There’s nothing like a warm slice of freshly baked banana bread, and when it’s adorned with a drizzle of chocolate and made with Lifeway Kefir, every bite just gets better and better. Our Chocolate Chip Banana Bread made with Lifeway Kefir is made with dark chocolate, naturally sweet bananas, and nutrient-rich Lifeway Kefir.
Lifeway Kefir’s live cultures help tenderize the batter of the banana bread, keeping every bite soft and delicate, while dark chocolate adds an exotic depth of flavor with underlying notes of indulgence. Every slice of this ultra-satisfying loaf is boosted with nutrients from our kefir, while bananas contribute important prebiotic fiber to the recipe. Dark chocolate acts as the perfect add-in to give the bread something extra special, but feel free to get creative and use other options like chopped walnuts, sliced almonds, or anything else you wish.
We used our whole milk kefir in this recipe since it’s a touch more indulgent, but you can use our lowfat kefir and get just as great of results. Because when Lifeway Kefir’s in your kitchen, you simply can’t go wrong.
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The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 mins Servings: 10-12 slicesIngredients
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3 very ripe (heavily spotted) bananas
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup Organic Whole Milk Plain Kefir
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- Toppings: 1 banana, sliced lengthwise and additional chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and coat a 8.5 inch x 4.5 inch loaf baking pan with non-stick spray or a light coating of coconut oil or line with parchment paper.
- Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to a medium size bowl, and sift to combine. Set aside.
- Place the bananas in a larger bowl, and mash until you get a purée. Next, add in the eggs, Lifeway Kefir, pure maple syrup, and vanilla. Mix with a mixer to combine everything thoroughly. Add this to the bowl with the dry ingredients from step 2. Mix everything until thoroughly combined.
- Add the batter to the prepared pan, then press in sliced bananas from 1 banana, and sprinkle chocolate chips onto the top. Bake 50-60 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. Slice into 10-12 slices, and enjoy!
- Note, if you want a chocolate drizzle, you can melt some while your bread is baking and drizzle more on top once it comes out of the oven.
