Monkey’s Choice Banana Bread

I will make variations of my banana bread to appease my family, celebrate the season, or rid my kitchen of ingredients. One of my recent favorites that has become a regular in the rotation is what I’ll refer to as the Monkey’s Choice Banana Bread.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 well ripened Bananas
• 1 large Egg
• 1/3 cup melted Butter
• 1/2 cup White Sugar
• 1/4 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 1 teaspoon of Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 teaspoon of Baking Soda
• A pinch of Salt
• 1 1/2 cups Flour
• 1/3 cup Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves
• 1/2 cup Peanut Butter Chips
• 1/4 cup Chocolate Chips
• 1/2 cup Walnuts
• 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons Heavy Cream or Milk

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F & butter/oil loaf pan.
2. Mash bananas until smooth. Melt butter in microwave and mix in.
3. Beat egg and mix in sugar towards end of beating. Mix that into banana along with vanilla. In a separate bowl whisk together flour with baking soda, salt, cocoa and spices. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, then fold in chocolate & peanut butter chips, and walnuts.
4. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for at least 60 minutes, testing with toothpicks to make sure the batter is fully baked.
5. Remove immediately from pan and cool on wire rack.
6. When banana bread is slightly warm to touch, combine powdered sugar in a bowl with cream, milk, or water to create a glaze. Balance the ingredients so it is pourable but thick like a syrup.
7. Move the bread to a plate and cover the top in glaze, letting it run down and coat the sides.