#1,480: Banana-Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bread

I sure do love Banana Bread, and I often (a little too often) have very over ripe bananas that need to get used up some how.  Most of the time I throw them in the freezer to use in a smoothie but I had about 6 that we never ate and needed to get used.  Then I came across this recipe for a banana-oatmeal bread from AllYou magazine and knew I had to give it a try (and had to make 2 loaves!).

My kids loved this.  It is really good!  The oatmeal gives it a slightly more dense flavor, but the chocolate chips throughout make it really good!

Makes 1 loaf:
2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 c packed brown sugar
1 large egg
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp grated orange zest
1 c chopped walnuts (I omitted)
3/4 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c rolled oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.  Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together bananas, sugar, egg, oil, orange zest, and 1/2 cup water until thoroughly combined (about 3 minutes).  Reduce mixer to low and add flour mixture in 2 batches, beating after each addition until just combined. 

Stir in walnuts, chocolate chips and oats.  Pour batter into loaf pan and bake until bread is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean (about 1 hour).  (I had to cover mine lightly with flour after about 40 minutes because it was getting very golden in color).  Cool loaf in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely.