
4. Let cool and then chop coarsely.
5. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
6. In medium-sized bowl combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.
7. With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients until just combined and batter is thick and chunky.
8. Fold in the nuts and chocolate chips.
9. Scrape batter into prepared pan and sprinkle the top of the bread with coarse brown sugar (optional).
10. Bake until bread has risen and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes.
11. Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.